The Tips, Tricks, and Expertise for Better Outdoor Living Spaces

2025 Year in Review

The 2025 season brought another year of dramatic swings in weather, pest pressures, and plant health challenges across Massachusetts. From early spring leaf-out and erratic rainfall to the rapid rise of several invasive insects, homeowners saw firsthand how quickly the landscape can change. This annual review highlights the most important Massachusetts pest and plant health… View Article

How to Protect Plants Over the Winter

October 26, 2020
Have you ever noticed how rhododendron leaves curl themselves and droop in the winter? This is a natural phenomenon to reduce transpiration. Transpiration is a process by which plants naturally lose water through their leaves in order to draw more water up from the roots. Read on to learn more on how to protect plants… View Article
planting shrubs

Dos and Don’ts of Planting Trees and Shrubs

September 24, 2020
As we welcome fall, it is also the best time of year for homeowners’ to plan new trees and shrubs. We’ve put together a list of dos and don’ts for planting trees and shrubs to help as a guide for success: Plant Choice Do: The first thing to do when deciding to plant something is… View Article
dogwood tree

Watering Trees and Shrubs Efficiently

August 20, 2020
Watering trees and shrubs is very important particularly this time of year. As of August 13th, in Massachusetts 35% of the state is abnormally dry and 65% is in moderate drought, over 6” below normal rainfall. Drought does not only affect trees in the short term, but it can cause damage that may not be… View Article
mosquito swamp

Mosquito Borne Diseases

July 28, 2020
There are primarily 2 mosquito borne diseases in Massachusetts that have special concern. These 2 diseases are eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE) and West Nile virus (WNV). These Arboviruses, viruses transmitted by insects, though rare, are capable of causing serious disease. These viruses are found in birds and are transmitted from bird biting mosquitos to… View Article

Broadleaf Weeds and How to Fight Back

July 15, 2020
Broadleaf weeds are one of the biggest issues that can be found in a home lawn. There are multiple practices that can be taken to control these weeds. To obtain the most effective control on broadleaf weeds it is important to understand the different life cycles. Listed below are the three types of life cycles… View Article
honey bees

The Benefits of Honey Bees

June 16, 2020
Insects are not typically on the top of most peoples lists of favorite animals because of the pest we deal with on a regular basis. This can make it easy to overlook all of the positive benefits insects can have. In actuality, only about 3% of insects are ever considered pest leaving the other 97%… View Article

More Posts & Updates

When Evergreens Shed: Understanding Natural Needle Drop in Fall

As the seasons change, it’s easy to assume that evergreens—those steadfast trees that stay green year-round—never shed their needles. But if you’ve noticed a layer of brown needles beneath your ...
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Spotted Lanternfly

  Updated: September 2025 The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an invasive planthopper native to China, India, and Vietnam. First detected in the U.S. in Pennsylvania in September 2014, it ...
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care for new grass seedlings

How to Care for New Grass Seedlings After Aeration and Overseeding

Aeration and overseeding are two of the best services you can provide to rejuvenate your lawn. Once the process is complete, proper care is essential to ensure your new grass ...
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compost top dressing

Why Fall is the Perfect Time to Apply Compost Topdressing and Overseed with Turf-Type Tall Fescue

As we look ahead to the cooler months of fall, it's one of the best opportunities to improve your lawn's health from the ground up. At Natural Tree and Lawn, ...
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Better Water Management Starts with Better Soil: How To Help Your Lawn Thrive

Water is essential to a healthy, green lawn—but not all lawns use water equally. If your lawn seems to dry out quickly, even after a good rain or irrigation, your ...
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The Secret to a Thriving Lawn? It Starts with Quality Soil

When it comes to building a healthy, vibrant lawn, most homeowners think about seed types, fertilizers, and how often to mow. But there's a less glamorous, often overlooked component that ...
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