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Frost crack on apple tree branch
Read article: Exploding trees? A closer look at frost cracking
Exploding trees? A closer look at frost cracking
Exploding trees made quite a few headlines this past week when winter temperatures dropped across much of the country. While the claim of trees...
homeowner looking at yard
Read article: New homeowners should take time to learn their yard
New homeowners should take time to learn their yard
By Deborah Lane, Extension Master Gardener, Serving Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell CountiesAs a Master Gardener volunteer, I have...
Foliage of a Dwarf Alberta Spruce (Picea glauca var. albertiana 'Conica'), with a branch showing reversion to the normal Alberta White Spruce growth habit (larger leaves and longer internodes).
Read article: A Twist of Genetics: How and Why Landscape Plants Revert
A Twist of Genetics: How and Why Landscape Plants Revert
Plant breeding and selection programs have provided homeowners and landscape managers with a huge variety of plant options. Many familiar woody plant...
Sycamore tree infected with Anthracnose with Garden Scoop logo
Read article: Cool, wet weather sets the stage for Anthracnose
Cool, wet weather sets the stage for Anthracnose
With our cool, wet spring, conditions were perfect for the development of anthracnose.  This common tree disease is present every year, but...

News Releases

Tree Planting event with a group
Plant a tree in Woodford County, help the planet
Carlock, Ill. – Woodford County is looking for volunteers to help with planting a grouping of 25 oak trees at Parklands Chinquapin Bluffs in Woodford County with the goal of tackling global issues at the local level. Carbon neutrality...
Extension Forester Chris Evans shows off homemade maple syrup at a workshop.
Maple syrup workshop continues sweet tradition with tenth-annual event
SIMPSON, Ill. — Each February, local participants brave the cold to learn more about maple syrup production at an annual workshop at Dixon Springs Ag Center. The event is a fun day for the entire family, with a 4-H fundraiser pancake breakfast to start the morning and hands-on activities for...
A man leans on a tool outside by a tree surrounded by a group of people
Extension foresters protect trees, empower landowners
URBANA, Ill. — As the saying goes, the hope is that trees will “bloom where they’re planted.” Still, sometimes even these plant powerhouses need help overcoming challenges like invasive species, urban...

Videos

Making Maple Syrup - A Basic Introduction

Explore the basics of all of the steps involved in making maple syrup as Extension Forester Chris Evans walks through the maple syrup production process at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in southern Illinois. 

Be Safe When Trimming Trees Near Power Lines

Trees and power lines often find themselves mingling together causing safety concerns and requiring a utility’s attention. Oftentimes people aren’t happy about what has to happen next. From funny shaped trees to proper trimming techniques to picking out the right tree to plant around lines, this...