Author Archives: Hedberg Rocks

Rainwater Harvesting, Stormwater Mitigation

Urban runoff is the number one cause of pollution in our lakes, rivers and streams. What’s more, it’s estimated that 50% of a Minnesota home’s water use is for exterior irrigation. We’re buying municipal water and letting the free water run down the street. There are many small things each of us can do to reduce the amount of water leaving our properties and carrying pollutants and excess nutrients through storm drain systems to our beloved lakes, including rainwater harvesting systems that capture and store rainwater for reuse later.
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It’s a Brick House

In 1991 my wife and I bought a “starter” home in Maple Grove. It had orange siding, a small amount of orange brick and a buckskin roof. After several years of finishing the basement we decided we needed more room for storage so we added on to the garage. We wanted to change the exterior appearance of our home and we knew we wanted brick because we love it. Continue reading

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Just Add Water

Water features are a popular trend in modern residential landscapes. Ponds with exotic lotus, lilies and koi have been popular among water gardeners for many years, and swimming ponds with biological filtration have emerged as an alternative to in ground pools. For many people, a small pond, waterfall or fountainscape adds just enough water to enhance their landscape and enjoy the water gardening lifestyle. We’ll take a look at options for these three features, one at a time. Continue reading

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Stylish Raingardens

I’ve heard it before. “Raingardens look like weed patches.” That may be true of poorly maintained raingardens, but well kept raingardens look fabulous, full of healthy native plants. And they don’t have to be 100% native. You can incorporate some beautiful perennial cultivars and still have a perfectly functioning raingarden. Here are four factors that make for a beautiful raingarden. Continue reading

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Rain, Rain Go Away

With the extreme rainfalls we’ve had this year, making sure you have adequate water drainage for your landscaping is extremely important. Gutters can help gather storm water from your roof and distribute it away from your house, but oftentimes that water doesn’t make it to a safe place. This can cause problems inside your house and potentially damage your landscaping. Installing a proper residential landscape drainage system can solve a number of problems caused by storm water. This article explores the use of catch basins, drain tile and channel drains for stormwater redirection and infiltration.

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Just Add Fire

For many of us, cooking outdoors is a summertime ritual. Spring, fall and winter activity, for that matter. Our options for cooking have expanded in recent years from a simple grill to elaborate outdoor kitchens with everything a chef could want to create culinary masterpieces. Or just cook a really great meal that family and friends enjoy. In this article we’ll explore some popular outdoor cooking options. Continue reading

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A Landscape Revival

On June 4, 2011, the Roseville Rainbow Foods Pavillion sizzled with the energy of hundreds of native plant buyers, sellers and environmental enthusiasts. The first annual Landscape Revival Native Plant Expo & Market attracted avid native plant gardeners as well as folks new to the concept. Continue reading

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A Review of Paving Options

Paver walkways and driveways outperform both asphalt and concrete in a number of areas.
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Three Summer Gardening Tips

Here are three tips to give you a vibrant garden this summer. Continue reading

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Less Lawn – #1 Trend in Gardening

According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, reduced lawn has recently been identified as a top trend in landscaping. “Each year we get more and more customers who are interested in converting some of their front and/or back yard into a native garden area,” says Rose Brabender, Nursery Specialist at Hedberg Nursery in Stillwater. Continue reading

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