As the great cicada emergence of 2024 nears its end, it’s time to tidy up and give thanks. “Overall, a cicada emergence is probably a good thing for gardens,” said Stephanie Adams, plant health care leader at The Morton Arboretum near Lisle. When the cicada nymphs tunneled out of their home down near tree roots […]
Container gardening is a versatile way to soften a patio and gain some growing space.
Flowering shrubs can bring color, interest and fragrance to your garden even after the spring-blooming forsythia, viburnums and lilacs have had their day. “There doesn’t need to be a lull until the hydrangeas bloom in late June or early July,” said Spencer Campbell, Plant Clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. Consider planting shrubs that bloom in late spring and early summer. These shrubs will support wildlife with their pollen and fruit and add enchantment to the longer evenings. Here are some good shrub suggestions from the Plant Clinic. For more ideas, use the Arboretum’s Search Trees and Plants […]
My goal this year is to plant a vegetable garden in the ground. What type of soil should I get and where do I buy it? Or is the soil in my backyard sufficient? — Carolyn Smith, Glenview It’s finally vegetable gardening season! Your question is one that is often asked by beginning gardeners. Here […]
Here are some facts that will help you understand why it’s so very hard to stay cool in your home when the sun is beating on it like a bass drum.
Address: 327 S. Oak St., Hinsdale Price: $4,995,000 Listed: April 4, 2024 This six-bedroom home has six full bathrooms and two half-baths. The house features walnut floors, a temperature-controlled wine cellar, a Creston audio-visual home system, a home theater, an exercise room, an outdoor kitchen and bar setup, five HVAC systems, a power generator and […]
Do I need to collect the grass clippings when mowing my lawn to avoid thatch buildup? This practice created a lot of extra work for me last year. Can I skip this step? Nicole Phelps Skokie, Illinois The mowing season is in full swing now and lawns in our area are growing quickly. Don’t worry about thatch buildup. Our Garden experts have found little evidence to suggest that clippings contribute to thatch buildup as long as you are mowing properly. If your lawn already has a thick layer of thatch, returning clippings may cause that layer to get bigger. A […]
A few members of my gardening club have installed nesting blocks for native bees in their gardens. This sounds like something that would help me with more sustainable gardening practices. Can you offer advice? — Noel Judson, Chicago Thank you for this question, Noel. Installing a nesting block is a great way to help attract […]
Most spring-blooming bulbs are now finished flowering. To ensure you will have a nice bulb show next spring, resist any temptation to cut back the foliage of bulb plants such as tulips and daffodils to tidy up the garden. “The plants need those leaves for at least several more weeks,” said Spencer Campbell, Plant Clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. “This is the critical time when they are creating and storing their flowers for next year, and they need leaves to do it.” All bulb plants—including hyacinths, crocuses, and glory-of-the-snow, as well as daffodils and tulips—form a new […]
I would like some general advice on how to be successful with my new plantings after having lots of problems over the last couple of years. Some of the plants I have installed have not been performing well. — Jeremy Anderson, Libertyville Welcome to the 2024 gardening season! Living in the greater Chicago area, we […]