Blogs

Welcome to summer! The heat, periodic drought, and summer storms can really take a toll on your trees. Here are some tips on how you can help your trees weather the weather.Planting Summer is not a great time to ...

Early 2024 features some excellent, once-in-a-lifetime natural events.  If you missed the solar eclipse in April, get ready for a rare ecological event about to unfold in the coming weeks.  Whether we want to experience it or not, we’ll be immersed in a mass emergence of periodical...

As May flowers begin to bloom and we celebrate the arrival of spring, we also turn our attention to Mental Health Awareness Month, a crucial period dedicated to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and promoting well-being. During this time, we acknowledge the highs and lows that life can...

We have been hearing for months that two broods of periodical cicadas will emerge from the ground this May in central Illinois: the 13-year Brood XIX and the 17-year Brood XIII. These cicadas have been living underground, feeding on tree roots for either 13 or 17 years, depending on the brood. Is...

Happy Arbor Day!  Every year people around the globe celebrate Arbor Day by planting trees in their communities.  To celebrate Arbor Day the ag way, we’re going to discuss how farmers can incorporate trees into their operations (aka agroforestry).Agroforestry is the integration of trees...

If you’ve been out and about in central Illinois this past week, you’ve probably noticed quite a few things in bloom. Early blooming plants are easy to spot since most of the rest of the landscape is bare now, and most plant lovers are anxiously awaiting the arrival of spring, with anything...

Cicada-mania has been building to almost mythical levels in 2024. Nearly every story on my news feed references this historic event about to occur in Illinois. Despite the media frenzy, there are still lots of questions about the upcoming cicada emergence. So, I might as well hop on this cicada...

With all the media frenzy around this year’s upcoming cicada emergence, what can we really expect?  Let Extension help you separate fact from fiction. Why do they live so long? Cicada larva (or grubs) spend most of their life underground, feeding on tree roots.  Depending on the species...

This year has certainly hosted an interesting spring, with bouts of summer-like weather followed by freezing temperatures and frost warnings.  From the emerging wildflowers in woodlands to daffodils and tulips in the home landscape, there is no shortage of spring blooms to stimulate gardeners...