Home and Garden – Page 38

Wait to prune deciduous shrubs such as this dogwood until the plants are entirely dormant, with all their leaves fallen. Dormant pruning time may come later in autumn than you are used to. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Wait until plants are dormant to prune

By Beth Botts

October 11, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

There’s no safe date when you can assume trees and shrubs will be dormant. As...

A bed of lily-of-the-valley that recently died back. (Tim Johnson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Anthracnose is not a fatal plant disease

By Tim Johnson

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

This disease is not usually fatal, but it does weaken the plant.

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...

Poinsettias are a staple at Schaefer Greenhouse in Montgomery during the holiday season.

The checkered history of the poinsettia’s namesake and the flower’s origins get new attention

By Associated Press

December 20, 2023 at 4:21 p.m.

Like Christmas trees, Santa and reindeer, the poinsettia has long been a ubiquitous symbol of...

Check the maturity of the poinsettia by looking at the flowers, which are located above the colored bracts. If the flowers are green or red-tipped and fresh looking, then the plant will hold color longer than if yellow pollen is covering the flowers.

Pointers for purchasing the right poinsettia this holiday season

By Tim Johnson

December 17, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

I would like to purchase some poinsettias and need some advice on selecting good plants...

Young trees' bark can be severely damaged in fall when male deer rub against them to scratch itchy antlers.

Tree bark can suffer when deer scratch an itch

By Beth Botts

December 16, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

In fall or winter, homeowners often discover young trees whose thin bark has been damaged...

The Chicago Botanic Garden uses sand on roads and walks to control slippery conditions once the snow is removed with deicing products used minimally in select areas.

What’s the most effective way to remove snow this winter?

By Tim Johnson

December 10, 2023 at 1:53 p.m.

I just moved to the suburbs from a city apartment and will be responsible for...

The new USDA plant hardiness zone map moves all of Chicago and most of central Illinois into the warmer Zone 6, but gardeners are still wise to be cautious because the weather continues to be
variable. Image from USDA.

Gardeners, stay cool: Caution urged with new plant zone map

By Beth Botts

December 9, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Freezing weather may make it hard to believe, but many Chicago-area gardeners — and their...

When pruning a shrub branch, make the cut close to the main stem to preserve special tissue around the branch's base that can seal over the wound.

Winter prime time for pruning

By Beth Botts

December 3, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Winter is a fine time to prune most trees and shrubs. Without leaves, the structure...

Generally, it should not be necessary to use burlap to overwinter evergreens such as boxwood.

Should I wrap my evergreens in burlap?

By Tim Johnson

December 2, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

I planted some new evergreens this summer and a gardening friend told me that I...

To prepare for next year's garden, think back on the past growing season and note down anything that was especially pretty, such as these dahlias, as well as anything that went wrong.

Take time to reflect on your garden this year

By Beth Botts

November 26, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

Now that it's puffy-coat time, assess the past growing season in the garden so you'll...

Keep mowing lawns in late fall as long as the grass continues growing.

When can I stop mowing my lawn this fall?

By Tim Johnson

November 25, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

My lawn seems to have stopped growing for the year, but it has been three...

An October warm spell tricked some spring-blooming shrubs such as forsythia into opening a few flower buds. The autumn reblooming won't prevent the shrubs from flowering in spring.

Repeat blooms common after warm spells

By Beth Botts

November 19, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Did you see plants blooming this fall when you didn't expect it? "Some of them...