Plant Information

Smart Gardener

The Smart Gardener is published monthly as part of the Chicago Botanic Garden's eNewsletter. Find previous articles below, or sign up for our eNewsletter today to receive The Smart Gardener in your inbox!

Title	Month
Vertical Gardening
Use Them or Lose Them: The Plants in your Spice Cabinet	January
Plan Now for a Gorgeous Fall Garden	March
Marsala: The "It" Color of the Year	April
Building Your Soil, Part 1	May
Pruning Mature Roses?	June
Tall, Dark & Handsome...in the Garden	July
After 'Annabelle'	August
Drop by Drop: How Honey Happens	September
Building Your Soil, Part 2	October
Five Reasons to Raise a Hoophouse	November
50 New Year's Resolutions for Gardeners	January
Ready, Set, Seed Germination Test!	February
12 Plants for a More Fragrant Garden	March
I'm Afraid to Grow Vegetables	April
Ten Weeds to Pull Now	June
Peppers are Hot	August
Ornamental grasses for fall—and throughout the year	September
Flying Jewels: Gardening for Hummingbirds	October
Fresh Flowers and Foliage Set the Scene for Celebration	November
Sowing Seeds Indoors	January
The Moonlight Garden: A Composition in White	February
Spring Greens: Success with Cool-Season Edibles	March
Wildlife in the Garden: Protecting your Plants	April
Growing Potatoes: This Spud’s for You!	May
Growing Potatoes: This Spud’s for You!	May
Roses: Visiting the Queen of Flowers	June
Insect Pests: Is something bugging your garden?	July
Color in the Garden	August
Time to Plant Garlic	September
Spooky Plants	October
Feeding the Birds: Seeds, Shrubs, Berries	November
Handmade Wreaths by Ever-Creative Staff	December
Garden-centric Gift Ideas	December
Good Reads for Gardeners	February
Perennials: Time to Divide and Multiply	April
Warm-Season Veggies: Five Faves to Know and Grow	May
Grow a Living Fence	June
Extending the Harvest: Get Ready to Sow Cool-Season Crops	July
The Peak of the Prairie: Plants to Know and Grow	August
Fall Garden Chores	September
Shrubs with Great Fall Color	October
Bringing Houseplants Indoors	November
Photographing the Garden in Winter	December
Herbal Tea	February
Woodland Wonders	March
Attracting Birds to Your Garden	May
Companion Plants	June
Weather Woes	July
Late-Summer Color	August
Thinking Ahead to Spring: Early Risers	September
Fall Lawn Care	October
All About Mulch	November
The Garden in Winter	December
Growing Bulbs Indoors	January
Irresistible Houseplants	January
Smart Learning	January
Brighten the Winter with Houseplants	January
Holiday Plants...That Keep on Giving	January
Winter Photography	January
Better Than Googling	January
Orchids in Your Living Room?	January
Getting Started with Starting Seeds	February
An Orchid FAQ: How to Repot	February
Which witch hazel should be in your yard?	February
Ten Herbs to Start Growing	February
Vanilla: Sweet—and Savory	February
Early Spring Crops	March
Sow Your Spaghetti Sauce Now	March
Theme Gardens	March
Rethink your first salad of the year	March
Successful Seed Starting: When, Why, How	March
Create Your Own Garden Art	March
Your Garden as a Sanctuary	April
In Praise of Mini-Daffodils	April
Fritillaria	April
Indoor Plants are Waking Up	April
Daffodils: Plan Now, Plant Later	April
Spring-Flowering Ornamental Trees	April
The Elements of Design	May
Plant a Pollinator Strip	May
Viburnums	May
The Value of Native Plants	May
A Tomato of a Different Color	May
Top 5 Reasons to GYO (Grow Your Own) Fruit Trees	May
Flowers for the Vegetable Garden	June
Underused Shrubs	June
The Zen Garden	June
The Language of Weeds	June
Peppers	June
How to Water Wisely this Summer	July
Your Garden Can "Bee" Attractive to Pollinators	July
Terrific Tomatoes	July
Gardening for Butterflies	July
Phlox Cultivars	July
Comeback Kids	July
Terrific Trios	July
Zinnias: The Hardest-Working Flower in the Summer Garden	August
Rain Gardens	August
Picture-Perfect Waterlilies	August
Handling the Harvest	August
The Secret to a Successful Garden Next Year? Document It This Year!	September
Native Asters Shine in the Garden	September
Perennials and Shrubs for Tough Spots	September
Toad Lilies	September
Anemones, Fall-blooming	September
Curating the Aging Garden	September
Fall's deepest, darkest secret: purple foliage	October
The Big Orange (and White and Blue)	October
Striking Gold	October
The Color Red	October
Trick or Treat	October
Redbor Kale	November
Parsing Parsnips	November
Good Form: Holiday Crafts from the Garden	November
Cold Weather	November
Bring your garden to the celebration!	November
Plant Now, Applause Later	November
Feeling Grateful for Gardens	November
Savor the Flavor	December
Tempting Topiaries	December
Tracks in the Snow	December
O, Tannenbaum: Cone-Shaped Conifers for Your Front Yard	December
Keep evergreens ever safe and happy	December
Fresh All Winter: Grow Herbs Indoors	December