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Douglas County news

photo of gardeners in the garden

As the growing season comes to end, it is helpful to clean and put your garden to bed for the winter. A good fall cleanup provides multiple benefits for gardeners – it reduces weed populations and disease, minimizes plant insect pests, prevents rodent infestation, and eases the workload for next year’s spring planting.

Tractor and people in field

If you go out to your garden and discover an insect invasion, the first thing you need to do is identify the invader in question.

Grassy green and yellow striped mounded plant.

Ground covers can cover an area of your yard or garden for one season, a few seasons, or many years. They reduce weed pressure and add beauty, and also enhance soil health, provide food and habitat for pollinators, and reduce soil erosion. 

Students planting tree

Adding trees and shrubs to your landscape can help protect soil and water resources, sequester carbon, increase wildlife habitat, and provide edible fruits and nuts.

Students plant an apple tree

Spring is a great time of year to plant trees and shrubs. The timing enables roots to grow into the surrounding soil before stress due to new foliage growth and high temperatures occurs. Follow these five “best practices” to give your new trees and shrubs the best start possible.

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