May 17, 2019 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Garden Care
At In Harmony, we talk a lot about building healthy soil. But what does that mean? Take a moment to consider: soil is alive. It is not just the dirt under your fingernails. Soil is teeming with tiny critters that work to keep plants healthy. Unfortunately, many urban...
Apr 9, 2019 | Community, Eco-friendly Gardening, Nature
Earth Day is Monday, April 22. It is a good reminder to all of us that our planet needs our help. The right time to take action to help our planet is today. Not tomorrow or next month or next year. Earth Day events Many organizations sponsor events related to Earth...
Feb 26, 2019 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Nature, Pest Control
Insects could completely disappear within a century if the current rate of decline continues, according to a scientific review reported in The Guardian. The first global scientific review found that “the world’s insects are hurtling down the path to...
Feb 15, 2019 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Garden Care, Pest Control, Recommended Plants, Wildlife
During this harsh winter weather, you may think about our wild friends. Birds, wildlife, native bees and other pollinators may have a hard time finding food, water and shelter. If you have a bird feeder, make sure it has plenty of food. In Harmony has always valued...
Nov 1, 2018 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Pest Control
As the weather cools, your trees are slowing down for their winter’s rest. But some unwanted insects and mites are still active. Many scales, mites, codling moths, aphids and other soft-bodied pests lay eggs now. The eggs or mature females survive the winter on...
Oct 4, 2018 | Disease Control, Eco-friendly Gardening, Garden Care, Video
Our compost tea brewers are up and running. Soon we will begin spraying compost tea on our clients’ landscapes as part of our natural tree and shrub care service. Our clients tell us that they have seen healthier plants, more flowers and less disease. We...
Sep 6, 2018 | Community, Eco-friendly Gardening
City Fruit wants you—and your fruit trees—for the Great Seattle Fruit Harvest! Every year volunteers and staff collect thousands of pounds of fruit that would have otherwise gone to waste. They donate the fruit to meal programs, food banks and community organizations...
Jun 19, 2018 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Recommended Plants
In honor of #PollinatorWeek, we are recommending a few plants that attract butterflies. Pollinator Week is a time to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what you can do to protect them. This year it runs June 18-24. People love seeing butterflies in their...
Apr 19, 2018 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Nature, Recommended Plants
Earth Day is this Sunday, April 22. We hope you use the occasion to both celebrate steps you are already taking to help the planet and consider what else you could do. Here are a few suggestions for things you can do to help the earth in your own yard and garden....
Mar 1, 2018 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Garden Care, Video
How much time last year did you spend pulling weeds in your garden? Wouldn’t you rather spend that time enjoying your garden? Here is a tip: mulch is an effective way to reduce weed growth. It won’t stop weeds completely, but it will dramatically curtail...
Feb 15, 2018 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Recommended Plants
Are you looking for an easy way to reduce weeds in your garden? Plant more groundcovers. Weeds will invade bare ground. Adding groundcovers to landscape beds fills in bare spaces and shades the soil. Weeds will have a tough time sprouting and growing without sunlight....
Feb 6, 2018 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Garden Care
Would you like to have more fruits and flowers in your yard? One way is to bring in mason bees. Making a home for mason bees in your yard will increase your fruit harvest and encourage native plants. You have probably read about the alarming decline in bees and other...
Nov 14, 2017 | Disease Control, Eco-friendly Gardening, Garden Care, Video
We are now applying effective microorganisms to our clients’ trees and shrubs. This is a mixture of beneficial bacteria and beneficial fungi. It builds biological activity in soils, helping your plants to stay healthy. This video explains what EM is, what it...
Oct 24, 2017 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Garden Care, Landscape Design
Autumn is a great time to evaluate your landscape. How did it react to the lengthy, dry weather we had this past summer? Autumn is also a great time to get your garden ready for the winter rains. The steps you take now can also help to make your landscape more...
Jun 20, 2017 | Eco-friendly Gardening, Recommended Plants
This week, June 19-25, is National Pollinator Week. It is a time to celebrate the valuable services we get from bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles. Ten years ago the U.S. Senate unanimously approved naming a week in June as “National Pollinator Week.” It was a...