Author: Drew

Little Bluestem Along Walkway

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Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, lining a client’s front walkway. This grass’ ornamental value is best in the fall.

Witch Hazel Blooming in November

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Witch Hazel, Hamemalis virginiana, is the very last thing to flower to my knowledge, often flowering well into November. Great shrub, small tree for sun to shade.

Fall Prairie Seeding

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This quarter acre was seeded today for a wet prairie planting. Over the summer I killed the grass and fall sowings are best for seed germination in the spring. Seed is mixed with potting soil to bulk it up so an even sowing is possible.

Native Seeding

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Creating Sustainable Landscapes provides native seeding services for our clients and will be doing several seedings this fall. Here are two mixes – one for a wet and another for a dry Black Walnut wooded area. We have the capability of acquiring custom mixes for your specific application. Want to know more? Contact us.

Controlling Viburnum Leaf Beetles

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The European Viburnum Leaf Beetle is now in Michigan and chewing up Viburnums. What makes this pest such a nuisance is that it eats Viburnums in both their larval and adults stages. Viburnums are the only things they eat. One way to control them is to cut the plant to the ground after the first… Read more »

How to Cure a Lawn

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Funny short video on the hazards of lawns. http://www.treehugger.com/lawn-garden/how-cure-lawn-lust-6-minutes.html

Integrating Rain Gardens Into Larger Landscaping Features

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Most rain gardens are standalone features. Consider integrating them into the landscape as part of even larger beds. These three pictures from my house have two rain gardens integrated into a shrub border, upland perennial bed, and pond. Can you even spot the rain gardens?  

Talks and Classes, Week of May 17

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Rain Gardens, May 18, 7 pm, Ann Arbor Rec & Ed The Beauty of Native Plants: Their Function in Supporting Wildlife in Urban and Suburban Landscapes, May 19, 7:30 pm, Huron Valley Chapter, Sierra Club, Matthaei Botanical Gardens. The Beauty of Native Plants: Their Function in Supporting Wildlife in Urban and Suburban Landscapes, May 20,… Read more »