Category: Home and Garden

I have some significant specimen oak trees in my front yard, and I have been finding the lawn littered with the ends of branches. What is causing this? — Allison Rosenberg, Lincolnwood My driveway has been covered with the clipped ends of oak branches with green leaves over the last couple of weeks, somewhat like what you have been observing in your garden. I have two beautiful large oaks flanking my driveway. I’ve noticed the ends of branches in many home gardens, and at the Garden, that have been dropping over the past weeks due to cicada damage from the […]

Here are some outdoor tasks to consider for autumn.

The first thing to do after a significant storm is to carefully look for broken or damaged branches hanging in the crown of the tree.

When you sip a pumpkin spice latte or light up a pumpkin spice candle, you owe trees a “thank you.” “Most of the spices come from trees,” said Spencer Campbell, Plant Clinic manager of The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. The taste and scent combination generally referred to as “pumpkin spice,” long associated with pumpkin pies […]

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.