Beth Botts –

Plant bulbs now for spring bloom

October 4, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

There’s no more satisfying way to spend a crisp fall day than planting bulbs for spring bloom.

Unpredictable autumn weather may threaten houseplants that have been outdoors, such as this Neon pothos. Bring them inside once temperatures fall into the 50s at night. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Stay alert for the first freeze

September 27, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Although the National Weather Service says the average first freeze date at O’Hare Airport is Oct. 19, a freeze has occurred there as early as Sept. 22.

Trees often reflect things that happened years ago. A larger-than-normal fall of the oldest needles from an evergreen tree may be the result of rainy weather in the spring two or three years ago. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Problems in trees can take years to show

September 19, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Things that happened years ago to your tree can still mean real trouble.

Trees in the Chicago region usually change to their vivid fall colors between the end of September and late October, as they prepare for winter dormancy. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Look out for fall color change

September 12, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Changing climate is making our weather more volatile and extreme overall, with more periods of drought. That makes fall color less predictable.

Veronica is one of the spring- and early summer-blooming perennials that are best divided in fall. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Divide perennials while soil is warm

September 5, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

As a general rule, fall dividing is best for plants that bloom in spring or early summer, such as woodland phlox, veronica, daylilies and daffodils

When planting a tree in early fall, make sure that you don’t bury the root flare — the place where the trunk flares out into the roots. (The Morton Arboretum)

Plant a tree in early fall

August 29, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Fall is nearly here. That makes it a good time to plant a tree.

Butterfly milkweed (Asceplias tuberosa), shown here growing companionably with a non-native geranium, is one of the pollinator-friendly prairie plants that do well in gardens.

Prairie flowers can charm in gardens

August 23, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Tips for which prairie flowers to use in your garden.

Suckers — stems that grow from the base of a tree — often are a response to stress. Consider the reason for them when you prune them out. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Tree suckers may be signs of stress

August 16, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Before you prune out the suckers to tidy up the tree, it’s always a good idea to figure out why the tree is producing them.

Power tools such as lawn mowers and string trimmers used to care for grass around trees can cause serious, sometimes fatal, damage to the trees’ bark. To protect them, replace grass around trees with a wide, even area of mulch where power tools won’t go. (The Morton Arboretum)

Protect tree bark from power tools with mulch

August 9, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

One of the biggest threats to trees in summertime is lawn care. A good way to protect them is with mulch.

A plant such as Honorine Jourbert Japanese anemone can be aggressive without being invasive. Understanding the meanings of words used to describe plants’ behavior is important to good gardening. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Learn the right terms for problem plants

August 1, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Even a plant that we value in one place may be a nuisance if it starts growing somewhere else.

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