Winter Woody Work

Winter Woody Work

Winter is a great time to work on improving our woodland habitats.   “Winter woody work” involves removing invasive tree and shrub species and sometimes thinning aggressive native woody species. Why is winter the best season for this work?  Some of the...

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Ponds in Winter

Ponds in Winter

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...

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Effective Lake Management – Timing is Everything!

Effective Lake Management – Timing is Everything!

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...

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OAKtober

OAKtober

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...

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AUTUMN 2023 SEASONAL CARE LIST

AUTUMN 2023 SEASONAL CARE LIST

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...

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SUMMER 2023 SEASONAL CARE LIST

SUMMER 2023 SEASONAL CARE LIST

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...

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SPRING 2023 SEASONAL CARE LIST

SPRING 2023 SEASONAL CARE LIST

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...

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Starry Stonework – A New Aquatic Invader

Starry Stonework – A New Aquatic Invader

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...

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Better Privacy Screening – Replacements for Buckthorn

Better Privacy Screening – Replacements for Buckthorn

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...

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