Good Growing 2025

How do you take care of a newly planted tree?Lots of trees get planted in April, at least in Illinois. What follows is a ‘will they, won’t they…survive?’ In multiple instances, I’ve come across a tree that gets planted and maybe watered once to a handful of times that year. What most people don’t...

Shaded areas can be difficult areas to landscape, especially when it comes to groundcovers. Turfgrass often struggles, and many commonly used groundcovers, like lily of the valley, wintercreeper, periwinkle, and English ivy, can become problematic because of their aggressive spreading and potential...

In addition to the spring flowers blooming outside, many enjoy the fragrant flowers of a Lilium longiflorum (Easter lily) as a symbol of spring and the Christian holiday Easter. Growers manipulate the growth cycle and force them to bloom so that we can enjoy these...

Forsythias are planted for their stunning floral display in early spring. Have you ever seen a forsythia bush, and for some reason, there are only blooms at the very top or sparsely scattered around the plant? Or maybe wondered why it didn't bloom at all? While forsythia will produce an...

Daffodils are among the most beloved spring flowers known for their bright blooms and easy cultivation. Beginner gardeners to experienced horticulturists alike have delighted in daffodils for centuries. As our spring advances, we take a closer look at the flower that has become an emblem of...

One of the most favored hobbies of outdoor enthusiasts, gardeners, and wildlife lovers is feeding the birds. Setting out a bird feeder with seed or suet cakes is a popular way many people use to feed the birds, but there are other ways to feed birds. Birds scavenge seed from plants, they will get...

As we creep toward spring, many gardeners begin to get the urge to get out in the garden. Seed starting and garden planning activities are well underway. One gardening technique that many gardeners incorporate into their gardens is companion planting. What is companion planting...

As the growing season approaches, final plans are being made for home gardens. What to plant and where to plant are big questions that require multiple levels of consideration. What to plant requires an analysis of the intended use, what the growing space can support, and how the climate will...

Valentine's Day is a time for expressing love and appreciation for others, often by giving cut flowers and, increasingly, potted plants. Whether you've received a bouquet of flowers or a potted plant, here are some tips that can help you care for them to keep them healthy and attractive as...

Each year, a variety of establishments attempt to make news by predicting annual garden trends. I’m conflicted over these reports because, on the one hand, they are fun ways to see what types of new things are on the horizon. Yet on the other hand, many of the trends are elaborate and expensive to...

As cold weather sets in, we often find ourselves retreating indoors where it is warm. However, our landscape plants can't do this, and during times of extreme cold, like this recent cold snap, we may find ourselves wondering how our plants will fare. How do plants prepare for...

It is official, winter is upon us. The holiday season has come and gone, the calendar has turned over to a new year, and much of the Midwest is blanketed in snow. On these long winter days, one of my favorite activities to do is to dream about warm summer days. I do this by reflecting on the past...

After a lovely winter break, I returned to the office with a stack of seed catalogs begging me to order more seeds. I already have hundreds of different seed packets that I have accumulated over the years. Many of the seeds are old enough that they likely are not viable anymore, but I just have...

It’s the beginning of February, and yet I can feel the excitement of the approaching growing season. As the weather teases us with thoughts of the warmth to come with temperatures creeping into the 50s it is important to note we still have more winter ahead.Even though we still have time before...

To my fellow Illinois gardeners – I know these cold winter days can feel long and dreary. One way to combat the winter blues is by propagating your houseplants. After all, your houseplants are stuck inside with you, so why not have some fun with them?Plant propagation is essentially creating new...

Are you daydreaming of future cobblers, crumbles, jams, jellies, and pies? If you grow your own cane fruit/brambles in early spring, while the plants are still dormant, it is an important time for plant pruning and care. These tasks need to take place before plants leaf out, which means if you...