Ben Barkan

Garden & Landscape Designer

Ben Barkan is a Garden and Landscape Designer and the Owner and Founder of HomeHarvest LLC, an edible landscapes and construction business based in Boston, Massachusetts. Ben has over 15 years of experience working with organic gardening and specializes in designing and building beautiful landscapes with custom construction and creative plant integration. He is a Certified Permaculture Designer, a Licensed Construction Supervisor in Massachusetts, and a Licensed Home Improvement Contractor.

Education

Associate Degree in Sustainable Food and Farming, Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Professional Achievements

He has over 15 years experience leading HomeHarvest LLC

Certifications & Organizations

General Contractor's License
Permaculture Design Certificate

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Forum Comments (1)

Mushrooms are taking over my yard! How do I get rid of them?

Mushrooms are an essential part of any thriving ecosystem, acting as nature’s master decomposers. They transform waste into rich, fertile soil, supporting the cycle of life. Instead of viewing mushrooms as a nuisance, shift your perspective: they are a sign of healthy, fertile soil and ecological balance.

While mushrooms play a vital role in soil health, some can pose a risk to pets. A mindful balance—respecting their ecological function while ensuring a pet-safe yard—is the best approach. If removal is necessary, do so selectively, rather than trying to eradicate all fungi, which are a natural part of the ecosystem.

If a large number of mushrooms suddenly appear in a yard overnight, it's typically a sign of healthy soil conditions and recent environmental changes that favor fungal growth, such as cooler temperatures combined with rain.

Q&A Comments (50)

How do you keep tulips alive?

Plant your tulips in the fall, and then use fertilizer in the Spring. If you think critters are going to dig up the bulbs, consider laying down some hardware cloth around the area.

How do I set up pebbles in my garden?

First, dig down and remove some of the soil or compost. Then, press the soil down and place some layers of landscape fabric on top. Start with a layer of heavy-duty stones, then add something smaller, like pea stones, on top.

Which plants like coffee grounds?

You can add coffee grounds to most any plant for an added nutrients boost.

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Co-authored Articles (596)

How to Plant an Acorn & Grow an Oak Tree

A guide to collecting, germinating, and planting acorns It’s hard to imagine that a mighty oak tree can come from a tiny acorn, but with enough patience and care, you can grow one yourself! Simply look for a healthy ac...

How to

Care for Peace Lilies

Peace lilies are one of the most popular varieties of houseplants. They're easy to maintain, and they can make a lovely addition to your home. By properly caring for your peace lilies, you'll have beautiful houseplants f...

How to Kill a Tree with or without Chemicals

Fast and easy ways to remove a problematic tree Trees are great as long as they aren’t in the way, but they can become a nuisance if they’re at risk of damaging your property. While you can always pay a professional ...

How to Replace Your Weed Eater String

Straightforward steps on restringing your weed wackerIf your weed wacker keeps getting caught on thick overgrowth or the string on your trimmer keeps getting tangled up, it may be time to replace the wire. This is typica...

When and How to Trim Marijuana Plants

Expert gardeners explain wet vs. dry trimming, when to prune your weed, and more Trimming cannabis plants is something of an art. With all the right cuts, you’ll have a compact, high-yield crop, with extra trimmings le...

How to

Harvest Sugar Cane

Sugar cane is the crop that produces table sugar. If you have sugar cane growing near you, you may want to harvest it for use. To harvest sugar cane, you'll need to manually trim the shoots to the ground. Then, you'll ha...

A Guide to Spider Plant Propagation: 4 Easy Options

Root spider plant babies in soil, water, & moreSpider plants, also known as airplane plants and spider ivy, are beautiful houseplants that have long, grass-like leaves. After a spider plant flowers, baby spider plants ap...

How to

Harvest Black Walnuts

Black walnuts are wild walnuts that are native to North America. In contrast to the English walnuts that you find in most grocery stores, black walnuts have a stronger flavor and are more difficult to break out of their ...

How to

Prune a Schefflera Plant

Schefflera, or Umbrella plants, are common houseplants that are easy to grow because they can thrive in artificial or moderately bright light conditions and are susceptible to few pests. However, they may require pruning...

How to

Build a Lean to Shed

A lean to shed is a great structure to keep in your backyard and fill with gardening supplies, landscaping tools, or whatever else you need to store. You can build a lean to shed relatively inexpensively with materials p...

How to

Prune Bougainvillea

Bougainvillea is a climbing, flowering vine or shrub native to Brazil. This tropical perennial gained its nickname, "paper flower," for its delicate bracts that come in a variety of colors, including purple, red and oran...

How to Make Your Lucky Bamboo Houseplant Thrive

A guide to growing your lucky bamboo indoors in soil or in standing waterCaring for a lucky bamboo plant is a relaxing pastime that's great for reducing stress. This houseplant is simple to take care of, and it's believe...

How to

Prune Kalanchoe

The kalanchoe is a genus of plants with 125 species. This vibrant flowering plant requires minimal maintenance and can be grown indoors or out. Indoor kalanchoes may need a little extra care to keep them from growing too...

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Measure the Height of a Tree

At a secret location somewhere in northern California, a tree named Hyperion has been measured at a world record height of 379.3 feet (115.61m)! Believe it or not, the measurement was made with an extra-long tape measure...

How to

Overwinter Fuchsias

Fuchsias are a perennial, but because they can be finicky during the colder months, many people treat them like annuals, replacing them each year. However, with a little care, you can keep your fuchsias healthy for years...

How to

Dry Birdhouse Gourds

Follow these easy steps to get your gourds ready for painting and giving as gifts Ornamental gourds grow wide enough to make a natural birdhouse, but first you have to dry them. Drying (or curing) the birdhouse gourds wi...

How to

Prune a Mulberry Tree

Mulberry trees are deciduous trees that are fast growing and bear edible fruit. Because they are so fast growing, it's important to know how to prune them effectively. This pruning should be done at the right time of yea...

How to

Plant Daffodils

Usually bright yellow or dazzling white, daffodils are stunning, unique flowers that are surprisingly easy to grow. With a little effort and a few simple tricks, you can have a garden full of daffodils -- a sure sign of ...

When and How to Prune an Olive Tree: Your Questions, Answered

A guide to pruning and shaping olive trees Olive trees make for fantastic additions to orchards and gardens. But you’ll need to prune them if you want to keep them healthy. This guide will teach how to do this, step by...

How to Remove & Get Rid of Invasive Vines

Natural & chemical solutions to eliminate vines once and for all Removing vines from your garden can be challenging, but luckily, there are many different strategies to get rid of them for good. You can kill invasive vin...

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