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Gardening Blogs

Weeds growing up between a sidewalk and a brick house

Spring weed management begins in the fall

Good Growing
With the arrival of fall, many of our landscapes start to wind down. Flowering plants begin to fade, and trees put on their annual display of fall color. There are plenty of seasonal tasks to tackle, from planting perennials and bulbs to cleaning up the vegetable garden and putting away tools and...
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Cereal rye cover crop growing in a garden

Getting started with cover crops in the garden

Good Growing
Cover crops have been used for thousands of years and have seen a resurgence in recent years. While we usually think of cover crops in production agriculture, they can also be used in home gardens. By keeping living plants growing in the soil when vegetables are not, gardeners can build healthier,...
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Two male deer with antlers standing in a landscaping bed of plants

Keeping deer out of the yard and garden

Good Growing
If you are like me, you may enjoy watching deer browse in the forest. They are fascinating to observe and among the largest wild animals in Illinois. My interest in watching deer waned one morning last week when, upon opening the drapes to the backyard, I found myself nose-to-nose with a doe...
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cicada killer wasp with a paralyzed cicada

Cicada killers: Summer's misunderstood giants

Good Growing
Nothing says summer like the chorus of cicadas. Those annual cicadas also signal the arrival of cicada killer wasps, one of Illinois' largest and most misunderstood wasps. Despite their large, intimidating appearance, they are generally harmless.What do cicada killer wasps look like?...
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a patch of blooming creeping Charlie plants

Managing creeping Charlie in home landscapes

Good Growing
As we go through our landscapes in spring and begin the inevitable task of weeding, there is one plant we commonly encounter. It creeps through shaded lawns, slips beneath shrubs, and roots wherever it touches the soil. With its small purple flowers, creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea)...
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a digging spade in the ground next to a cluster of freshly harvested sweet potatoes

How sweet it is growing sweet potatoes

Good Growing
Grow what you eatI often suggest that the best things to grow in your garden are fruits and vegetables we enjoy eating. Sometimes, though, our gardens may exceed our appetites. After growing fifteen kale plants, my family determined that we could probably live off two. And ten cherry tomato bushes...
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two hands gathered holding a bunch of white strawberries also known as pineberries

The curious case of the pineberry

Good Growing
Pineberries are a unique, niche berry that, until recently, were only available at farmers’ markets or regionally. Commercial production has increased in recent years, thereby increasing the availability of pineberries in grocery stores. The exotic yet familiar appearance is sure to turn heads and...
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