Beth Botts – Page 32 –

Weeds still going strong into fall? Here’s how to tackle them in your garden or lawn

September 14, 2020 at 3:03 p.m.

Many perennials and shrubs start to lose steam toward the end of the growing season, but one category of plants is still going strong: weeds. "Don't stop weeding in the...

Hot, dry summer means your plants need extra watering, and for longer than you might think

September 5, 2020 at 2:00 a.m.

Despite a major storm that propelled multiple tornadoes through the Chicago area, August was otherwise pretty dry, with hot days and rainfall below normal. So even as the growing season...

Early autumn is the perfect time to plant new trees and shrubs. Here’s how to do it right.

August 29, 2020 at 2:00 a.m.

Autumn will be here soon, and that means it's a good time to think about adding trees or shrubs to your yard. "Planting them in early fall gives their roots...

The best spring-blooming bulbs to plant under trees this autumn range from daffodils to snowdrops

August 23, 2020 at 2:00 a.m.

The approach of autumn makes it time to think about which bulbs to plant for spring bloom. That's because spring-blooming bulbs are planted in the fall. In order to flower,...

If pests have the ‘gall’ to cause these warty bulges on your trees or bushes, there’s not much you can do

August 15, 2020 at 1:00 a.m.

You're admiring the stalwart limbs and sculpted leaves of your handsome oak tree, and suddenly you see them: warty bulges clustered along the branches like bunches of freaky grapes. There's...

Dry shade is a challenging place for plants to thrive. Here’s how to handle it in your garden

August 10, 2020 at 2:29 p.m.

When we see how quickly the soil dries out under the hot sun, it can be easy to assume that spaces in shade will stay moist. In fact, some shady...

Parkway gardening requires careful consideration for plants to flourish amid car exhaust, dog droppings

August 2, 2020 at 1:00 a.m.

What do you call that strip of ground between the street and the sidewalk? A hell strip? Parking strip? Tree strip? Most people in the Chicago area call it a...

Poison ivy isn’t just out in the wild — here’s how to spot it in your own backyard

July 19, 2020 at 1:00 a.m.

In the sanctuary of your yard, danger may lurk in the form of poison ivy. This woody vine, which can cause a nasty rash on contact with bare skin, is...

‘Rain can be deceiving’: How to figure out if you need to water

July 15, 2020 at 1:00 a.m.

Thunder rumbles, lightning flashes, rain rattles against the window. It certainly feels as though you won't need to water the garden tomorrow. But are you sure? "Rain can be deceiving,"...

Cool, rainy spring could leave maples, oaks and other trees with disfiguring, ‘ugly’ fungal disease

July 11, 2020 at 1:00 a.m.

If your maple or oak has some shriveled leaves with brown, dead splotches, or if your sycamore was especially late to open its leaves, you may be able to blame...

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