The Garden Scoop 2025

A few weeks ago, I was exploring a woodland near Springfield and ran across a fuzzy cluster of feeding insects. It was slightly out of reach, congregated in a lower limb of a young black walnut tree (Juglans nigra).While grabbing a nearby stick and attempting to pull the limb down and get a closer...

North America’s largest native tree fruit is ripening in forest understories and home landscapes across central Illinois this week. Pawpaws (Asimina triloba) are an often-unknown fruit tree to many folks, but they offer a delicious, exotic taste that seems more like a tropical fruit...

Cover crops have been used for ages in agricultural systems, but their use in a garden setting is on the rise as home and commercial vegetable growers realize their value on the smaller scale. What Are Cover Crops, and How Long Have They Been Used?Unlike traditional crops, a cover crop is...

At this point in the growing season, ripe produce is typically coming out of the vegetable garden daily since most warm-season crops are in full swing. From ripe tomatoes and peppers to the many cucurbits in peak production right now, the early-season work to establish and care for these...

This time of year, when most vegetable gardens are teeming with fresh produce, it is hard to think about starting additional plants. However, right now is the perfect time to start a fall garden and continue your vegetable production until the first frosts of the year, or possibly beyond with...

In Illinois, we are very fortunate to have the ability to grow multiple tree fruit crops in our climate. However, we do have quite a few insect and disease challenges to address when reaching for that perfect apple or pear. On a recent trip to the Pacific Northwest region, I was in awe of...

In the last few weeks, a peculiar plant has begun to draw attention as it reaches full bloom across central Illinois. While its towering flower stalks are certainly the main draw, closer inspection reveals unique and foreign-looking growth habit that seems like something right out of the desert....

It’s that time of year again. The time when spring weather is warming, we are all starting to get active in our gardens to plant things. However, lots of folks are wondering if the time is right yet. Last week’s warm weather generated quite a bit of gardening activity, and Illinois...

When most people think about pollinators, they envision the honeybee (Apis mellifera) buzzing from flower to flower collecting nectar and pollen.  These non-native bees have become somewhat of a poster child for pollinators but the story of their interaction in the world of insects is...

Spring is a time of an awakening plant world full of blooms and endless possibilities for the coming growing season.  It’s a time that many of us think about updating our landscaping, making it the most popular time of year to plant trees and shrubs. When you combine the mild temperatures...

Plant competition is an instrumental part of natural ecosystems, with winners and losers in all cases. Still, it is really fascinating to consider why and how certain plants come out on top.  In some examples, you can look at climate or other geographic constraints to understand why a...