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Crocus flowers that have been damaged by cold temperatures.

Spring teases and freezes: How spring temperature swings affect plants

March 20, 2026

Early spring often brings unpredictable weather, from 80-degree days to temperatures well below freezing. While many plants are adapted to withstand cold temperatures when dormant, they become far more vulnerable once they begin to emerge from dormancy. While early‑emerging plants such as...

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a cedar waxwing bird sitting on a tree branch with a red berry in its mouth

Berry Succession: Creating a continuous food source for birds

March 14, 2025

Good Growing

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...

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How does cold weather affect garden plants?

January 24, 2025

Good Growing

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...

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Pawpaw: America's tropical treasure

August 2, 2024

Good Growing

The time of year is nearing when the pawpaw (Asimina triloba) fruit will ripen and those lucky enough to have access to the fruit (and beat the wildlife to the ripened fruit) will enjoy a once-a-year delicacy. Those who have never been able to enjoy the fruit have time to search for a...

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Cultivating sunshine: Growing citrus indoors

December 22, 2023

Good Growing

As we hunker down for winter, some of us may begin longing for summer’s warm, sunny days. Perhaps it’s the cold weather or the desire to return to gardening. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of opportunities to continue our gardens indoors. While we often associate citrus with warmer climates...

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young girl picking an apple from an apple tree

Tips to get started growing apples in your backyard

August 25, 2023

Good Growing

It is late August. Do you know what that means? Apples! Yes, our apple trees are beginning to yield their bountiful fruits. A few days ago, I walked over to a friend's apple tree and pulled down on a low-hanging apple with no signs of blemishes or damage. The fruit slipped off the tree easily,...

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Managing fire blight at home. Apple tree shoot infected with fire blight. Shot is brown and the tip has curled down forming a shepherds crook.

Managing fire blight in apples and pears at home

March 24, 2023

Good Growing

Apples and pears are popular trees to grow for people interested in growing their own fruit. However, they aren't without any problems. A variety of insect pests and diseases can plague them. One common and potentially serious disease is fire blight. What is fire blight? Fire...

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Managing brown rot of peaches and other stone fruit in the garden. Peach fruit infected with brown rot. Fruit is covered in brown fuzzy mass.

Manage brown rot of peaches and other stone fruit in the garden

August 12, 2022

Have you ever gone out to pick a peach only to find they have a large brown, mushy spot? Or perhaps you've brought some peaches home from the farmers' market only to have developed these same spots a few days later. The likely culprit is brown rot. Brown rot (Monilinia spp.) is one of the...

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Hazelnuts: A native plant is a new crop for Illinois

November 19, 2021

You’ve likely heard of hazelnuts, perhaps even used them in some delightful dessert or savory dishes and garnishes. If you give my children a choice between peanut butter or a chocolaty hazelnut spread, the peanut butter jar remains unopened. About 40 percent of global hazelnut production goes into...

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How to get fruit plants ready for winter: Start preparing for a successful harvest

November 12, 2021

Once you’ve picked the last of your fruits this season, you may think your work with your fruit plants is over. However, a few tasks can be done in the fall to set yourself up for a successful growing season next year. Tree Fruit Sanitation and disease management One of the most...

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