Good Growing

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Inspiring hope, building experience, making a difference in 2022

January 1, 2022

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” This quote, which has likely made it onto posters in classrooms and by the coffee pot in the breakroom, is from philosopher William James. A new year is often heralded with a renewed sense of hope. A restart! However, the older I get, I am...

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Add some color to your winter landscape by growing holly

December 23, 2021

Needled evergreens like pines, firs, and spruces get most of the attention this time of year. However, broadleaf evergreens like holly also make an appearance during holiday festivities. In addition to providing some decoration for the December holidays, they are also great plants in the landscape...

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Keeping Your Poinsettia Alive Through the Holidays

December 16, 2021

Poinsettias are one of the most popular holiday plants with their bright color providing festive Christmas décor, but if you have ever been gifted a poinsettia or been tempted to purchase one due to their showy, colorful bracts (leaves), you know they aren’t the easiest plant to keep alive much...

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Japanese gravel garden with mounded plant forms

A plant’s growth habit provides function and beauty

December 10, 2021

From a horticultural perspective, the term “habit” is not what you think. Though there are certainly some bad habits in gardening like not cleaning soil off tools or buying plants with no feasible location to plant them. When you hear a horticulturist say the term “habit” what we are referring to...

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How to take care of amaryllis and get them to rebloom

December 3, 2021

Along with evergreens and poinsettias, another sign that the holidays are approaching is the appearance of amaryllis in stores. Whether you’re buying them as gifts or for yourself, these relatively carefree plants are a great way to add a splash of color indoors. Amaryllis (Hippeastrum...

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Giving Thanks for Farmers

November 23, 2021

Thanksgiving can have a different meaning for all from a celebration of harvest to a time of giving thanks for the blessings of the past year, but as we sit to enjoy the meal prepared, it is important to be reminded of our farmers who work hard to supply us with fresh farm products. ...

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Hazelnuts: A native plant is a new crop for Illinois

November 19, 2021

You’ve likely heard of hazelnuts, perhaps even used them in some delightful dessert or savory dishes and garnishes. If you give my children a choice between peanut butter or a chocolaty hazelnut spread, the peanut butter jar remains unopened. About 40 percent of global hazelnut production goes into...

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How to get fruit plants ready for winter: Start preparing for a successful harvest

November 12, 2021

Once you’ve picked the last of your fruits this season, you may think your work with your fruit plants is over. However, a few tasks can be done in the fall to set yourself up for a successful growing season next year. Tree Fruit Sanitation and disease management One of the most...

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Adjust crop management practices in response to increased input prices

November 4, 2021

More and more, we hear of major supply chain issues in the United States that have affected pretty much everything. As farmers prepare for the 2022 growing season, they are experiencing fertilizer and herbicide shortages resulting in significant price increases. Higher input prices will likely...

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What makes plants bloom at different times of the year?

October 29, 2021

As the chill of fall finally settles in, many Illinoisans find themselves outside cleaning up leaves, the garden, and landscape beds. It makes one ponder the seasonality of plants. One Good Growing reader had such a question and posed it to us, “How do plants know when to flower?” How do plants...

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