Tag Archives: landscape

Top Ten Benefits of Urban Trees

Since you were small you’ve learned that trees are good for life. Why are they good? We learned these top ten benefits at the 2011 Clean Water Summit held at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Continue reading

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Colorful Mums Brighten Fall Gardens

Does fall make you sad to see the color in your garden slowly disappearing? Mums are a great way to bring some color back to the garden. Their beautifully rounded shape and stunning varieties of colors give you endless choices for every landscape. Continue reading

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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…
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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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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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