Click here to see how you can earn points toward Conservation@Home certification
Bringing nature home is easy with Conservation@Home. Through fairly simple steps, your property can retain its aesthetics while supporting clean water, rich soil and resilient ecosystems. This is of particular value in Lake County, home to the state's greatest diversity of native plants and wildlife.
Ready to get started? Here are five steps to get you on your way to beautiful, eco-friendly landscapes.
Plant finder can help with your native garden planningWe discovered that the website we created for our native plant sale this year is also a great tool for identifying native plants and for native garden planning. So, when the winter winds blow and you start dreaming about next year's garden plans, check it out!
Plant Finder
Conservation@Home Featured PropertyThis spring, when Jim Futransky and Amy Dickinson of Libertyville began to install the 8,000 plants called for in their new landscaping plan, little did they know we were headed for a rainless summer of record-breaking heat. As the owners of Veggie Cooking Around the World, Jim and Amy are no strangers to the impact of weather on plants. Watering late into the evening on many occasions, they persevered and so did their plants. The yard's makeover solved drainage issues with beautiful rain gardens and bioswales. It easily scored the 100 points needed to qualify for certification in the Conservation@Home program.
Conservation@Home Featured PropertyThis spring, when Jim Futransky and Amy Dickinson of Libertyville began to install the 8,000 plants called for in their new landscaping plan, little did they know we were headed for a rainless summer of record-breaking heat. As the owners of Veggie Cooking Around the World, Jim and Amy are no strangers to the impact of weather on plants. Watering late into the evening on many occasions, they persevered and so did their plants. The yard's makeover solved drainage issues with beautiful rain gardens and bioswales. It easily scored the 100 points needed to qualify for certification in the Conservation@Home program.
Buckthorn is a shrub or small tree growing up to 20-25' tall and left unchecked invades forests, woodlands, oak savannas, and prairies. (Click on the listing for common buckthorn on our Invasives Species list for more information). The best time to eradicate buckthorn is in the late fall and winter. Here's what to do if you have buckthorn on your property.
Tordon RTU, is pre-mixed trichlopyr with oil. Be sure to read and follow label directions. See our Products and Services page to find where to purchase Tordon RTU.
An eco-friendly landscape can look beautiful while saving you time and money. Studies also show that natural landscaping can preserve or even improve your property value. The biggest impact occurs when trees are planted and portions of lawn are converted to well-designed native flower gardens and/or beds of native shrubs. Like a savings account, this requires an initial investment. But even small changes can make a difference.
With today's busy and computer-driven lives, we're sometimes pressed to find time for a walk in the local park or forest preserve. Yet we know in our hearts that it's good for the kids – and for us adults, too. And sure enough, research backs that hunch.
Small changes can make a differenceThese days, news reports are filled with worrisome stories about the planet that can leave us feeling powerless. But we do have control over an important aspect of planetary health. At the end of the day, we can feel good about changes we've made to our own properties – seemingly small changes that make a big impact.
Support Songbirds and ButterfliesBluebirds, goldfinches, warblers and dozens of other treasured Midwestern birds need our help to survive. So do butterflies, dragonflies and pollinators. Their biggest challenge is finding good habitat that offers food, shelter and water. Eco-landscaping solves that problem while also creating beautiful landscapes for people. Native plants are critical.
Bringing nature home is easy with Conservation@Home. By using our resources along with our free on-site advice, you can invite nature to your property and reap its benefits daily. Here are five steps to get you on your way to beautiful, eco-friendly landscapes. Get started
1. Invite natives in
2. Update your lawn care
3. Find and remove invasives
4. Follow your water
5. Ask us for help! Sign up for a free consultation or contact us with your questions.
