We have a patch of this growing in our front yard. We have grass and some "regular" clover patches. I assume this is a weed, but we actually like how it looks. Can you tell us what it is? Is it an invasive weed? Or is it something we could plant since we don't like the grass (it *bakes* all day long, in front of a south facing house with no tree shade)?

This is my 8 yr old magnolia tree after this summer in Austin, Mn. We’ve had heavy rains this summer followed by drought. I just noticed this problem this week. Is this due to drought conditions?

How do I get rid of the invasive lawn grass. The grass shape is cylindrical with i point and 2 or 3 inches tall and forms a mat of thin long crabby roots that sits on top of the lawn sod and kills the lawn grass with time.

While emptying a chipmunk trap, I noticed a large red-and-black beetle that I did not recognize. After removing the carcass (and the beetle) from the trap, the beetle flew away making a very loud wasp-like noise. Quick online research suggests that this is a burying beetle (N. americanus) but that these are unlikely in Minnesota. Is this sighting of any research significance? If so, who might best be contacted regarding this?

Hello, I have a Turf type tall Fescue lawn that was invaded by Bermuda during the hot dry summer. I plan on aeration, dethatching, overseeding, top dressing this fall. I am wondering if it's too late to address the Bermuda. I have seen phenoxaprop, triclopyr , ornamec. Would there be any benefit to using any of these before overseeding. I plan to overseed in the next 2 weeks. Appreciate any insight that you can give. I understand that treating Bermuda in Fescue is an often futal process. I'm hoping not to have to renovate the entire lawn.

Can I transplant a native witch hazel in autumn or should I wait until spring? The plant in question is in sheub form and about 4 feet tall and wide.

I am having a terrible time with some kind of critter coming into my yard at night and digging up my turf. My yard is surrounded by 6' high vinyl fence and I have plugged all the holes dug under the fence, so critter must be climbing neighbors' trees and coming across the top of the fence. I am very respectful of the birds and pollinators that feed in my yard and do have a cat that goes outside for a couple hours each day, so I am careful about toxic substances. I have seen scat that is ambiguous--a lot looks like skunk scat but some also looks like raccoon. Critter is really getting aggressive--pulled down a birdfeeder--and my yard is a mess. I hate to remove all my bird feeders that may be attracting mammals. Earlier in the summer we had a groundhog that was trapped and relocated, but would like to avoid traps now if possible. I am desperate for any advice you can give me. Thanks so much!

Could you please identify this plant?

Due to drought conditions this summer in the Dayton area, I now have considerable thatch build up throughout my lawn (less than 1/2 inch). What do you recommend?

Hello, I moved into a new home (Albertville, MN) last Spring with a well established lawn and well taken care of. There are some bare spots and some places the lawn looks thin though. Mid Sept, I laid down some recommended fertiIizer then waited a week and did some light over-seeding. I also adding topsoil mixed with sand to the bare areas and added a bit more seed to this to start some new growth. Since then, I have been watering twice a day and I am starting to see some new grass growing. My question is, how long into the fall should I continue to water the grass? I was planning to stop at the end of Oct but I don't know if it is okay for the new grass to go dry so early.