The USDA Plant Hardiness Zones have long been a standard in communicating plant suitability across the US.  Everyone from gardeners and growers to scientists and crop insurance adjusters use these designations to make plant decisions every day.  However, the geographic range of these...

Deicing salts are essential to winter travel in Illinois and provide necessary safety in a landscape setting by melting dangerous ice on precarious steps, sidewalks, entryways, and other areas of frequent foot traffic. However, winter damage from salt can be a major problem in some landscapes...