I'm glad to see there are more of us who find alternatives to chemicals for producing food. Lasagna method entered my mind, as did raised beds, which I believe Marda uses. I do intensive cropping and believe me, when you dedicate so much of your square footage to vegetable plants and foliage, as opposed to a 'magic' number of feet for empty rows, the weed problems are drastically diminished. I also use mulches in my vegetable garden. Not only do they make weeding easier, since the weeds who do survive the darkness are stringy and weak and easily pulled, it conserves precious soil moisture and moderates soil temperature. Weeds and grasses in your vegetable plot become so much easier to deal with as your garden matures. If you think of it, when you pull out weeds before they get a chance to develop seed heads, then the gardens are not being 'seeded' with weeds and there is a break in the link of reproduction. I have no clue actually to how large my garden plot is now. Last year I double the size of it. I do not routinely use any power equipment in it after it is planted. I do it with a human powered cultivator and a hoe. No, I don't spend unGodly amounts of time working it, I have a business to run and a household to maintain. But, it still gives me enough vegetables to supply us, give to my family stuff they don't grow and can enough to see us through the winter. Ploughs, harrows and tillers to bring the roots to the surface will work, if you don't mind gathering them up to compost. As you work with the soil and add organic components, the soil becomes a delight. Two years ago, I could put in a plant by digging the soil out with my hands. That's how nice it was. Last year was a different story as the man who ripped it for the season did it when it was too wet, and messed up the tilth. I am not an organic fanatic. I have a pesticide applicator's permit, and will let my husband use herbicides with discretion in my ornamental beds if needed. But we drink our groundwater since it ends up in our spring and wells, no? I do not apply pesticides outside unless it's absolutely necessary and that's been twice in twenty years and it's been horticultural oils and they are ecologically soft and very effective.

Burning bush is considered an invasive plant in Wisconsin. Maybe it's time to give something else a try - perhaps the bunnies are trying to tell you something! The following alternatives are suggested for the mid-west: Aronia arbutifolia (Red chokeberry) Brilliant red fall color; red berries Aronia melanocarpa (Black chokeberry) Brilliant red fall color; black berries Fothergilla major (Large fothergilla) White flower clusters; red to orange fall color Fothergilla 'Mt. Airy' and 'Blue Shadow' Abundant white flowers; red to purple fall color Itea virginica (Virginia sweetpire) Bright red fall color; arched branches; fragrant white flower clusters Viburnum prunifolium (Blackhaw) Small white flowers in dense clusters; dark blue berries persist into winter Rhus copallinum (Shining sumac) Brilliant red autumn color; drooping red berry clusters; glossy leaves Euonymus americanus (Strawberry bush) Red capsules open to reveal orange-red berries; green stems in winter Euonymus atropurpureus (Eastern wahoo) Dark purple fall foliage; red fruits are attractive to wildlife Here is a link that might be useful: source of alternatives

So i have researched the chinese pistache tree and it is incredibly beautiful with its fall/ winter colors...So now my next question is where do you buy one?!?!?! I have been all over town to different nurseries and they all tell me that they either don't know about the tree, where to find it, or even what it is. I looked at moon valley nursery, and even though they are a little pricey, they dont have it and they said that the best they could offer is the Sweetgum tree...So (1) Does ANYONE who has a Chinese Pistache know where to buy one and (2)Does anyone know about the sweetgum tree? Thanks for all of your help! -AZnursingstudent.

Sorry to hear about your burning bushes, cleanqueen. I'm sorry I can't offer any help, but I feel your pain. Our Callery Pear has suffered from something this season, and is dropping its leaves super early. I can tell you we had an arborist out for a consultation, and they are very helpful at telling you what's going on with your trees and shrubs. Good luck!