Q: Is it a good idea to cut the bottom branches that touch the ground on pine and juniper trees? A: There are a couple of reasons why someone might want to "clean up" the bottom branches of pines and junipers. Some people prefer the cleaner look, which can also deter snakes and other critters from bedding down in the "messy" bottom area of the tree. However some people like the natural look of the tree without it being too "manicured". It really comes down to personal prefere

Black tartarian cherry semi-dwarf Prunus 'Black Tartarian' SD Zone 5-8 Beautiful white blossoms cover the tree in early spring, followed by bright green foliage. A moderate grower that can reach 30' tall and 30' wide. Plant in full sun for best growth. Prefers well-drained soil, but MUST be watered regularly since this tree is NOT drought tolerant. Fruit should appear between June and July, but will take 3-4 years to start producing. Expect birds and other creatures to frequ

Q: Roots from my tree are popping out of the ground. What can I do to fix this? A: These roots can quickly become a tripping hazard. They can be removed/cut out with minimal stress to the tree as long as they are cut when they are small. Once they become larger and are an important part of the tree's root system, removing them can stress and damage the tree. In this case, it is best to build up the soil around the roots to cover them up.

Chinkapin Oak Quercus muehlenbergii Zone 4-7 Serrated, dark-green oak leaves with cute acorns make this tree an attractive choice when looking for a large shade tree. A slow to moderate grower that can reach 80' tall and 70' wide. Plant in full sun and in well-drained soil for best growth. Water regularly. Beautiful fall interest. Attracts squirrels and chipmunks.

This area had a flagstone patio and a firepit that the client wanted to save, but they didn’t like the way the railroad ties and the two tree stumps looked. They wanted the area freshened up to enjoy summer nights in a fully landscaped area. Removing the Silverlace vine that was growing off of the fence was the very first step. Once that was done, we removed as much of the stump as we could. Since it would be impossible to dig out the entire stump, we dug down several inches

Q; I have a bunch of goat heads in my yard! Is there any way to get rid of them? A: Goat heads are a puncture vine that is native to New Mexico. Once the seeds drop, there is little you can do to get rid of them, especially in gravel areas. The main thing that can be done to reduce goat heads is to pull the plants out prior to their seeding.

Climbing hydrangea Hydrangea anomala petiolaris Zone 5-9 If you're looking for a showy vine that can handle full shade to full sun and anything in between, this is the perfect vine to plant. Although the climbing hydrangea starts off as a slow grower, once it's established it begins to produce fast-growing stems that can quickly cover a trellis or fence. If you're looking for a showy vine that can handle full shade to full sun and anything in between, this is the perfect vine

The client's side yard was a blank slate of unscaped property. They wanted the area to have a flagstone patio with some plants to help make the area feel more welcoming. This transformation started off with clearing out the existing flagstone pieces. We needed to level the area out to prepare it for the next phase of hardscaping. We installed the moss rock border first then on the flagstone patio. We didn’t reuse the flagstone the client had for this patio for a couple of rea

Q: I like the way many of the fruit trees look, but I think fruit is messy and will attract ants. Can I get fruitless trees? A: Yes! Fruit trees can attract ants, as well as many other critters like skunks. Some trees that are fruitless include Flowering Plum and Flowering Pear. Just be aware there have been cases where Flowering Plums can eventually produce fruit.

White Shield Osage Orange Maclura pomifera Zone 4 If you need a nice, fast growing, hardy tree this may be a good fit for you. Dark green foliage with an orange tinted trunk; adds a beautiful contrast to any yard. This tree can reach 30' tall and wide. Plant in full sun and water regularly for best growth. In the fall, look forward to golden yellow leaves. Thornless and fruitless.