Ask EcoBeneficial!
Helpful answers to readers' questions. Go ahead - just ask EcoBeneficial
I’d like to start some native seeds this spring. Where can I buy some?
I’d like to start some native seeds this spring. Where can I buy some? Answer: Native plant seeds can be hard to come by, but are an extremely economical way to plant. Many of our native seeds need some sort of pretreatment, but many do not. A great resource to…
What do birds eat in winter?
What do birds eat in winter, besides the seed I put out? Answer: Many of the birds in our landscapes are neo-tropical migrants which head South for the winter and come back in the spring. The really hardy feathered wonders are those birds that overwinter in our harsh winter climates. …
How can I help wild birds in the winter? How about squirrels?
How can I help wild birds in the winter? How about squirrels? Answer: You can start planning now for spring plantings to help support migrating and overwintering birds. But, there is something more immediate that you can do today – provide a clean, fresh (unfrozen!) water source for overwintering birds. …
Butterfly Bush for Butterflies?
A friend just told me that Butterfly Bush is not as helpful to butterflies as we might have thought from the name. Why is this and what should I plant in New Jersey? Answer There has been a lot of press recently about the serious decline of Monarch butterflies. This…
Winterizing Plants in Pots
Hi Kim, I attended one of your classes at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, I hope you don’t mind my asking you a question. Just returned from traveling in South America and missed timely wrapping the fig tree growing since this summer on my terrace in a pot. In the meantime…
Compacted Soil
We just had an addition put on our house and the soil in the surrounding area is now very compacted and full of debris. I want to plant there. What can I do to help the soil? Answer: You are facing a common problem after construction. The movement of heavy…