Blue Sparrow

Mulch is one of the most beneficial tools in your landscaping toolbox—but only when it’s used correctly. While mulching is widely recommended for protecting plants, retaining moisture, and improving soil health, common misconceptions can actually cause more harm than good. Let’s break down some of the most common mulch myths and explain what truly helps […]

One of the questions I hear more than almost any other is: “Joy, when can I stop watering my plants?” Most people assume that once the temperatures drop and plants go dormant, the watering cans can be packed away until spring. But the truth is — your trees and shrubs still depend on you through

If you’ve noticed small, pinecone-like bags hanging from your trees and shrubs, you might be dealing with bagworms — a common pest that can cause significant damage to evergreens and other plants across Missouri. Understanding their life cycle and how to manage them can help protect your landscape from future infestations. What Are Bagworms? Bagworms

If you’ve noticed fast-growing shrubs with bright red berries and fragrant white or yellow flowers crowding your yard or nearby woods, chances are you’ve encountered invasive bush honeysuckle. While it may look pretty at first glance, this plant is a major threat to Missouri’s landscapes — and now is the time to take action. Why

If you’ve noticed wiry, bright green shoots popping up in your lawn that seem to grow faster than everything else — you might be dealing with nutsedge. Sometimes mistaken for regular grass or weeds, nutsedge is actually a sedge, meaning it’s more closely related to lilies than turfgrass. And while it might look harmless, it