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Severe weather season has begun, with many experiencing damage in trees and landscape plants last week. Managing the effects of tornadic winds and hail is necessary to make the landscape safe again and help plants recover. Damage AssessmentBroken tree limbs or fallen trees, creating dangerous situations in a home landscape. When large trees fall, it’s best... Continue Reading →
Rhododendrons and azaleas are beautiful flowering shrubs, putting on a spectacular show in spring when they bloom. They are best adapted to eastern and southern regions of the United States with moderate winter temperatures and consistent rainfall. But there are some cultivars which can perform well in a Nebraska landscape, given good care and careful... Continue Reading →
Many gardeners have questions at this time of year about spring pruning. So, here are some common questions you may have been wondering about and your answers. Will early pruning cause fruit tree leaf and flower buds to develop earlier and possibly be damaged by normal spring frosts? Should pruning still be done... Continue Reading →
The keys to pruning trees and shrubs are a basic understanding of pruning techniques and knowing when to prune plants. For more information on these topics, check out the additional resources below. But it's also important to understand the variety of tools available to make the job easier and use them correctly. The best tool... Continue Reading →
Winter days may be gloomy and dull, but you can give your home a touch of spring by forcing landscape branches to bloom indoors. Spring-flowering trees and shrubs set their flower buds the previous fall. Once the buds have been exposed to cold for several months (usually by mid-January), branches can be cut and forced... Continue Reading →
Failure to protect fruit trees and landscape ornamentals against gnawing rodents, rabbits and deer this fall can result in a nasty surprise next spring: girdled trunks or stems, and broken branches. Late fall is the time to get protection in place and safeguard the health of your plants. Prevention is the only way to protect trees... Continue Reading →
Cold temperatures, drying sun and wind, road salt, snow and ice can all take a toll on landscape plants during winter. But homeowners can use the strategies below to prevent major damage and minimize winter’s toll. Now, while daytime temperatures are still fairly warm, is the time to prepare your plants for winter. Evergreens,... Continue Reading →
Late summer and fall are an exciting time in the garden. Harvest is in full swing, perennials can be divided, lawns can be overseeded, and so much more! It’s a shame to miss this window of opportunity to “upgrade” your landscape. There’s work to be done – that’s for sure – but focusing on the... Continue Reading →
As if 2023 hasn’t thrown gardeners enough curves already - like drought damage in lawns, shrubs, trees and ornamentals – soon it will be Japanese beetle season. Wonderful, that’s all we need! But we must be realistic and acknowledge the fact – Japanese beetles are here to stay. Once an invasive species like this one... Continue Reading →
If you have a saucer or star magnolia in your landscape, magnolia scale is a troublesome insect. At this time of year, they make their presence known by causing sap to rain down beneath infested trees. Anything below, like patio furniture or cars, gets a sticky coating. An integrated approach is necessary for control, targeting... Continue Reading →
Just as drought has caused havoc in many lawns, we’re also seeing damage in trees. Even very drought tolerant trees like eastern red cedar and Colorado spruce have extensive damage or have been killed completely. Death of branches or a whole tree are very obvious and visible effects, but drought can also cause damage... Continue Reading →
For 2023, the National Garden Bureau’s shrub of the year is Spirea, which unfortunately often gets overlooked during the spring buying-rush as old-fashioned and uninteresting. In reality, spireas are tough, easy-to-grow shrubs and a workhorse in modern landscapes. Spireas offer a wide range of colorful foliage ranging from blue to yellow, red to orange,... Continue Reading →
Acreage Life - Nebraska 