During January, we’re counting down the top landscaping trends for 2017. We’ll be taking an in-depth look at each of the six trends as determined by industry experts and consumer demand. While there are a variety of wide-ranging predictions, we found six trends most landscape industry experts agree upon. This week we take a look […]
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Toxic to Children: Synthetic Lawn Pesticides and Kids Are a Dangerous Mix
When assessing potential health risks to their children, parents shouldn’t forget their own backyard. Most conventional lawn herbicides (pesticides that kill weeds) are toxic to children. According to the National Pesticide Information Center (www.npic.orst.edu), infants and children are more sensitive to the toxic effects of pesticides than adults. Pesticides include insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. These […]
Family First: Millennial Moms Push for Healthy, Organic Lifestyle Choices
More and more new Greenwise clients are first-time moms in their 20s and early 30s. These so-called “Millennial Moms” come to us having already done their homework. They know about the importance of choosing organics. They’ve read all our online reviews. And they mention our “triple bottom line” — our commitment to giving back to […]
Fall Clean Ups: Leave Your Leaves or Rake Them to the Curb?
Just in time for Fall clean ups, there’s a story making the rounds in the media that seems to say less yard work is best. According to some interpretations, during fall clean ups raking leaf debris ‘has been declared overrated, harmful, and all-around terrible by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).’ (Yahoo! News, November 10th) Not so […]
Pesticides Kill. And Here’s the ‘Foul Five’ Other Horrible Things They’re Doing to Your Body
Pesticides kill. Pesticides kill things. It’s what they do. Everyone knows that. But what many people don’t realize is that even when they’re not killing, pesticides do very nasty things to the human body. Here are the Foul Five hidden dangers of pesticides and how to prevent them: 1. Food allergies Peeing pesticides? Yep, it’s […]
Don’t Be Fooled By “Green Washing”: 5 Questions to Help Find An Honestly Organic Lawn Care Company
Homeowners are increasingly demanding safe alternatives to toxic chemical lawn fertilization. Which means more landscapers are offering organic lawn care programs. Unfortunately, more companies are also claiming to offer organic lawn care programs. But are these programs truly organic lawn care or are they just so-called “green washing”? Green washing is when a company spends […]
Control Crabgrass Organically with These Simple Tips
Late summer in the Midwest means crabgrass. Some summers are worse than others for this hot-weather nuisance grass. And this summer has proven to be a good one for crabgrass, meaning a bad one for lawns. Fortunately, an organic approach to control crabgrass can work over time to reduce its presence. In order to control […]
BOOM: It’s Thunderstorm Season in Chicago! Create a More Storm-Proof Landscape with These 5 Tips
Storm-proof your property with a few simple landscaping additions to mitigate damaging soil erosion, manage storm-water runoff before the next deluge hits.
Proper Watering During Hot, Dry Weather Crucial to Healthy, Weed-Free Properties
Greenwise offers expert watering guidelines to keep lawns & gardens healthy during the hot, dry days of summer, without wasting water.
Smart Watering Starts BEFORE You Turn on the Garden Hose
Smart watering guidelines usually offer advice on how often and when to water your lawn and garden in order to keep things green while being eco-friendly. While this advice is important, using water smart landscape design, you can further lighten your footprint and conserve water before you even turn on your garden hose.