Trees & Shrubs
Salt-Tolerant Shrubs and Grasses for Curb Strips and Driveways
Which shrubs, ornamental grasses and lawn grasses actually survive road salt along curbs and driveways, which to avoid, and how to plant them.
Trees & Shrubs
9 articles
Trees & Shrubs
Emerald Ash Borer: Treat or Remove Your Ash Tree?
How to decide whether to treat or remove your ash tree for emerald ash borer: the canopy rule, size limits, timing, and what each choice costs.
Trees & Shrubs
Snow Load on Arborvitae and Yews: Knocking Snow Off Without Breaking Them
Heavy wet snow splits arborvitae and flattens yews. How to tie them up before winter, how to clear snow safely, why you should never whack an iced branch, and how to fix…
Trees & Shrubs
Deer Damage to Shrubs in Winter: Prevention That Works
When the snow comes, deer go after arborvitae, yews and young trees. Which plants they love, the fences and wraps that actually stop them, repellents, and when to put protection up.
Trees & Shrubs
Planting Trees in Fall in the Northern US
Fall is one of the best times to plant a tree up north: warm soil, cool air, and fall rain. When to plant, the trees that do better in spring, how deep,…
Trees & Shrubs
Fall Pruning: What to Cut Now and What to Leave Until Late Winter
Fall feels like cleanup season, but most pruning is better left until late winter. What's safe to cut in fall, what to leave alone, and the shrubs you'll ruin if you cut…
Trees & Shrubs
Burlap on Evergreens: When It Helps and When It Hurts
Burlap protects evergreens from winter wind, salt spray, and sun. Wrapped wrong, it does more harm than good. Which shrubs need it, the screen method that works, and when to put it…
Trees & Shrubs
Wrapping Young Trees: Sunscald and Rodent Protection
Thin-barked young trees crack on sunny winter days, and rabbits and voles girdle them under the snow. Which trees need protection, what to use, when to put it on, and when to…
Trees & Shrubs
Water Your Trees Before the Ground Freezes
A dry fall sends trees and evergreens into winter thirsty, and winter burn follows. How much to water, how deep, which trees need it most, and when to stop.