Pruning is one of the most important parts of tree care, but it is also one of the easiest to get wrong. Done correctly, it keeps trees healthy, safe, and beautiful. Done poorly, it can weaken them for years. On the NH Seacoast, where storms, winds, and salty air already stress trees, proper pruning is especially important. Learn the basics every homeowner should know—from timing and technique to common mistakes and when to call a professional.

Late winter is the perfect time to prepare seed trays and grow lights for a successful spring garden. A well planned indoor setup helps seedlings grow strong, resist disease, and transition smoothly into Zone 6b Seacoast conditions. This guide walks gardeners in Portsmouth, Rye, Exeter, North Hampton, and surrounding areas through setting up trays, soil mixes, lighting, and watering systems for healthy early growth.

As natural habitats continue to shrink across the Seacoast, home gardens have become essential refuges for birds, pollinators, and beneficial insects. With just a few thoughtful choices, gardeners from Portsmouth to North Hampton can create landscapes that offer food, shelter, and year round habitat. Simple actions like leaving seed heads standing through winter, preserving leaf litter in beds, and planting more native species help sustain the wildlife that keeps our gardens healthy and in balance. A wildlife friendly garden is not only beautiful, it supports the living network that makes the Seacoast ecosystem thrive.

Early spring is the ideal time to cut back ornamental grasses in Seacoast gardens. Removing last year’s dried growth allows fresh shoots to emerge, improves airflow, and keeps garden beds looking clean and healthy. This guide explains when and how homeowners in Portsmouth, Rye, Exeter, and nearby Zone 6b communities should prune ornamental grasses for a strong start to the growing season.

Hydrangeas are a defining feature of classic Cape Cod landscapes, and with the right plant selection and pruning approach, that same coastal look can work beautifully in Seacoast New Hampshire gardens. This guide explains hydrangea care, planting, and pruning for Zone 6b, helping homeowners achieve reliable summer blooms and strong structure with less maintenance.

April in Zone 6b is earlier than most gardeners think — and a handful of cold-tolerant annuals are ready to prove it. From the richly colored faces of spring pansies to the fragrant spikes of stock, these five varieties thrive in cool soil, shrug off light frost, and give Seacoast gardens real color weeks before summer planting season begins.