Tim Johnson – Page 6 –

Container-grown hydrangeas planted in full flower need more frequent watering to get them established. (RJ Carlson / Chicago Botanic Garden)

An automatic sprinkler system saves time, but check plants for dryness

October 4, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

A sprinkler system will make the job of watering easier and less time-consuming, but it doesn’t eliminate the need to monitor your new plants and spot-water as needed.

Tobacco hornworm on tomatoes. (Julie McCaffrey/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Hungry tomato hornworm can be dealt with

September 27, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

I saw your recent column about tomato fruitworms, and was wondering if this pest also eats leaves. The leaves of one of my tomato plants are being eaten by something....

Surround a small tree with a 6-foot-tall barrier of hardware wire mesh supported by fence posts. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Don’t let deer destroy your garden

September 20, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

I just moved from Arizona to this area, and a neighbor advised me that deer were a problem in the neighborhood and that I need to protect my plants from...

Tomato fruitworms are caterpillars that bore into tomatoes, making neat, round holes to feed on the fruit. (Julie McCaffrey/Chicago Botanic Garden)

A tomato fruitworm takeover in your garden can be tamed

September 13, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Tomato fruitworms are caterpillars that bore into tomatoes and other crops, making them unappetizing.

Crabgrass can be identified by its wide leaf blade and light green color. (Julie McCaffrey/Chicago Botanic Garden)

To prevent crabgrass, maintain a healthy lawn

September 7, 2025 at 12:03 p.m.

Crabgrass is an annual, weedy, warm-season grass that prefers the hot, dry summer weather.

Containers in the Buehler Enabling Garden at the Chicago Botanic Garden. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Bring your annuals back to life with these tips

August 30, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Plants grown in containers need to be watered routinely, especially during summer when the plants have grown and the weather gets hotter.

A magnolia in bloom. (RJ Carlson / Chicago Botanic Garden)

Will magnolia in my garden rebloom?

August 24, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

There’s nothing for you to be concerned about with your magnolia putting out a few flowers this summer.

Proper watering of plants before and after planting is critical during the hot summer season. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Should I wait until next spring to plant?

August 18, 2025 at 12:21 p.m.

There is no reason to stop planting during the summer, a garden expert says.

Sod will quickly compost if left rolled up and piled up in hot weather. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Install sod ahead of ground freeze

August 10, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

We just finished an addition on our house and would like to quickly restore our backyard so that our kids can play outside. Is it OK to install sod now...

A gall on the leaf of a witch hazel. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Leaf galls rarely cause serious harm

August 3, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Insect and mite galls are common on trees and shrubs throughout the Chicago area and are generally nothing to be concerned about.

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