Ponds in Winter Do you ever wonder what is happening with your pond during the winter? While many people think “nothing,” a lot is happening below the surface. Here in the Midwest, lakes and ponds are typically subjected to some period of freezing during the...
Controlling algae and aquatic vegetation is often necessary to maintain a balance within a lake ecosystem. Timing herbicide treatments or mechanical harvesting to coincide with plant growth cycles maximizes effectiveness while minimizing impacts on desirable native...
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...
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...
This year, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) officially listed the migratory monarch butterfly (Danaua plexippus plexippus) as endangered because of loss of habitat and climate change. What can you do? Put their habitat back! If, after...
A healthy lake or pond is a beautiful addition to almost any property. A small pond is a decorative landscaping focal point while a large lake can be used for recreational activities. Either way, a lake or pond is typically only attractive if the water is clean and...
Any functioning ecosystem, including a pond, needs bacteria to sustain life and maintain a balanced ecosystem. Bacteria are microscopic single-celled organisms measured in microns (one millionth of a meter), ranging from 1 to 10 microns in length and 0.2 to 1 microns...
