Home and Garden – Page 22

A monarch butterfly climbs on verbena blooms Sept. 9, 2025, in Oak Park. Land managers of rights-of-way throughout the area are increasingly implementing monarch-friendly practices such as installing native plants and mowing less frequently. (Brian Cassella/baiduhai)

As monarch butterflies head south, they’re getting an assist along utility rights of way, roadways

By Susan DeGrane

October 9, 2026 at 9:52 a.m.

The Illinois Department of Transportation, ComEd and other agencies are implementing practices along rights of...

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...

While flowering, amaryllis will produce two to six leaves, which photosynthesize and store food in the bulb for future growth. (RJ Carlson / Chicago Botanic Garden)

Reblooming amaryllis requires patience

By Tim Johnson

February 8, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

It can take several months, including a period of dormancy, before the bulb has enough...

This new hedge of boxwoods has been properly spaced, giving the young shrubs room to grow wider as they grow taller. The size and width that plants will reach when they are fully mature is one of the important facts to determine before you buy them. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

On a cold day, stay indoors and research plants

By Beth Botts

February 2, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

If you’re considering adding trees or shrubs to your landscape in the coming growing season,...

Whiteflies (Trialeurodes vaporariorum) are tiny insects related to aphids, scales, and mealybugs. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Whiteflies on houseplants require prompt response

By Tim Johnson

February 2, 2025 at 11:25 a.m.

Whiteflies tend to cling to the undersides of leaves, making them easy to overlook.

The size of a shrub that has outgrown its space often can be reduced by selectively pruning some branches while preserving its natural form. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Careful pruning can reduce a shrub’s size

By Beth Botts

January 26, 2025 at 3:27 p.m.

Exactly how and when you should prune a shrub depends on the species and variety...

Be careful not to damage the bark or the trunk as you are pruning. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Go large when pruning tree limbs

By Tim Johnson

January 26, 2025 at 12:22 p.m.

There are some large limbs hanging too low over my patio that I need to...

Tthe Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Henderson house in Elmhurst is featured on an extended, add-on tour associated with the Wright Plus 2025 housewalk event in May. (Graydon Megan/Pioneer Press)

Lineup set for Oak Park’s Wright Plus house tour, including some featured for first time

By Graydon Megan

January 24, 2025 at 12:06 p.m.

Four homes that have never been featured on the Wright Plus home tour will be...

Chicago Botanic Garden staff use insulated coveralls for working outside for long periods of time. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Stay warm while gardening outdoors

By Tim Johnson

January 19, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

I see Chicago Botanic Garden staff working outside all winter long and I was wondering...

Remove older, thicker stems from a tangled shrub to make room for new growth. One reason to prune shrubs in the winter dormant season is that without leaves, it’s easier to see what you’re doing. (Jeffrey Ross/The Morton Arboretum)

Get outside and prune your shrubs

By Beth Botts

January 22, 2025 at 1:56 p.m.

Pruning is a great way to get outdoors in winter, breathe some fresh air, and...

With the proper precautions, you should be able to continue purchasing plants, including moth orchids, all winter long. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Tips for thriving winter houseplants

By Tim Johnson

January 12, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

The winter gardening season is a great time to focus on houseplants and build a...

This pine tree’s leaves are needle-thin so they expose little surface area to cold, drying winds. It’s one of the ways hardy plants protect themselves from the effects of winter cold. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Hardy plants can handle bitter cold

By Beth Botts

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

A bitter cold spell, often caused by a dip in the polar vortex, may cause...