Gardeners and commercial growers alike are enjoying the mild winter so far, not worrying about those tender perennials or those later than should have been transplants out in the home landscape or overwintering production crops.
What may be a bit of concern is with the mild winter, so far anyway,...
The University of Extension will again be sponsoring the First Detector Workshops in 2016, for the third year in a row. These workshops have been well received by Arborists, Master Gardeners, City Arborists, Master Naturalists, Landscaper and Nursery business for their timely and strong...
In a normal year this column in the middle of December would be talking about how to deal with wildlife in the yard that damage our valuable landscape plants from feeding damage. This year the ground is open and lawns are still green with no frost in the soil at all. While the weather remains...
Holiday gift plants are always appreciated when given this time of year. The more traditional plants in the past have included Poinsettia, Christmas cactus and Azalea. There are others that are also given like Ornamental Pepper and Cherry, Amaryllis bulbs, Cyclamen and Kalanchoe.
All the holiday...
Maybe the fireplace has already been used this season or you are about to. The First thing typically to do if you have not had your fireplace chimney cleaned in the last couple of years is to get this done. This is should go to the top of your projects list before you start up the fireplace or wood...
Our recent strong winds got our attention as damage to our deciduous and evergreen trees became a real issue. If we were lucky those downed limbs and trees missed our homes and cars. Trees that were already compromised were the first to be damaged. Trees with narrow crotch angles, poor root systems...
Gardeners know about spring and summer bulbs and that we plant spring bulbs in the fall and summer bulbs in the spring. Have you ever considered taking some of those and turning them into "winter bulbs" by forcing them into boom during the winter months when the weather is dark and grey? While this...
While reviewing the University of Illinois Plant Clinic Newsletter, it became clear that this season has really been about diseases, starting with the usual and expected diseases that come along with the cooler temperatures and rains of spring. Plant diseases continued as our rains continued well...
About now homeowners who enjoy the crackling fire outside in the fire pit may be thinking about that transition to the indoor fireplace. Burning questionable quality firewood outside does not take away anything from the joy of sitting around the pit after dark. It can make a difference in the...
We are having prime time weather right now for the family lawn. Our lawns, known for being nearly completely cool season grasses, continue to grow vigorously. Nearly because one of our pesky warm season perennial grasses is Nimblewill. You will see it as patchy spots in the lawn already going...
