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Gardening

mole emerging from soil

Landscaping Fiction (Part 1): Don't be fooled by garden add-ons

1. Control grubs in the lawn to eliminate moles and voles? Fiction. A mole’s diet consist mostly of earthworms. This does not mean they won’t eat a grub, but grubs are not their preferred diet. Although mole tunnels can be a nuisance in a lawn setting, most landscape plants are not bothered. Moles...
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brilliant red-orange oriental poppy pixabay

Divide and Conquer in Fall

If you have a vigorous perennial that has been in the garden bed for more than a few years, or it is starting to choke out some other plants and no longer looking healthy, then it may be time to divide. Plants that need to be divided cannot support healthy foliage and flowers. Some perennials like...
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Take your butterfly garden to the next level

Are you ready to take your butterfly gardening to the next level and allow some of your beautiful plants to be eaten by caterpillars? Choose the right plants, give them some care, and voila — caterpillars. The most grown caterpillar food in our gardens are milkweeds for monarchs and parsley...
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wheat grass growing in a cup

Grow your own grass head!

The grass will germinate and grow quickly to create a lush, green head. Snip or style the “hair” to keep it looking tidy. Materials: 8 oz white paper cup Potting soil Wheat grass seeds Colored pencils or crayons     1. Poke 3-4 small holes in the bottom of...
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plox from pixabay

Favorite Perennials For the Sun

While designing a perennial flower bed, remember to add personal favorites, and throw out “garden design rules” that don’t fit your vision. Some of the plants I choose are favorites because they are tough, dependable, and beautiful. blue false indigo (Baptisia australis) Native...
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silvery checkerspot by kathy dumler

Advanced butterfly gardening

Are you ready to take your butterfly gardening status to the next level and allow some of your beautiful plants to be eaten by caterpillars? Choosing the right plants, some care and voila caterpillars. I am not only altering the habitat of my backyard for the greater good, I will have some more...
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How much water does your garden need?

Originally published by Kelly Allsup on July 3, 2020. Last week's high temperatures and our limited amount of rain is making gardeners' number one job watering. Even though we have gotten some much-needed rain for the flowers and the trees, consistent watering throughout the season is...
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6 Tips for Watering Container Gardens

URBANA, Ill. – Every garden needs water, but with a container garden’s limited soil volume, proper watering is crucial for plants to stay productive. “Proper drainage is just as important as the amount of water added to the container,” says Andrew Holsinger,...
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Growing Basil in Your Backyard

Nothing says summer like enjoying the freshly harvested vegetables and herbs from your garden. “One of the easiest, most prolific, and flavorful herbs to grow is basil (Ocimum basilicum),” states Brittnay Haag, University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator. While there are many cultivars...
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