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wool sower gall on an oak tree

Fuzzy growth on oak trees: Wool sower galls

If you spend enough time looking at and working with plants, you'll inevitably come across galls. Galls are abnormal growths and can be caused by a variety of different organisms, including insects (like aphids, flies, wasps) and mites, and occasionally nematodes, fungi, and bacteria. Galls can be...
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Garden slug on rock by green plant leaf

Silent, slimy pests of the shade: Slugs

If you have noticed ragged, irregular holes in your hostas or other broad-leaf garden plants, you may be dealing with garden slugs.   These soft-bodied pests can be found in shady, moist gardens, and although small, they can cause significant damage.Identifying SlugsSlugs are...
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A drip tape irrigating lettuce

Drip irrigation in the home garden

As demand for water resources and concern for water conservation increase across the U.S., drip irrigation is becoming a popular method to reduce water bills and safeguard water resources. Implementing drip irrigation in a garden or landscape is also a way to streamline watering your plants. With...
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Soak it up: rain garden and bioswale curb cut with water flowing into a vegetative swale

Soak it up: rain gardens and bioswales

Homeowners looking to enhance their landscape this year while managing stormwater have options available. Green infrastructure options include permeable pavement, rain barrels, large trees, green roofs, raingardens, bioswales, and more. Each of these systems is designed to utilize technologies or...
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A hand placing mulch at the base of a plant

Are you falling for these gardening myths?

During my time as an Illinois Extension educator, I have run across many garden myths. Too many to keep track of. But some myths keep on coming up in teaching and talking with Illinoisians. Some myths are more localized, while others are widespread and often touted as garden “hacks” online. ...
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Planting in tight spaces: trees for confined spaces

Planting in tight spaces: trees for confined spaces

Trees are an essential element of a healthy, vibrant community. Trees, large and small, help clean our air, shade our landscapes, provide wildlife habitat, and improve our mental and physical well-being. Planting trees throughout our community, in parks, along streets and trails, at civic buildings...
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Wild ginger: A native groundcover for shady gardens. Wild ginger plant with hear-shaped green leaves and purplish-brown flowers.

Wild ginger: A native groundcover for shady gardens

Shaded areas can be difficult areas to landscape, especially when it comes to groundcovers. Turfgrass often struggles, and many commonly used groundcovers, like lily of the valley, wintercreeper, periwinkle, and English ivy, can become problematic because of their aggressive spreading and potential...
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