Need some fresh air in your home or office? Now is a good time to green up your indoor landscape with new houseplants.

Did you know that NASA scientists have found that houseplants can greatly improve the air quality in your home? When you have growing plants in your home or office, you are scrubbing harmful gasses out of the air through the everyday process of photosynthesis. No matter which ones you choose, houseplants naturally and effectively clean the air you breathe through their recycling of the air around them.

Some plants are better than others in removing harmful household toxins, though. Some of the following are the best air cleaners and can even remove up to 90% of the chemicals in the air. This could mean a decreased risk of allergies, cancers, asthma and other diseases.

Some "air cleaners" you are sure to enjoy include pothos, palms, peace lilies, ferns and many others. You may want to ask a houseplant expert to help you pick out plants that would do best in the lighting of your home or office.

Want something that can grow in a poorly-lit area? Try a pothos plant. Want something that has blooms to brighten up your indoor living area? Get some orchids - their blooms can last 6-12 weeks or even longer!

Want something that you can hang up? Two of the best hanging "air cleaner" plants are Boston ferns and Spider plants.

Of course, the more vigorously your plants grow the better job they will do for you. You should discuss with your houseplant professional about each plant's needs for lighting, food and water. It's also a good idea to dust the plant's leaves off with a damp cloth to allow particles in the air to absorb well.

Look at the space you have available and then choose one 10-12 inch potted plant per 100 square feet to effectively purify your air.

Another benefit of houseplants is that they look much nicer than putting in an electrical air purifier!

Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica, like other sumacs, are attractive for their distinctive characteristics which include; beautiful and variable colors (from orange to deep reds) of the compound leaves, the fuzzy red fruit that provides a food source for wildlife, curving branches and a suckering habit. The fragrance implied by its name doesn't necessarily mean an attractive fragrance however it isn't as objectionable as is suggested by this plant's alternate names. A couple of examples are skunkbush and polecatbush but you determine if those appellations are appropriate.

Fragrant Sumac matures to about 3 or 4 feet in height and a width of about 6 feet. Its spread is accomplished through suckering and can be restricted by removing unwanted suckers. It is recommended that pruning be done to eliminate older growth and the younger suckers be allowed to grow to renew and fill out the bush. Colonies form more rapidly in areas of full sun and partial shade retards the rapid expansion while full sun produces the most vivid fall color.

Yellow clusters of flowers appear in early spring followed by brown catkins that mature during summer and remain through fall and winter. Besides its visual appeal, the tough nature of this plant makes it an ideal choice for shady areas in naturalizing areas or low maintenance gardens. It succeeds in a wide range of soil conditions including infertile areas that receive little moisture. It's shallow and fibrous root system makes Fragrant Sumac a good choice for planting on slopes where it will offer soil stabilization.

As mentioned earlier, growth expansion can be contained by removal of suckers and, if planted near an area of manicured lawn, mowing any unwanted suckers will eliminate growth into unwanted areas. In less formal areas, simply pull the suckers or use something more aggressive such as a brush hog.

If you are cultivating a wildlife habitat, Fragrant Sumac is a good choice. The fruit is valuable winter food for a variety of birds, mammals such as raccoon, opossum and chipmunk and areas covered with this garden native provide cover for many species of birds and small mammals.

• Pruners - $5.00
• Loppers - $5.00
• Lawn mower blades - $6.00 (sorry, no reel mowers)
• Mulching mower blades - $6.00
• Hedge shears - $5.00  
• Electric and cordless hedge shears - $10.00
• Hoes, shovels and trowels - $3.00 
• Larger items - we will quote a price 

(We don't sharpen chain saw blades.)