Category: Home and Garden

While you wait for autumn leaves to fall, consider planting a tree. “If you plant a tree in early autumn, the soil will still be warm enough to encourage root growth for at least two months,” said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. “Growing roots is the most important thing for a new tree.” Plan to get a tree in the ground before mid-October to give the roots time to grow before the soil freezes. While they grow, you’ll need to water. Watering has become even more critical for new trees as the weather has […]

If your allergies act up in late summer, don’t blame goldenrod.

I have a large blue spruce tree in front of my home. It is taller than my two-story home, and when I moved in eight years ago, it was a beautiful tree with only a few dying branches on the bottom 2 feet. This year, the dead branches extend up more than 6 feet. I’m […]

More than 200 species of birds fly through the Chicago area every autumn, following Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River south for the winter.

Late summer is a great time of year to look for native prairie plants that might bring beauty and wildlife habitat to your garden.

By the time August comes with its heat and humidity, many gardeners are ready for a break and so are many plants. “The growing season is starting to wind down,” said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist in the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. “You still need to do some things for your […]

It certainly is annoying to battle yellow jackets as you are eating in your yard this season.

Their scent may be as sweet as honey, but for many gardeners, honeysuckles have a bad name.

Plants grown in containers will need more frequent, light watering to get established.