Many homeowners in the Pacific Northwest suffer from poor quality lawn areas and in some cases entire lawns. To determine the appropriate resolution, it is important to first determine why your lawn is not thriving. There are numerous reasons. Poor drainage Poor soil drainage is the number one cause for lawn challenges. This problem can be identified by the presence of moss or standing water. If you have a considerable amount of moss present in your lawn, it indicates a drainage issue, where surface water is unable to adequately drain through the soil, which drowns the grass, leading to poor grass root establishment, which allows moss to quickly establish. Most soil types with poor drainage, such as high clay content usually also suffer from poor soil oxygen levels, which is also optimum conditions for moss establishment. Soil types with clay material can be amended with compost or mixed with a...

Description Native to Asia, the Himalayan blackberry is an evergreen shrub with canes covered in thorns and berries that are edible for humans. It can grow in a variety of environments and often is found along roadsides, riverbanks, parks, and other disturbed areas. Himalayan blackberry shades out smaller, native species, reducing native plant and wildlife diversity. Its extensive stands can decrease usable pasture, limit animals’ access to water, and trap young livestock. Blackberry fruit can be a food source to invasive birds and mammals such as European starlings and rats. The Himalayan Blackberry was accidently released from an experimental nursery in 1885, where it quickly spread from California to Alaska. In Washington State, the Himalayan Blackberry is considered an aggressive invasive species and is a nuisance to many Washington State homeowners. It can rapidly spread through vegetative reproduction by rooting stems and fragments, produce large quantities of seeds dispersed by...