Can I plant container grown hardy shrubs and vines into the winter as long as there’s no freeze in the forecast? And if I do, should I cover with a frost blanket if overnight temps are expected to dip below freezing? The soil in my Portland garden is very workable right now. Thanks!

in reviewing Native Plants for Michigan Landscape MSU document, it is recommended to be successful to know your site conditions: soil texture, pH, fertility, moisture conditions, weed problems and history of use. What soil test can I submit to MSU to assist in determine the soil texture, pH, fertility?

Hi - This spring I would like to convert a portion of my yard (approx. 4500 sq. ft.) into areas covered by groundcover. The area is mostly shaded with limited sun exposure. Ideally, I'd like something that can grow in this environmwent and spreads wide and fairly quickly. Can you provide any suggestions for groundcover I should consider? I did a quick browse and saw Pachysandra. Would this be a good choice? Also would you recommend one species to plant, a couple or several types to plant? Thanks John

Can I hot water bath elderberry juice?

May a Disabled Veteran who is receiving the Veterans Exemption from the State of Michigan for his property taxes, still receive the exemption if they are renting three of the four bedrooms in the house they are living in?

Hello- Pleasanton Township Board is looking for information about redoing our ballfield. In the past we had diamond dust and maintained the field but then it wasn't used anymore so the township stopped maintaining it. We have high community interest and are exploring a grant through our local community foundation. We are needing to determine the best material for the baselines. This would be a middle school and younger game field and all age practice field. We are looking to put clay or another acceptable material for the baselines and pitcher mound and then grass the rest of the infield and outfield. We have reached out to local municipalities and other community members who have participated in redo other fields in our county and am struggling getting to the right people regarding the materials.

Good Morning, I work at a school with special education students and would like to bring in gardening activities for them as well as learn more about careers that are related to horticulture. I was wondering if it would be possible in the spring to come and help us set up a garden. We would plant it in the spring prior to summer break and be looking to do crops that would require little effort to maintain over the summer that we could harvest in the fall when the students return to school. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks.

Hello, I am looking at my soil test report, and I think I understand what i need to do mostly but I want to check. It says my calcium level is 750 ppm, but no analysis was provided for that. Do you think I should add calcium to my soil? Or is it within a decent range? I read that for my level of cec (6) 700 is fine. My ph is 6 so I dont think i need to add lime, but should I add lime or a non-ph changing calcium? This is for a lawn with shrubs and flowers.

For almost 2 weeks now, a male cardinal has been launching himself at the top corner of my dining room window. He usually starts around 7am and goes on for about an hour. He'll sometimes do it in the afternoon as well. I know the conventional wisdom is that he sees his reflection and is being territorial, but that can't be the case here. The window is almost completely shielded by a holly bush, and he launches himself from a good foot and a half below the particular window pane he strikes - it's always at the same place, and he couldn't possibly see his reflection from there. Even if he could, he'd have a better and closer reflection to attack. I've put silhouettes of owls, covered some of the panes with black paper, put out a feeder - nothing makes any difference. I don't worry any more about him hurting himself - I just want him to stop. Any advice would be appreciated. It would be difficult for me to do anything on the outside of the window but I'd hire someone if necessary. I have video. Thank you.

Hello. I am a cat/dog owner and I have 3 horses on 20 acres - we have lived on this property for 22 years. I have just lost a 3rd dog to hemangiosarcoma (a cancerous mass on the spleen) - and I have had multiple other dogs with cancer-related illnesses, and a cat with mammary cancer and another with bladder cancer. We are surrounded on 4 sides by crops/agriculture, and currently, my husband sprays our entire property/or spot sprays for weeds once a year. I assume that there is a higher correlation between cancer and the chemicals used to control weeds (and of course, I know that there are a million other things that probably cause cancer as well) To be fair to my neighbors, I know I need to use SOMETHING to control weeds on our property, but I'm wondering if there is something slightly SAFER to use for horses and pets. I don't need my yard to be fancy or totally weed free, but it's just too large to go out and dig up or pick out these weeds by hand. Thanks for any help you can offer me!