Yards and Landscaping – East Metro Water

Give me a home where the bees and butterflies roam

By: angiehongmn November 26, 2021November 23, 2021

Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, featured, lawns to legumes, native plants, prairie, prairie restoration, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

A native plant revival is underway and Lawns to Legumes grants are here to help.

Wetland in your yard?

By: angiehongmn November 4, 2021November 2, 2021

Keeping water clean, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, native plants, Valley Branch Watershed District, Washington Conservation District, WetlandsLeave a Comment

Wetlands protect nearby homes from flooding and help to reduce shoreline erosion along the edges of rivers and lakes. If you have a wetland on or near your property, however, you may need to make some changes in your landscaping and seasonal yard care.

On the forest and the trees

By: angiehongmn October 11, 2021

Yards and Landscapingfall, featured, forest, leaves, woodlands1 Comment

Take a break from raking leaves and get involved in efforts to create more resilient woodlands this fall.

Wildlife-friendly fall gardens

By: angiehongmn September 23, 2021September 21, 2021

Yards and Landscapingbees, birds, fall, featured, gardening, leavesLeave a Comment

In the coming weeks, there are several steps you can take to prep your yard and gardens for winter and continue to support pollinators, birds and other wildlife.

Where the land is neither wet nor dry

By: angiehongmn September 2, 2021August 31, 2021

Keeping water clean, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, habitat restoration, Isanti County, wetland restoration, WetlandsLeave a Comment

Dave Medvecky’s project in Isanti County will restore approximately 13 acres of wetlands that have been lost to farming for nearly a century.

Hard Fescue and SMART Controllers Allow for Green Grass with Less Water

By: angiehongmn August 26, 2021

Water Conservation, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, lawns, low mow grass, SMART controllers, sustainable lawns, water conservationLeave a Comment

At the end of a long, hot summer with no irrigation or rain, the plot with 100% hard fescue grass was still lush and green, while the one with Kentucky bluegrass was almost entirely dead.

Tree care and woodland management

By: angiehongmn August 16, 2021

Buckthorn, Yards and Landscapingbuckthorn, drought, featured, forests, trees, woodlandsLeave a Comment

If you are working to remove large areas of buckthorn, MyMinnesotaWoods staff advise that late summer and fall are the best times to cut and treat buckthorn stumps with herbicide in order to prevent regrowth.

Bee Lawns are Green Lawns

By: angiehongmn July 22, 2021July 22, 2021

Yards and Landscapingbee lawns, bees, Blue Thumb, drought, featured, lawns, pollinators, water conservation1 Comment

Unlike typical lawns, bee-friendly lawns feature a mix of drought-tolerant fine fescue grasses and low-growing flowers such as Dutch white clover, creeping thyme, and self heal.

Feeling parched in the Land of 10,000 Lakes

By: angiehongmn June 17, 2021June 18, 2021

Groundwater, Yards and Landscapingdrinking water, drought, featured, groundwater, irrigation, lawn care1 Comment

According to the University of Minnesota, approximately 20% of all treated drinking water in the Twin Cities metro area is used outdoors, with a majority of this being used on lawns and landscapes.

Create pockets of habitat with native plants

By: angiehongmn June 3, 2021June 3, 2021

Yards and Landscapingbirds, featured, gardening, native plants, plant grants, pollinators, sustainable landscaping, WildlifeLeave a Comment

Minnesotans can help to restore habitat for wildlife by planting native flowers, shrubs and trees in our yards to create pocket oases and connected corridors near larger parks and natural areas.