Volume 10 : Issue 10AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA May 19, 2026



Your Local Source for Green Inspiration and a Deeper Connection to Nature!

Mid-May shows everything around us coming to life. Lawns are greening up and growing fast, gardens are beginning their yearly displays, and the longer days give us more time to spend outdoors enjoying it all.

This time of year is about building momentum by keeping growth in check, refining the look of our clients' properties, and staying one step ahead of the summer season. From maintaining healthy turf, refreshing planting beds, and tacking outdoor projects, May offers plenty of opportunities to elevate your outdoor spaces and make your landscape your summer haven! Shayne

2026 SPRING DAY OF SERVICE

This crew worked at removing invasive plants from Steep Rock Preserve in Washington.

On Saturday, April 25, we hosted our annual Spring Day of Service, bringing employees, friends and business associates together to volunteer for a day dedicated to giving back to the community. With tools in hand and a shared sense of purpose, the teams worked side by side to beautify local spaces and make a lasting impact for the people that visit these places.

The day was dedicated to improving and maintaining public outdoor spaces across several locations. In New Milford, efforts took place at the New Milford Public Library, The Children’s Center, Sunny Valley Preserve (in partnership with The Nature Conservancy), Pratt Nature Center, Bull’s Field, and a Habitat for Humanity home. Meanwhile, in Washington, a team focused on removing invasive species at Steep Rock Preserve, while in New Fairfield, another group carried out a comprehensive spring cleanup at Candlewood Fishing Camp.

Beyond the aesthetic improvements, the Day of Service highlights YardScapes’ ongoing commitment to community involvement and environmental stewardship. Volunteers embraced the opportunity to contribute their skills while strengthening connections with one another and the neighborhoods they serve.

As the day came to a close, the results were clear—healthier landscapes, stronger relationships, and a renewed sense of pride in giving back. YardScapes looks forward to continuing this tradition at our Fall Day of Service in November.

CLICK TO WATCH THE VIDEO

COMMON GARDEN PESTS

Aphids on a rose bud.

In Connecticut gardens, pest activity is just starting to ramp up as temperatures warm and plants put out fresh growth. Many pest problems come from insects that target tender new leaves.

Aphids are especially widespread this time of year. These tiny insects cluster on stems and the undersides of leaves, sucking plant sap and causing leaves to curl or distort. Alongside aphids, mites and scale insects may begin feeding early in the season, weakening plants before summer arrives. Beetles and borers are also beginning their seasonal lifecycle although most become most destructive in the summer.

May is a key monitoring window while many pests are still in early life stages, making them easier to control if spotted quickly. Regularly checking new growth, leaf undersides, and stems can help catch issues before they turn into heavier summer infestations.

Beneficial insects such as lady beetles, lacewings, hoverflies, parasitic wasps, some ground beetles, along with spiders and mantises rely on these pests for much of their diet. In a healthy garden there is a natural balance, and pesticide use is minimal to none. The key is to encourage the "good bugs" to make a home in your garden!

Below: Boxwood leaf miner

NATIVE PLANT OF THE MONTH

Beyond its beauty, buttonbush is truly a wildlife powerhouse. Its nectar-rich blooms are magnets for pollinators, attracting a wide range of bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects throughout the summer months.

Buttonbush also serves as an important host for moth species and supports the broader food web by providing critical habitat and resources. As the flowers fade, they develop into rounded seed heads that persist into fall and winter, offering food for birds such as ducks and songbirds while also providing year-round landscape interest.

Buttonbush plays an important role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Its dense, multi-stemmed growth offers shelter and nesting sites for birds, while its roots help stabilize soil along waterways and reduce erosion. Because it blooms when many earlier plants are finished, it helps fill a crucial seasonal gap, supplying nectar when pollinators need it most. Plus, it can survive in waterlogged soil, making it an excellent choice for wetland restoration projects.