With spring right around the corner and seed catalogs pouring in, many gardeners are anxious to get their hands in the soil, myself included. It may currently be a little early and damp to put shovel to ground, but it’s never too early to plan what vegetables and herbs you might grow. Gather your materials now and start planning your growing space. You may choose to forego the indoor jungle and winter sow seeds that...
Trees and shrubs are valuable elements in both public and private landscapes, and the wise investment of time and careful selection will only increase their value. Though there are several non-native species that do well in our fertile Illinois soils, we encourage the use of native species to promote disease resistance, suitability to native soils, and mitigating the spread of invasive species (even unknowingly).
Factors to take into consideration when choosing a tree species
light...
With frequent summer thunderstorms, we should be diligent in scouting for tree issues that could become a larger problem. Proper preventative care can greatly increase a tree’s longevity.
Important first steps
Preparing a tree for weather-related disasters happens before the tree ever goes in the ground by making wise site and species selections. A tree in an unsuitable site can take years to fail, often time by which it’s a costly removal or worse- damage to persons or property.
Consider...
Judging by the weed pressure in my garden, the growing season is in full force! Staying vigilant about weed control in the garden is necessary as weeds will compete with desirable species for moisture and nutrients. There are several ways to approach weed management, and an integrated approach is one that uses more than one method.
Factors that determine control measures
Timing
Species
Type of landscape
For instance, ridding a lawn of broadleaves requires different methods than in a...
Roses have a long and vibrant history and have even been recognized as a status symbol. Because roses come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, they allow gardeners a great deal of variety from which to choose. New rose gardeners may be tempted to jump headfirst into growing hybrid tea or floribunda roses only to be discouraged by the lack of blooms or amount of maintenance encountered. Shrub roses like Knockout® serve as a wonderful compromise for those who want roses in the landscape but aren’t...
These few weeks in April bring an onslaught of spectacular spring colors from blooming tree and shrub species. As many forsythia, quince, and magnolia blooms fade and leaves appear, some redbuds, dogwoods, and crabapples are just beginning their performance. A very common spring flowering tree species is the Callery or ‘Bradford’ Pear (Pyrus calleryana). It comes under different cultivar names including ‘Aristocrat’, ‘Cleveland Select’, and ‘Chanticleer’.
Interesting facts to...
If you're like me, while performing spring clean-up around the yard, you may realize some lawn care is also needed!
Here are some helpful tips for the season:
As grass begins to grow, make sure your mower is serviced and blades are sharpened.
Set the deck at a height of 2 to 2.5 inches for cutting. Any shorter allows weeds to germinate. Anything taller can prohibit grass from drying completely and promote disease.
Remove no move that 1/3 the turf height in one session....
Spring has sprung, the weather is gorgeous, and everyone wants to get outside. However, social distancing measures prevent many of us from being in public spaces. We can’t gather with others, but we still care about our families and our community. What a perfect time to revisit the victory garden and give a whole new meaning to the word VICTORY.
During World War II, food was in high demand, and agricultural production was stretched to its limits. The United States fed our own population, both...
Food science is so fun! Like overmixing batter to see "tunnels" develop because of gluten. Or turning cream into butter or ice cream. And especially dyeing with food and plant pigments. Pigments are the compounds that make up the colors in food and plants.
Egg dyeing with food and plants is an easy alternative to commercial dyes. Pick foods and plants you have around your house and get to dyeing! While these dyes are much more muted or pastel than commercial dyes, they are so interesting to...
Hydroponics continues to be a popular topic in the horticulture industry, but usually it is on a very large greenhouse scale.
Why is it so popular? Well, it's because your plants can grow 30% to 40% faster. And it is just pretty darn cool.
Did you know that you can build a hydroponic system at home?
This particular system you can build is a passive hydroponic system, meaning that nutrients, which are in a fluid solution, are drawn up and absorbed by the growing medium — a...
