Question: Should I prune trees in my yard? How and when? You are right to think about pruning before you act! Pruning trees is generally done to improve shape, strength, and health and to prevent personal and property damage. Pruning…
Question: Should I prune shrubs in my yard? How and when? Thanks for your question! It’s important to think about pruning in advance, so you aren’t disappointed with the result! Timing of pruning is important and depends on the shrub….
Question: What are the best shrubs to select for Central Virginia? When and how should I plant them? These are good questions whether you are designing a new landscape or looking to replace shrubs. October and November are generally the…
Question: What should I do to clean up my garden in the fall? It is always good to plan ahead for upcoming gardening tasks. Doing a fall cleanup can prepare your home landscape for greater gardening success next year. Depending…
Question: How do I identify plants in my neighborhood and on hikes? Where do I start? Good question! You don’t have to be a trained botanist, but you will need to look closely at some basic characteristics of the plants…
Question: Why is milkweed important to the monarch butterflies? What is the best milkweed to plant and when and how should it be planted? Thank you for asking about monarchs and ways to encourage them to visit your garden. Plant…
Question: Is leatherleaf mahonia invasive? Yes! Because of its adaptability to many sites this evergreen shrub, also known as Beale’s Barberry, can easily take over large areas. Invasive plant species are non-native species whose introduction is likely to cause economic…
Question: I heard on TV that the Japanese maple tree is considered an “invasive” plant. I have one of these trees in my yard. Should I remove it? Great question! The topic of invasive plants can be a tricky one….
Question: I’m building a new house. How can my residential landscape be designed to minimize home energy consumption and water usage? You are right to think about energy and water conservation before your home is built! It’s a good way…
Question: I’ve noticed kudzu starting to grow near a creek in my neighborhood. What can be done to control it in an environmentally responsible way? This question comes up often! Kudzu is a non-native invasive species, is likely to spread…