Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/287250
april 2014 | bravamagazine.com 23 Visit our online database. If you're planting near overhead power lines it's important to select the right tree or shrub. To help, we offer an online database of trees and shrubs categorized by height. This comprehensive database includes 100s of plants with color photos. Search on flowers, fruit, hardiness zone, shade tolerance, growth rate and more. Visit mge.com/trees and find your new tree or shrub. GS1583 03/03/2014 7.25" x 4.75" Planning to plant trees or shrubs? WaTer Wise gardening e focus on xeriscaping and less water- intensive gardening has grown rapidly in the past several years. Locally, that means selecting plants that require less mainte- nance and water to help reduce a garden's environmental impact. You could replace parts of your lawn with vegetable beds, native plants or trees, but if you like lush green lawn as part of your landscape, try lower-input lawn care. Steve Stumbras of Purple Cow Organ- ics suggests soil-building products like compost and compost teas to improve the health of your lawn naturally. Stumbras says compost plays into water savings because of its holding capacity. "Starting with better soil for turf and amending pots and containers so they hold water better goes a long way toward cutting down on water usage," he advises. Urban HomesTeads Peer over garden fences in any Madison neighborhood and you'll be greeted by the sight of chicken coops, beehives and mini-orchards. Nationally more of us are starting to think about where our food comes from and wanting those sources to be closer to home. For many area resi- dents this concern translates into whole- yard makeovers that will, in the end, provide them with more than standard garden vegetables. Nathan Clarke, of Mad Urban Bees, has 50 hives scattered in yards throughout the Madison area and a waiting list of people wanting to host his bees on their property. For him, bees serve a twofold purpose in the garden: pollinating existing crops and provid- ing homeowners with an extremely local source of sugar. oUTdoor enTerTaining feaTUres Our summer outdoor entertaining sea- son is a short one. Nevertheless, adding elements like decks, screened porches, outdoor kitchens and main-focus fi re pits enhance your yard to welcome guests. "Traditionally, if a homeowner had a fi re pit, it would be placed in the far reaches of the property and would maybe be a circle of small boulders set on the ground," says Errin Schlapbach of Gan- shert Nursery. "More and more, people are wanting the fi re pit to be a feature of the yard with a more fi nished look and for it to be put in the main outdoor en- tertaining area." Headed THis Way Midwesterners love their lawns. In other areas of the country homeowners fi nd lawns expensive and high maintenance. Gardeners out West are eliminating lawns and adding beauty and interest through- out the year with decorative and edible plantings. Heirloom is the buzzword in the vege- table world. New and old gardeners alike are on the hunt for the best tasting to- mato or pepper out there, and heirloom varieties deliver both exceptional taste and interesting histories.