University of Illinois Extension

Events (3)

History of Forest Pest Outbreaks: Four Seasons Gardening Webinar

1:30 PM

Tue, 11/17/2020 - 12:00

Online

photo of forest trees

Good Growing Webinar: Christmas Tree Types and Care

3-4PM

Wed, 11/25/2020 - 12:00

Online

Graphic of trees in field

Good Growing Webinar: Fun with Evergreen Foliage

3-4PM

Wed, 12/02/2020 - 12:00

Online

Evergreen wreath being built

Blog Posts (77)

Species Profile: White Oak

Upper branches of white oak tree

Dealing with Fall Drought: Get your plants ready for winter

dry soil in the fall

Evergreens losing needles: Fall needle drop

pine with fall displaying fall needle drop, older needles are turning yellow while newer needles remain green

Contemplation of trees

looking up from the ground into the sky between tall trees with green leaves

Fall Color in Oaks

Benefits of Urban Trees

Fall Tree Planting

Poisonous Plants

Forest Management, HIPP and RCPP

Hackberry Gall

Ice Storms and Tree Damage

Maple Seed Production

Garden Storm Damage

Osage Orange

2019 Gardening Goals

Emerald Ash Borer and Other Species Eliminating Pests or Pathogens

Tree Bark

Christmas Tree Selection

Fall Color

Larch

Black Walnut

Sycamores

Flowering Crabapples

Winter Damage to Evergreens

Pawpaw

Making Maple Syrup

Local Tropical Getaway

2018 Gardening Goals

The Norfolk Island Pine

Fall Color in Conifers

Reaping the Apple Harvest

Dawn Redwood: A Living Fossil

Early Fall Color

Weather influences foliar disease

How Native is Native?

Bald cypress is an Illinois native plant only know to occur in extreme southern Illinois. While it does wonderfully when planted here is central Illinois, should it be considered native?

Should we paint tree wounds?

wound sealer painted on a tree wound

Bacterial Leaf Scorch in Oaks

This pin oak tree tested positive for bacterial leaf scorch and displays the most distinctive symptoms characterized by brown leaf margins, a colorful band and green tissue along leaf veins.

How plants and pests begin preparing for fall

Late summer questions to the Master Gardeners

Understanding storm damage to trees

photo of downed tree

The gall of insects (tree bumps and lumps)

Plant Pathogen Spread

The alien-looking fingers protruding from these crabapples release spores that can infect trees in the juniper family to perpetuate cedar-apple rust disease.

Watering tips for hot weather

Tree troubles usually start at the base of the trunk

Tree troubles usually start at the base of the trunk

Early History of Pollinators and Plants

This two-spotted bumble bee forages pollen on the flower of a spirea shrub

Top 5 early summer topics for gardeners

How Much Water Does Your garden Need?

Too Much Moisture, More Tree Problems

Maple anthracnose, via U of I plant clinic

Sycamores and Anthracnose

Sycamores across central Illinois are late to leaf out this year due to a commonly occurring fungal infection.

Get Out on the Trails

Hedge Apple Woods, Bloomington, by Rick Tindall

Trees deserve to be mulched the right way

Recommended Replacements for Problem Trees

Native hawthorn trees are in full bloom this week with a canopy filled with tiny white flowers.

Two Trees You Should Never Plant in Illinois

Colorado blue spruce is a non-native, commonly planted landscape tree that suffers from many issues here in Illinois.

Fruit Trees and Winter Injury

Apple trees in our area are in full bloom this week. Unlike peach trees which suffered cold damage, many apple trees in central Illinois seem to have endured.

Magnolias and Pollination

Saucer magnolia is currently in full bloom in our area with an abundance of white to pinkish, showy flowers

How to Plant a Fruit Tree

Planting a fruit tree requires digging a hole the size of the roots.

Spring Pruning Can Hurt Your Tree’s Bank Account

Spring Pruning Can Hurt Your Tree’s Bank Account

Tree Identification

Ash trees have a distinctive, opposite branch arrangement observable by twigs that occur directly across from each other on each stem.

Urban Tree Planting

Newly planted urban trees are at risk of mortality if proper after-planting care, such as mulching and watering, is not carefully tended.

Rapid Response to Ramorum Blight

This rhododendron shoot is infected with the pathogen Phytopthora ramorum, displaying the typical symptoms of ramorum blight. PC UI Plant Clinic

Weeding out Invasives

The green foliage in this picture is bush honeysuckle, which is an invasive species that dominates forest understories in Illinois. If not weeded out...

Old Trees

Old Trees

Bringing Spring Indoors - Forcing Branches

branches from cherry tree blooming indoors

Recycle or Repurpose your Christmas Tree

New Year, New Yard: Making plans for your landscape in 2020

New Year New Yard

Christmas Trees After the Holidays

Christmas trees leaning against wooden pallets in a snow covered field

Pick the Christmas Tree Right for You - Artificial vs. Real

Selecting Your Christmas Tree

evergreen trees

Winter Dormancy in the Landscape

Winter Dormancy

Fall's Frequent Topic Review

Not All Trees Are Good Trees

Bronze leaves of Tree of Heaven

Using Fallen Leaves

fallen leaves on turfgrass

Why do tree leaves change color in autumn?

orange and yellow fall leaves

Enjoying the final hurrahs of a staple landscape tree

sunshine through ash tree leaves

Fall is for More than Tree Planting

Preparing Black Walnuts for Eating

Galls Abound All Around

News Releases (20)

Learn from home with Good Growing Winter Webinars

When to worry about needle drop on white pine trees

Unsightly black spots on maple leaves won’t harm trees

Planting trees boosts curb appeal and benefits the urban environment

Exfoliating bark trees add great appeal

Fall is a great time for planting trees

Fall flowering witch hazel charms home gardens

Select the right tree for fall planting in Illinois

Research drone photos spot invasive species

Prevent oak wilt from damaging your trees

Nature adapts when heat waves hit

Illinois’ big trees are on the map

Too much of a good thing, mulch volcanoes slowly kill trees

Grow apple trees in your urban garden

Increase life span of urban trees

Familiar tale: Victims of emerald ash borer and other exotic pests

Christmas tree hitchhikers

Oak Pests and Diseases Workshop

Learn how to identify trees correctly

University of Illinois Extension to Host Tree Selection and Care Workshop

Staff (3)

Christopher Enroth

Christopher Enroth

Extension Educator, Horticulture

Doug Gucker staff photo

Douglas B. Gucker

Extension Educator, Local Food Systems and Small Farms

Sarah Vogel staff photo

Sarah Vogel

Extension Educator, Horticulture and Natural Resources