Blog
Practical guides for Northeast Ohio homeowners: what to do when, what to skip, and when to call a pro.
November 8, 2026
Pruning at the wrong time costs you flowers, or pushes out new growth that winter cold may damage. This is what Iowa State, Penn State, and Ohio State Extension sources say about timing for spring bloomers, summer bloomers, hydrangeas, evergreens, and hedges, why fall is the wrong season for most of it, and the exception for dead or hazardous wood.
Read moreNovember 1, 2026
The deadline for spring bulbs and garlic is not a calendar date. It is the day the ground freezes. This is what Ohio State Extension educators and master gardeners say about timing, depth, drainage, mulch, and keeping voles and squirrels from digging up what you plant.
Read moreOctober 25, 2026
Salt damage shows up in spring, but most of what prevents it happens in late fall. This is what the concrete industry says about new slabs and fertilizer-based ice melts, what the paver industry says about which deicers to avoid, how extension horticulturists protect plants from spray and runoff, and how little salt it actually takes to do the job.
Read moreSeptember 27, 2026
Winter burn and deer browsing wreck evergreens for completely different reasons, one is a water problem and the other is a food problem, and the fixes do not overlap as much as a generic "wrap your shrubs" checklist suggests. This is what actually causes winter burn, why fall watering is the step every source that addresses it agrees on, what the research says about anti-desiccant sprays (it disagrees more than you would expect), and what actually stops deer once the ground is bare.
Read moreAugust 23, 2026
Fall is the better season to plant most trees and shrubs in Northeast Ohio, and the reason has nothing to do with the weather being pleasant to work in. It has to do with what roots do in warm soil after the top of the plant stops growing. The window is open now, it closes earlier than most homeowners expect, and a short list of plants should not go in the ground until spring.
Read moreJuly 26, 2026
Last week we broke down what mowing actually costs in Tuscarawas County. This week: how to tell a company worth hiring from one that just answered the phone first. Here is what to actually check before you sign anything.
Read moreJune 28, 2026
Mulching in summer is one of the best things you can do for your beds, but there are a few mistakes that can quietly kill your plants and trees. Here is how to do it right in Tuscarawas County.
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