Apple cider and crisp fall air call for Halloween festivities and of course, you can’t forget about pumpkins! It would not be an Illinois Halloween if pumpkins were not involved. Jack-o’-lanterns are festive gourds that make great decorations, but what do you do with them after Halloween? Instead...
Grasses are an often-underappreciated component of landscaping. They don’t have the showy flowers of many forbs and are thus overlooked. But when it comes to keeping out weeds, adding structure and winter interest, or preventing erosion, you won’t find much better than grasses.While...
Certain things just say “fall” to me—changing leaves, apple cider, pumpkins, and of course, mums! This is the time of year every garden store is filled to the brim with mums in every color and size. With the right care, those blooms will last and maybe even come back next year!...
Leaves and temperatures are falling. Pumpkin spice is in the air. That can only mean that Halloween will soon be here. As we prepare our landscapes and gardens for winter, look towards indoor plant care to warm your mood. Giving plants for the holidays brings a little sunshine and warmth to those...
Hot summer days may be slowly coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the growing season has to! Fall crops are a staple in the Midwest, which helps farmers and gardeners prolong the short growing season in Northern Illinois. Cool season crops like broccoli are commonly grown in the Spring and Fall...
Where did summer go? It seems like we were just enjoying the sun, imagining all the wonderful produce our gardens would make, and looking forward to those lazy days of summer. But suddenly, the kids are back to school and there’s that unmistakable chill in the evening air. It’s...
As the growing season continues, squash vine borer has made its way to the tri-county area. Squash vine borer typically emerges in late June and can decimate entire fields of cucurbit crops in a single season. In this article, you will learn how to identify and control this troublesome pest for...
Are they “lightning bugs”? Or do you prefer “fireflies”? Either way, these living, glowing little lamps are an inimitable sign that summer is truly in full swing.LifecycleThere are more than 20 species of lightning bugs in Illinois, all within the family Lampyridae. Like all beetles, they have a “...
Welcome to summer! The heat, periodic drought, and summer storms can really take a toll on your trees. Here are some tips on how you can help your trees weather the weather.Planting Summer is not a great time to ...
While you may be familiar with many invasive plants and insects, the hammerhead worm is perhaps one of the strangest and least well-known invaders to our gardens. HistoryAccording to the USDA,...
