Category Archives: backyard
Winterizing Your Pond
In case you’ve been putting it off, it’s time to plan what you will do with your pond for the winter. Will you shut it down or keep it running? Do you need supplies? What are you doing with your fish and plants? Here’s some advice to help you out. Continue reading
Keeping Your Pond Free of Leaves
Bursts of red, gold and orange in the trees signify an important event for pond owners … it’s time to do a little fall maintenance in your water garden. Preparing your pond for the winter greatly reduces the amount of work you need to do in the spring to get your pond in tip-top shape. Continue reading
Pond Considerations for the Fall Season
Autumn officially begins this year on September 23rd. While you may hate bidding adieu to the long, sunny days of summer, you have to face the inevitable approach of cooler, shorter days. For pond owners across the continent, what you do with your pond during this seasonal transition depends largely on where you live.
THE NORTHERN NECK OF THE WOODS
What a wonderful feeling during the summer months to see your plants thrive to the point of producing flowering buds almost at will, or the constant activity of growing fish that crave attention and food. Hopefully you were able to spend ample time by your pond to enjoy its many nuances and pleasures.
And now, as we turn the corner into another season, fall pondering is really just beginning. What do you have planned for your water feature? If you’re like many other water feature enthusiasts, improvements and change are always at the forefront. Here’s a few things to consider, going into the fall months. Please keep in mind that these suggestions may vary based on the zone in which you live. Read on for advice about aquatic plants, fish, water feature aesthetics and more…
Continue reading
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
Managing Japanese Beetle Infestations
The Japanese beetle may be this summer’s biggest threat to healthy plants in the Twin Cities’ Metro area, and successfully managing this pest requires dedicated action. Entomologist Jeff Hahn recently told the Star Tribune that based on reports from colleagues and … Continue reading
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