Beth Botts – Page 6 –

Wounds such as these in small branches from last year’s emergence of 17-year cicadas are nothing to worry about. If a larger branch has a wound, soft spot or oozing sap, it may be a sign of a fungal or bacterial infection. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Don’t assume tree wounds are from cicadas

October 11, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Homeowners may be seeing some lingering effects of last year’s 17-year cicada emergence in smaller branches of trees, but it’s nothing to worry about.

Fallen leaves make fine mulch around perennials, shrubs and trees. Simply leave them where they fall or rake them where you want them. (Beth Botts /The Morton Arboretum)

Falling leaves are a free gift

October 5, 2025 at 10:44 a.m.

Keeping fallen leaves in your yard is more sustainable than packing them up to be trucked away as landscape waste.

Evergreens, such as this dwarf blue spruce, are vulnerable in winter and need water because they are not fully dormant. Water evergreens regularly until the ground freezes in fall. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Autumn care helps evergreens in winter

September 28, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

In the gray of winter, we’ll be grateful for the color of our evergreen trees and shrubs. “It’s cheery to see those touches of green from plants that don’t go...

Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is one of a number of native tree species that are suitable for Chicago-area yards and can be planted in autumn. Its spring blooms offer nectar and pollen to wildlife. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Plant a native tree to support wildlife

September 21, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Every yard needs a tree. All the better if it’s a native species of tree, one that will support native bees, butterflies and other wildlife.

For springtime color beneath a tree, plant early-flowering bulbs such as glory-of-the-snow that will have time in the sun to bloom before the tree’s leaves open to shade them. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Plant bulbs in fall for springtime beauty

September 14, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

The best time to plant bulbs is between late September and late October.

Trees change color in fall as part of their preparation for winter. If some trees turn early, it’s usually because they have been under stress from drought or other adverse conditions. (Beth Botts /The Morton Arboretum)

Flashes of color hint at fall

September 7, 2025 at 11:59 a.m.

Leaf color is a sign that trees are preparing for winter by entering the sleeplike state called dormancy.

Check your trees for signs of the Asian longhorned beetle, an invasive insect that could be a threat in Illinois since it is present in other states. Look for deep holes in the bark, 3/8 to ½ inch wide, where the insects have tunneled out of the wood. (U.S. Forest Service)

Check your trees for invasive pests

August 31, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

The end of summer is a good time to examine your trees for signs of hazardous invasive insects.

Plants that bloom in late summer, such as phlox, are important food sources for butterflies and other pollinating insects. (Beth Botts /The Morton Arboretum)

Plant a colorful garden to invite pollinators

August 23, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Pollinating insects, especially non-native honeybees, are important for food crops.

Rain may not actually deliver enough water to keep your plants thriving. Check to make sure there is
sufficient moisture in the top few inches of soil. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Rainfall may not be enough for plants

August 17, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Don’t be deceived by soil that looks dark and moist.

Mushrooms growing in a lawn or in mulch are nothing to worry about, but those growing on a tree’s trunk or roots may indicate there is decay in the wood. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Have expert check a tree marked with mushrooms

August 9, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

When a mushroom is growing on the trunk or roots of a living tree, it indicates that there is a fungus growing in the tree’s wood.

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