Home & Garden
By JOHN FERGUSON, SOUTH PLAINFIELD ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION
May 7, 2022
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ - Letting rainwater leave your property can interfere with groundwater recharge and possibly cause flooding, ice slicks in the winter, and pollution of downstream lakes and streams. Rain gardens are one possible solution available to homeowners. Commercial properties can use ...
Put away the harsh chemicals and work in concert with nature to manage pests in the garden. Create an inviting habitat for nature’s pest controllers to enlist their help with your gardening efforts. Lady beetles, praying mantis and other beneficial insects feed on damaging pests like aphids.
Spring flowering bulbs and perennials are filling our landscapes with color. As your gardens come alive this spring, start making notes on needed improvements and provide some early season color and nectar for the pollinators. This will keep your landscape looking its best all season long and for ...
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ – The construction of the 8 Second Street residential development in South Orange was approved Monday by town officials. The 42-unit development, being built by Gaff Street, was given the go-ahead by the South Orange Planning Board. The board’s approval came with a number of ...
MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Township website has listed the parameters for residents participating in the Spring Rake-Out, set to begin April 4. Materials to be picked up are limited to branches, leaves, and garden rakings when packaged as follows: Branches must not be more than four feet in ...
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Spring cleaning for South Orange lawns begins Monday, April 4. The Village has advised residents of the parameters for curbside collection of lawn and garden debris: Branches: Be sure to only leave branches under 4 inches in diameter and no roots or stumps. Leaves: Place ...
SOUTH ORANGE / MAPLEWOOD, NJ - You don’t need a lot of space or a big budget to grow and enjoy garden-fresh bouquets. Just fill a few vacant spaces, add an extra row in garden beds or fill a container with easy care flowers started from seeds. You’ll jump-start the season and enjoy earlier ...
NUTLEY, NJ — March has arrived and thoughts have turned to spring. One tried-and-true sign that the season of renewal and rebirth is around the corner is the start of Daylight Saving Time, which begins Sunday, March 13 at 2 a.m. Although some may miss the one-hour loss of sleep, most will ...
SOUTH ORANGE/MAPLEWOOD, NJ - Raise your garden to new heights for easier access and greater productivity. Raised beds allow you to overcome poor soil by creating the ideal growing mix. They also make gardening more comfortable thanks to less bending and kneeling. Whether you purchase a kit or ...
CEDAR GROVE, NJ – The Essex County Paper Shredding and Used Tire Recycling Day will take place Nov. 13 at the Essex County Public Works Department in Cedar Grove. “Along with our Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day and Computer & Electronics Recycling Day, shredding paper and recycling ...
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Bagging fallen leaves in South Orange will be encouraged but not mandatory this autumn, and leaf collection is likely to shift to bagged collection by ordinance in 2022. Currently, residents rake loose leaves into the gutter and on the street for the Department of Public Works ...
SOUTH ORANGE, NJ — Many couples have joked that although they knew they loved each other, quarantining showed whether they liked each other as well. “We did the pandemic, so we think we can do this,” said South Orange resident Amie Herman with a smile. The “this” is embarking on a big adventure ...
UNION COUNTY, NJ — Local wildlife organizations need county residents’ help to solve the mystery of an unknown illness killing young songbirds in the state, and to stop its spread. What’s happening to songbirds? Dr. Nicole Lewis, a wildlife veterinarian with the state Division of Fish and ...
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ — Letting rainwater leave your property can interfere with groundwater recharge and possibly cause flooding, ice slicks in the winter, and pollution of downstream lakes and streams. Rain gardens are one possible solution available to homeowners. Commercial properties can use ...
Now is the time to plan and plant vegetables for a bountiful fall harvest. Planting now extends the harvest season for greater yield without expanding the garden. Start by looking for vacant spaces in the vegetable garden. Fill areas that were not planted this spring or replant rows of quick ...
Celebrate National Rose Month (June) by adding a rose or two to your garden or containers this month. Now it is easier than ever to enjoy their beauty and fragrance thanks to lower maintenance and disease resistant varieties. Many gardeners have switched to hardier, more pest resistant shrub ...
Homegrown fresh vegetables not only taste better; they are more nutritious. Plus, you can control what products are applied to the plants to control insect pests and disease. The first steps to growing a productive vegetable garden and protecting your harvest begin with proper planning and ...