Beth Botts

Winter is coming: Here are 12 do’s and don’ts for preparing your garden for cold weather

November 16, 2020 at 2:25 p.m.

Working outdoors becomes less appealing when the weather turns cold. So what is really worth doing to wrap up the garden for the winter? "There's no need to tidy up...

Your plants might be hardy enough to survive a Chicago winter, but their blooms are a different story

November 8, 2020 at 5:00 a.m.

Are your plants hardy enough to withstand a Chicago winter? Sometimes it depends on what you mean by hardy. "Hardiness is not a simple, black-and-white thing," said Sharon Yiesla, plant...

Bundle up your garden for winter with burlap, leaves and frost blankets. Here’s what to use for your plants, shrubs and trees.

October 31, 2020 at 5:00 a.m.

People prepare for the oncoming cold by digging out their puffy coat, gloves and insulated boots from the back of the closet. But how can you prepare to protect your...

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Winter is coming: Here are 12 do’s and don’ts for preparing your garden for cold weather

Your plants might be hardy enough to survive a Chicago winter, but their blooms are a different story

Bundle up your garden for winter with burlap, leaves and frost blankets. Here’s what to use for your plants, shrubs and trees.

Shredded leaves have plenty of uses in gardens, from nurturing soil for spring vegetables to feeding the lawn

Mushrooms are a healthy sign in your lawn — but can mean trouble on a tree

Evergreens might be shedding needles this season as well — here’s how to tell if there’s a problem with your tree

Why leaves change color in autumn — and how to help your trees look as spectacular as possible

9 timely gardening and lawn tips for fall, whether you’re a pandemic gardening newbie or a seasoned pro

An ode to the ginkgo, as its fleeting golden leaves arrive in the last show of summer

Landscape fabric can do more harm than good under mulch in your garden. Here’s a better, cheaper alternative to try.