News

Trim trees, shrubs in the dormant season for stronger, healthier plants
URBANA, Ill. – Throughout the growing season, gardeners and arborists talk about the benefits of pruning woody ornamentals while they are dormant, and that time is almost here. “Pruning can seem like a daunting task, but it is an important cultural practice for the health and vigor...
Improve your forest one tree at a time
URBANA, Ill. – Buying and maintaining forested land can be daunting if landowners don’t know how to manage it. Fortunately, a new University of Illinois outreach program is here to help. “We’re giving landowners tools to understand the science behind forest management. So, if they do...
Give Christmas trees a second life after the holidays
URBANA, Ill. – Once holidays are over, the Christmas trees tend to come down. Instead of hauling this year’s tree to the dump or having the city pick it up, consider repurposing it in your landscape. University of Illinois...
Learn to grow with Master Gardener online training
URBANA, Ill. - From small farms and rural towns to the suburbs and inner-city, more than 2,600 trained Master Gardeners put their mission of “helping others learn to grow” into practice around Illinois through community service...
Individual leaning down to water a rose bush with a hose.
Watering trees, shrubs in the fall and winter is a balancing act
URBANA, Ill. – After this year’s summer drought in Illinois, it is more important than ever to monitor soil moisture conditions and water trees and shrubs going into winter. Drought conditions in the late fall, along with dry air and low soil moisture, can lead to plant damage if no supplemental...
Reclamation programs help communities transition abandoned mines
URBANA, Ill. — For more than 140 years, coal mining communities in 72 Illinois counties have helped to power the state. As Illinois pursues energy transitions, coal power plants have downsized and closed, leaving mines abandoned and communities without avenues to replace lost tax revenue and...
Some trees weather wet soils, floods better than others
URBANA, Ill. – The splendor of trees and shrubs comes from what is above ground, but don’t forget about what lies beneath. Poorly drained areas, easily identified after a downpour of rain, are not suitable for some trees or shrubs. “Soil plays a vital role in the...
Tips for planting balled-burlapped trees for long-term health, success
URBANA, Ill. – Fall is a great time to plant trees, many of which are originally grown at a nursery either in a plastic container or in the ground before they are balled and burlapped. How the tree is grown in its first years and then planted affects the long-term health of the tree. ”...
Small bees attracted to small flowers
URBANA, Ill. – While the bumblebee is likely the most well-known pollinator, pollinators come in a variety of shapes, species, and sizes. “Many entomologists believe the tiny sweat bee nectaring on your flowering weed is just as important to a healthy ecosystem as the more well-known...
Storm-damaged trees may not be savable
URBANA, Ill. Severe thunderstorms, tornados, and strong winds sometimes damage trees, flowers, and lawns. An EF-3 tornado that hit Northern Illinois in June destroyed several 100-year-old trees. Homeowners in Woodridge and Naperville struggled to find the best ways to clean up and...
snake
Coexissssting with snakes in the yard and garden
URBANA, Ill. – As spring progresses, many of us will have our hands in the dirt in our backyards, pulling out weeds and breaking up soil to prepare for the ultimate tomato patch. Coming across a snake in the grass or in the dirt may startle even the bravest person and could result in a failed...
Country ponds need help to stay healthy, beautiful
URBANA, Ill. – Owning a lush and scenic country pond is a point of pride for many rural landowners, but over time ponds need a hand to stay clean and healthy. “Good management can slow or stop harmful changes like a buildup of surface algae or a decrease in fish so you can use and enjoy...