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raised bed with flowers and vegetables growing together

New Hardiness Zone Map changed some of our local zones

February 13, 2024

The USDA Hardiness Zone Map has been updated to reflect temperature data collected over the last 30 years. This new map version used GIS technology and input from climate, botanical, and horticulture experts to create hardiness zones on a much finer scale.  Updated to Zone 6A Locally, the...

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Gardeners' BIG Day 2024 is a great place to learn for gardeners of all experience levels

February 6, 2024

ILRiverHort

Join us for the 21st Gardener’s Big Day 9 am to 4:30 pm on April 13, 2024 at Spoon River College in Canton, IL. Registration begins February 1, 2024. go.illinois.edu/GBD24. Keynote What do pollinators do for us? Imagine how much an apple would...

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January and February are prime time for winter sowing

December 29, 2023

ILRiverHort

Winter sowing is a cost-effective and low maintenance way of starting plants for the garden. The creator of the winter sowing method, Trudi Davidoff puts it in simple terms, "starting plants outdoors, in winter." Winter sowing works with nature to prepare seeds for growth by providing the proper...

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two women bending over picking produce in the garden

Grow A Row 2023: Donating fresh produce to food banks

November 1, 2023

ILRiverHort

The Grow A Row initiative aims to give back to Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford communities by providing fresh produce to food banks, pantries, and other distribution efforts. The goal in 2023 was to donate 25,000 pounds of fresh produce to charitable organizations. Anyone can participate by donating...

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Knowing your weeds can help you grow healthier plants

August 8, 2023

ILRiverHort

Weeds may be unwanted, but armed with the right information they can be very helpful tools to improving your garden. There are some weeds that are called indicator species because they are more likely to be found in specific environmental conditions. Their presence in your garden or landscape can...

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beautiful flower bed in front of a house

3 ways to prune perennials for longer lasting blooms

June 6, 2023

ILRiverHort

Pruning perennial flowers takes a garden from looking fair to fabulous. Deadheading, cutting back, and pinching are all pruning techniques that can keep perennial plants looking well cared for, healthy, and colorful. Pruning perennials is a complex topic because different plants need different...

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spring flowers in a flower bed with mulch

Select the best mulch for your garden

April 12, 2023

ILRiverHort

There are many types of mulch that can be used in landscapes and gardens. Here are some things to consider as you choose the mulch that works best for your space. Benefits of mulch Even though there are different types of mulch, they do have some important things in common. One of the big...

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Start saving your seeds today!

December 20, 2022

ILRiverHort

Getting Started with Seed Saving If you find the perfect tasting tomato, harvesting and saving the seed will ensure you can have that tomato again next season. The seed stores the genetic information for a new plant. With a bit of practice and patience, you can have the seeds of your favorite...

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The Poinsettia: How to enjoy it longer than a season

December 15, 2022

ILRiverHort

The colorful poinsettia is a beautiful addition to end-of-the-year holiday festivities. One of the most common questions about poinsettias is how to keep them and get them to rebloom the following season. The first step to reblooming is to keep the plant healthy and growing throughout the...

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Colorful amaryllis to brighten up your colorless winter days

December 15, 2022

ILRiverHort

The large, colorful blooms of the Amaryllis can brighten dreary winter days. This South American native has showy flowers in a range of colors from white to pink to red. Amaryllis is a beautiful addition to holiday or winter décor. Getting Started Often you will find Amaryllis sold as a bulb in a...

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