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Tree Diseases Abundant This Year

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator This seems to be the year of tree diseases, but don't be alarmed. I've seen a lot of diseases on trees this year, but happily most of them are not devastating. The reason for the increase in tree disease this year is weather. Spring...
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Bedbugs

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator We've had an increase in bedbug calls to our Extension offices and Master Plant Helplines in recent weeks. The bed bug feeds at night on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals including chickens, cage birds, and other...
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White Pine Needle Drop…Good or Bad?

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Autumn is the time of year when mature white pines annually drop older needles. Unfortunately, this year's wet spring and dry summer have caused problems with many evergreen trees, including white pine. It is important to recognize...
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Don't Panic over Honey Bee Swarms

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Ameren Illinois workers found a hive a nearly 1,000 honeybees during a recent substation inspection in Pekin. Thanks to the work of their employee, also an avid beekeeper, the hive and bees were safely removed and relocated. A...
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Spoon River Drive in OAKtober

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Every year I do a Spoon River Drive article highlighting natural items for you to look for while on the drive. In honor of OAKtober, this year's spotlight is oaks. The Morton Arboretum news says oak ecosystems have been a...
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Clone Your Plants

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Do you have an annual flower in your garden this year that you especially like and definitely want to use again next summer? You might be able to clone it using vegetative propagation methods. I have a coleus plant that I...
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Giant Elephant Ears Accent the Garden

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator I love the tropical feel of big leaved plants around my pool. This year I planted four different types of elephant ears in addition to nine large banana plants. Elephant ears make a statement in the garden with their larger than life...
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Composting: Like Making Lasagna

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator Do you compost? Composting is the ancient art of mixing by-products from your yard with water, air, and time. What better way to dispose of leaves in the fall, grass clippings throughout the summer, and kitchen vegetable scraps than...
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Lightning Bugs on the Decline

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator I hear a news report about the decline of the monarch butterfly almost every day, but there are other insects in decline as well. One that is a favorite of all ages is the lightning bug, which some folks also call a firefly. As a...
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Emerald Ash Borer Open House a Success

Written by Rhonda Ferree, retired horticulture educator University of Illinois Extension and several other organizations answered questions about the emerald ash borer at a recent Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) event. Homeowners, tree care professionals, municipality officials, and more...
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