(For Release On Or After 03/02/07) Lawns have their purpose in the landscape. They create a restful contrast to flower beds and other elements in the landscape. Lawns also are often needed for outdoor activities and are indispensable if you have kids. On the other hand, ground covers can add beauty and interest to the home landscape, as well as reduce maintenance, when used in some areas.

(For Release On Or After 02/16/07) Now is an appropriate time to prune summer-flowering trees and shrubs, but you should take care to make sure you do it right. Especially in the case of trees, pruning should generally be done to enhance their natural shape while correcting any problems.

(For Release On Or After 02/23/07) Horticulturists don’t often discuss the fact that many of the plants we grow as ornamentals are considered poisonous. After all, cases of people eating poisonous plants are relatively rare, and there is no need to cause the public undue alarm. But there is a need for people – particularly those with children – to be aware that poisonous plants exist in our landscapes and inside our homes and to know how to deal with the situation.

(For Release On Or After 02/09/07) When you finally reach the "been there, done that" stage with the cycle of planting annuals, you might consider that perennials offer exciting challenges and great fun. February is a good time to transplant or divide perennials already in your landscape, and now through April is an excellent time to plant new perennials.

(For Release On Or After 02/02/07) Most roses will benefit from some pruning now, and some types must be pruned to perform the way we want them to. Hybrid tea and grandiflora roses, in particular, should be pruned every year during the first or second week in February.