Morton Arboretum

With memories of boxwoods ravaged by last January's bitter cold spell, many gardeners are trying to protect shrubs this winter by wrapping them in burlap. "That can do more harm...

What is a tree and what is a shrub? It's surprisingly hard to draw the line. "Biologically, there's no clear difference between trees and shrubs," said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge...

Winter means hard times for deer, rabbits, and other animals — and that can be rough on your garden plants. "Animals can do a lot of damage over the winter,...

It's time to do a little tidying up in the garden. Just a little. "There's no need to vacuum up every leaf and cut back every stalk," said Sharon Yiesla,...

Spring brought many homeowners unpleasant surprises this year: dead, brown boxwoods and other evergreens killed by cold winter blasts. There's no guaranteed way to protect these vulnerable plants against bitter...

Did you think your weeding was done for the year? Think again. If you look closely among the fallen leaves, you're likely to see flashes of green, and they're likely...

It's time for the forest to open its paint box and create its autumn masterpiece. First, mute the green in leaves to let the yellow and orange shine. Add the...

A bounty of leaves, falling from the trees, can yield a cornucopia of compost to enrich the soil of every garden. "Making your own compost is a great way to...

A new tree planted along a street or in a park often has an odd-looking accessory: a watering bag. It's a green or brown bag made of heavy plastic sitting...

Gardeners often are told that after planting or transplanting, they should water frequently until the plant is "established." But what does that mean, exactly? "It's all about the roots," said...