Home and Garden – Page 10

Even spectacular bulbs such as these peony-flowered tulips are most effective groups. Plant them in fall for spring bloom. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Plant bulbs now for spring bloom

By Beth Botts

October 4, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

There’s no more satisfying way to spend a crisp fall day than planting bulbs for...

Ageratum is a sun-loving annual that can provide color in gardens that are challenged by rabbits. (Jeff Carrion/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Rabbits nibbling your garden? Here’s what to do.

By Tim Johnson

October 3, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The best way to prevent rabbit damage in the growing season is to exclude them...

Geno McKenna, director of the indoor garden at The Hope Center in Blue Island, speaks about hydroponic growing systems on Sept. 29, 2026. (Elena Tittel/Daily Southtown)

Blue Island group harvests hope year-round for those facing food insecurity

By Elena Tittel

September 30, 2026 at 4:56 p.m.

Blue Island's Hope Center is closing in on its goal of donating 2,000 pounds of...

If a houseplant’s pot is inside a decorative container, like this golden pothos in a plastic-lined basket, remove the plant from the inner pot for watering. Place the pot in the sink or over a bucket, soak the plant thoroughly, and let all surplus water drain away before returning it to the decorative cover. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Water correctly to keep houseplants healthy

By Beth Botts

February 7, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Here are tips for knowing when to water and doing it right.

Disease-resistant cultivated varieties or alternative species are available for many plants that are prone to disease. The Accolade™ elm (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica 'Morton') is a selection of an Asian species that resists the deadly Dutch elm disease. (Mike Hudson/The Morton Arboretum)

Search out shrub, trees that resist disease

By Beth Botts

February 1, 2026 at 9:46 a.m.

Some trees and shrubs have a bad reputation for being susceptible to diseases: lilacs to...

Gro-Low sumac (Rhus aromatica 'Gro-Low'). (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Gro-Low sumac a good choice for planting near sidewalk

By Tim Johnson

January 31, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

This fast-growing, durable plant is a good choice to stabilize a bank and requires little...

The home, left, and studio of renowned architect R. Harold Zook on Jan. 28, 2026, at 5901 S. County Line Road in Hinsdale. Zook’s home and studio were located at 327 S. Oak St. from 1924 until 2005, when both buildings were moved to Katherine Legge Memorial Park. (Josh Boland/baiduhai)

Home and studio of R. Harold Zook, ‘Hinsdale’s Frank Lloyd Wright,’ gets funding boost for preservation

By Melinda Moore

January 31, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The Hinsdale Historical Society's plans for the home of R. Harold Zook, "Hinsdale's Frank Lloyd...

Evergreen trees shelter birds such as this warbler against winter winds and cold. (Hailey Hoffman/Morton Arboretum)

How to plant a garden that welcomes birds

By Beth Botts

January 25, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Yards that include mature trees and native plants are critical rest stops for the millions...

Spathiphyllum, or peace lily, in flower. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Encourage your peace lily to bloom with these simple tips

By Tim Johnson

January 24, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Peace lilies can be erratic in flowering, but there are a few things you can...

Weeding the garden. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

What makes a weed?

By Tim Johnson

January 18, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

There is a biological difference between a weedy plant and an invasive plant, a garden...

Researching the care and conditions needed by any plants you’re considering for the coming season is one important gardening task to do in midwinter. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Get busy on this year’s garden

By Beth Botts

January 17, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

What a gift to be a gardener at this time of year! For most other...

To give an old, tangled, overcrowded shrub a new start, rejuvenate it by cutting off all stems within 2 to 4 inches of the soil. In many species, new, more vigorous stems will sprout in spring. (Jeffrey Ross/The Morton Arboretum)

Give an old, tangled shrub a new start

By Beth Botts

January 11, 2026 at 12:01 p.m.

Midwinter is a good time to prune deciduous shrubs because it's easy to see the...

Make sure wood is properly seasoned before burning it in the fireplace. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Can cut trees be safely used for firewood?

By Tim Johnson

January 10, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

I am having a couple of trees cut down next week. Is it OK to...