If you pass by any water-related environment that has been left in the hands of Mother Nature, you’ll probably see cattails. These perennials are some of the most common aquatic plants, particularly in ponds, lakes, and marshes, that can grow 5-10 feet in height. Even...
When aquatic plants are fully grown and have reached the surface of your lake or pond (we call this “topping out”), manually removing them using specialized equipment is often the best solution. This entails raking, pulling, or cutting the plants and removing them from the water. Manually removing excessive aquatic plants from a lake can offer several benefits
Plants and algae are essential for all living things. However, excessive algae growth, often called an algae bloom, can negatively affect a lake’s ecosystem and surroundings. ILM explores some of the reasons why too much algae can be detrimental.
The emergent zone in a lake refers to the area along the shoreline where emergent plants grow. These plants are rooted in the sediment beneath the water but extend above the surface, often forming a dense vegetation belt along the water’s edge.
Celebrating Oaktober OAKtober is a time to celebrate the majestic oak. Oak trees are a keystone species, meaning they are trees that entire ecosystems depend on for survival and habitat. Oak acorns provide food for more than 100 vertebrate species of wildlife, and a...
Autumn is a wonderful time of year for vibrant leaves, bonfires, and warm sweaters. It's also a time to prepare for Winter and plan ahead for a Spring. Here are some suggestions for taking care of your natural areas this Autumn. Collect Seeds If you are looking to...
Summer is a wonderful time of year for sunshine and outdoor activities. In these hot and dry months there are a few things you can do to help our natural environments. Here are some suggestions for taking care of your natural areas in the summer months. MULCH...
Spring is a busy time of year. Actions taken now will help your natural area look great throughout the summer and fall while improving its ecological value for the sake of Mother Nature! PRESCRIBED BURNS Most native plantings need to be burned, an adaption from...
Starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtuse) is a ‘new’ aquatic invader that is getting a lot of attention in the upper Midwest and Northeast not only because of the speed at which it dominates the water feature where it resides, but also because management option choices...
One reason why invasive buckthorn persists in our yards is that it provides exceptional privacy screening. Why take buckthorn down when it is doing the job for you? Well, because buckthorn is bad for our environment, and you will feel a great sense of satisfaction...
