Jesse Peters, Author at Jessecology

Sustainable Gardening/Landscaping: The 5 Principles. Sustainable Gardening/Landscaping: The 5 Principles: Part I. When explicitly distilled down to basics, responsible landscaping is actually pretty simple. Sticking to the 5 “best practice” principles for eco-landscaping especially empowers gardeners to physically create a better world through their work. Continuing education regarding plant literacy coupled with a willingness to […]

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Protecting Plants from Deer. The Mild Winter Affect. Altogether the mild winter this year gave way to an exploding mammal population in spring. Undoubtedly there are more chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, woodchucks, skunks and deer than normal. A seasonally typical year results in some natural checks and balances to wildlife populations. Conversely, a snowstorm absent

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Do Deer Eat Pumpkins? Do deer eat pumpkins? This question is not so flippantly dismissed as the Deer + Mums query. Because pumpkins are amazing. Whether you love pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin bread, roasted pumpkin seeds or just a happy orange globe of decoration you can’t do fall without the pumpkins. We

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Blue Mistflower: A Native Wildflower for Pollinator-Friendly Gardens At Jessecology Eco-Landscaping, we love highlighting native plants that not only beautify the landscape but also support biodiversity. Today, let’s explore a fantastic native wildflower: Blue Mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum). If you’re considering adding vibrant color and pollinator appeal to your garden, this plant should be on your

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Aromatic Aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) and White Snake root (Eupatorium rugosum) in the climate change gardens.

Climate Change + Gardens. Climate Change + Gardens: Future-Proofing with Biodiversity and Soil Health. As climate change intensifies, environmentally conscious homeowners are facing new gardening challenges. Extreme weather patterns, shifting plant hardiness zones, and emerging pests, novel invasive plants and diseases are reshaping landscapes. But by taking proactive steps, we can design resilient, future-proof gardens.

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Plants deer eat include a lot of native wildflowers and of course, hosta.

Plants Deer Eat. Plants Deer Eat: A Permaculture Approach to Managing Deer in Your Garden Altogether, one of the most persistent challenges is managing gardens gracefully with deer populations nearby. While these elegant creatures are a beautiful part of the ecosystem, they can also wreak havoc on carefully curated gardens. For those who want

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Do Deer Eat Mums? The answer to the question, “Do deer eat Mums?” Is a quick, “Yes.” Of course, they do. Why wouldn’t they? They’re hungry and Mums are abundant, freshly planted and bland as heck. Why do you want to plant Mums anyway? Here’s a better question. “Why do you want to plant Mums

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Fall Garden Planting. Why is Fall Garden Planting the Best Strategy? Why Is Fall the Best Time for New Landscaping Projects? There are countless reasons why fall is the ideal season for starting new landscaping projects, and it all begins with one simple truth: it’s easier. When you start a landscape renovation or new garden

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Low maintenance plants grow in the wild.

Low Maintenance Plants: A Native Landscaping Solution. Book an estimate for low maintenance landscaping now. Low Maintenance Planning. If you’re looking for a beautiful garden that requires less upkeep, native plants are your best option. Native species have evolved to thrive in their local environment, making them naturally low maintenance. They’re perfectly adapted to the

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Aromatic aster is the best fall perennial plant to plant.

Perennials to plant in fall. Book an estimate now. Cooperate with nature. When you plant your garden in fall, you mimic nature’s rhythm exactly. Cooperating with nature makes all the garden work much easier. In autumn, the visible parts of perennials are beginning to go dormant. But underground? The roots are stimulated by the lower

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Apple Picking in Upstate NY: Top 5 Places to Visit. Top 5 Apple Picking Farms to Visit. 1. Your own backyard. Seriously, why not? Plant some apple trees today and soon you’ll never need to leave home for apple picking. You can do the planting yourself or hire a professional. 2. Saratoga Apple. Located in

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Swamp Plants: Nature’s Wetland Wonders TL;DR version: Book an estimate now for wetland restoration. Swamps are rich, vibrant ecosystems, and the plants in these wetlands play a crucial role in keeping them healthy. Specifically, swamp plants thrive in waterlogged soil, helping to filter pollutants, control erosion, and support wildlife. For eco-conscious homeowners, planting native swamp species

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Norway Maple tree vs Sugar Maple. Native Sugar Maples (Acer saccharum) and invasive Norway Maples (Acer platanoides) can seem similar at first, but there are key differences. Identifying these differences is important for preserving native ecosystems. Here’s how to tell them apart: 1. Leaf Shape and Texture Sugar Maple: The leaves have five distinct lobes

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New York Ironweed: Natural gardens in Saratoga, NY with native plants like NY Ironweed.

NY Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracenis) New York Ironweed: A Bold Choice for Native Gardens New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis) is a must-have for anyone restoring habitat and adding stunning beauty to their landscape. This tall, sturdy plant can reach up to 7 feet. Its vivid purple blooms create a bold pop of color in late summer when

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Do plants have feelings? Yes, about plant things.

Do plants have feelings? The mystery intrigues gardeners, ecologists, and anyone who spends time in nature. Ancient Christian legends teach that nature did not experience the fall of man. Thus, the earth’s flora and fauna still exist in a pristine state of paradise. While plants don’t have souls like humans, they exhibit fascinating responses to

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Garden Stewardship. The Key to Eco-Garden Success: Good Garden Stewardship Practices. The first 3 years are everything. Creating an eco-garden filled with native plants is an essential step toward restoring biodiversity and supporting local ecosystems. However, successful native species landscaping projects do not end at installation. Rather, intentional and skilled stewardship is the key to

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The history of garden gnomes includes a lot of cuties.

The history of garden gnomes is whimsical and intriguing. Generally, folklore, craftsmanship, and popular culture are all spotlighted. Origins in European Folklore Garden gnomes trace their roots to European folklore, especially in Germany and Scandinavia. In these traditions, gnome-like creatures were guardians of the earth. People believed these beings brought good luck, protected buried treasure,

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Helenium is one of the prettiest fall flowering low maintenance plants that are native to New York State.

As autumn approaches, fall flowering plants that are native to New York State burst into vibrant color. These native species provide essential late-season nectar for pollinators and enhance the beauty of gardens, parks, and natural spaces. Consider adding these fall flowering plants that are native to New York State to your garden. New England Aster

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Silver Maple tree canopies are enormous.

Silver Maple Trees in New York: A Beautiful Tree with a Complex Legacy Silver Maples (Acer saccharinum) are undeniably stunning trees. Their silvery bark, massive trunks, and glossy leaves shimmer in the sunlight. Contrary to some misconceptions, Silver Maples are indeed native to New York State and much of the eastern United States. They thrive

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Forest Gardening Forest gardening is a revolutionary approach to sustainable landscaping that mimics the natural structure of a forest. By carefully layering plants, from towering trees to ground-hugging herbs, a forest garden creates a self-sustaining ecosystem. Not only does this method provide food, but it also nurtures wildlife, conserves water and enhances soil health. A

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Author name: Jesse Peters

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