Morton Arboretum

If you don't have an arborvitae tree or shrub in your yard, chances are your neighbor does. Arborvitaes are among the most commonly planted evergreens in Chicago-area landscapes. Many yards...

A major crack has appeared in your favorite big tree. Is it doomed? Not necessarily. There are ways to reinforce trees that are in danger of failing, according to Jake...

Are you waiting for your snowdrops to bloom? Or do you prefer to call them Galanthus nivalis? "Nearly every kind of plant has more than one name," said Julie Janoski,...

When we spend time outdoors in deep cold, we often get red noses and chapped cheeks. In a young tree, sudden, deep cold can cause more severe damage: cracks in...

The first step in pruning a shrub or tree is to remove branches that are dead. "Any plant will accumulate a certain amount of deadwood over time, due to harsh...

Midwinter is an excellent time to prune deciduous shrubs. "Because they've lost their leaves, it's easy to see the structure and judge which branches to remove," said Sharon Yiesla, plant...

At a time of year when we often decorate with holly, mistletoe, pine, fir and spruce, it's easy to overlook some of our most common evergreens: yews. In many Chicago-area...

Frozen margaritas: yummy. Frozen toes: bad. Frozen soil: just fine. Many gardeners are afraid their plants will be harmed if the soil freezes in winter. Often they see spreading mulch...