Brian Albright

Planning and proper irrigation are key to controlling diseases in the landscape

Nothing mars the appearance of an otherwise attractive landscape like yellow, brown or wilted plants.

Poorly drained, marshy areas can be a challenge for landscape professionals and homeowners alike. Excessive moisture can displace soil oxygen and suffocate the roots of many shrubs, trees and perennials, and even make it difficult to maintain many grasses.

Warranties are a fact of life in many industries — almost every major appliance, computer, car or power tool comes with some sort of guarantee that if the product fails in the first six months or year, you can get it fixed or replaced.

Landscape designers spend a lot of time looking down—understandable, since their livelihoods are linked to the soil. But Kurt Horvath, owner of Intrinsic Landscaping in Glenview, IL, has his head in the clouds these days. Horvath is one of a growing number of landscapers specializing in the design and construction of green roofs, those eco-friendly islands of greenery that dot formerly drab roofscapes around the world.

Cities across the U.S. showed off their landscaping skills and their community spirit in this year's America In Bloom competition. The annual contest, now in its sixth year, provides an avenue for communities to expand involvement in their beautification programs.

It's well know that invasive plant species can disrupt native ecosystems, but Colorado and a few other western states are dealing with a noxious weed that sounds like something out of an old science fiction movie — not only will the plant choke-off native flora, it can actually burn people.