Good Growing

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A hand holding pruners cutting a thorny blackberry cane

Early Spring pruning guide for growing healthy raspberries and blackberries

April 4, 2025

Are you daydreaming of future cobblers, crumbles, jams, jellies, and pies? If you grow your own cane fruit/brambles in early spring, while the plants are still dormant, it is an important time for plant pruning and care. These tasks need to take place before plants leaf out, which means if you...

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Help! My forsythia isn't blooming like it used to

March 28, 2025

Forsythias are planted for their stunning floral display in early spring. Have you ever seen a forsythia bush, and for some reason, there are only blooms at the very top or sparsely scattered around the plant? Or maybe wondered why it didn't bloom at all? While forsythia will produce an...

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Daffodils: A symbol of renewal and hope

March 21, 2025

Daffodils are among the most beloved spring flowers known for their bright blooms and easy cultivation. Beginner gardeners to experienced horticulturists alike have delighted in daffodils for centuries. As our spring advances, we take a closer look at the flower that has become an emblem of...

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a cedar waxwing bird sitting on a tree branch with a red berry in its mouth

Berry Succession: Creating a continuous food source for birds

March 14, 2025

One of the most favored hobbies of outdoor enthusiasts, gardeners, and wildlife lovers is feeding the birds. Setting out a bird feeder with seed or suet cakes is a popular way many people use to feed the birds, but there are other ways to feed birds. Birds scavenge seed from plants, they will get...

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Companion planting: Combining plants for a healthy, well-balanced garden

March 7, 2025

As we creep toward spring, many gardeners begin to get the urge to get out in the garden. Seed starting and garden planning activities are well underway. One gardening technique that many gardeners incorporate into their gardens is companion planting. What is companion planting...

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Rotating crops for a more resilient garden

February 28, 2025

As the growing season approaches, final plans are being made for home gardens. What to plant and where to plant are big questions that require multiple levels of consideration. What to plant requires an analysis of the intended use, what the growing space can support, and how the climate will...

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A 12-cell tray filled with potting soil and each cell has a jade plant leaf cutting

Winter gardening: propagating houseplants to beat the winter blues

February 21, 2025

To my fellow Illinois gardeners – I know these cold winter days can feel long and dreary. One way to combat the winter blues is by propagating your houseplants. After all, your houseplants are stuck inside with you, so why not have some fun with them?Plant propagation is essentially creating new...

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Caring for Valentine's Day flowers and plants: Tips for keeping your gifts fresh and vibrant

February 14, 2025

Valentine's Day is a time for expressing love and appreciation for others, often by giving cut flowers and, increasingly, potted plants. Whether you've received a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant, here are some tips that can help you care for them to keep them healthy and attractive as...

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Growing inspiration: mocha mousse hues in the garden

February 7, 2025

Each year, a variety of establishments attempt to make news by predicting annual garden trends. I’m conflicted over these reports because, on the one hand, they are fun ways to see what types of new things are on the horizon. Yet on the other hand, many of the trends are elaborate and expensive to...

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Three kids play a wheel spinning trivia game at an Extension education table

Cultivating knowledge: get ready for spring with Illinois Extension garden events

January 31, 2025

It’s the beginning of February, and yet I can feel the excitement of the approaching growing season. As the weather teases us with thoughts of the warmth to come with temperatures creeping into the 50s it is important to note we still have more winter ahead.Even though we still have time before...

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