… Start with the Basics A common and sometimes costly expense for many homeowners is lawn care. No matter whether you maintain your lawn yourself or hire a service, this is a good time to examine the best practices for growing healthy turfgrass. Don't invest more money than is necessary to have … Water Wisely, Save Time and Money Proper watering is essential for growing healthy turf. The best approach is to water deeply and infrequently, and then to let the soil dry out before you …
Type: Plant Info
… eye level. An obelisk placed in a slender bed creates a focal point and an interesting support for smaller annual vines like cypress vine with its tubular red, pink or white flowers. If you … interest through the summer. Besides their decorative nature, some vines can provide screening for undesirable views. Others offer food to pollinators and nectar-seeking creatures like butterflies and hummingbirds. Some serve as host plants for egg-laying butterflies. For example, pipevine is the only host plant for the pipevine …
Type: Plant Info
Pendula nootka cypress ( Chamaecyparis nootkatensis 'Pendula') is a statuesque evergreen addition to the Chicago landscape. Its graceful, pendulous lateral branches fold out from a central trunk. Taxonomists have argued over which genus this plant should correctly be placed in. By any name, it makes a strong focal point in the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… to its demise at the turn of the twentieth century, when these and other waders were hunted for their feathery plumes that women wore in their hats. Since then, the great egret, standing … South America. In spring, they migrate in small flocks during the day, eventually choosing a place farther north to raise young in nests close to trees and shrubs called colonies, often with … is doing well in Illinois; however, habitat loss and water pollution may threaten its future. Visit Baker’s Lake in Barrington to watch the great egret during breeding season and McGinnis …
Type: Blog
… to stroll leisurely through the Rose Garden, and bear witness to more than 5,000 roses primed for their annual show of shows. Rosa 'Dainty Bess' hybrid tea rose Come Celebrate Your Event June … bud has bloomed overnight, and for gardeners looking for ideas and inspiration for growing the best roses in the Midwest. A Landscaped Stroll Garden This beautiful garden is so much more than … clearly demonstrates, the rangy rugosas make ideal backdrops or hedges for smaller plants best appreciated up close at the front of the border. In between these extremes are the …
Type: Walks
White plume euphorbia ( Euphorbia fulgens ‘Alba’) is an upright, arching, sun-loving shrub that displays creamy white flowers throughout the winter, given frost-free conditions. Produced at the nodes all along its wand-like stems, the flowers are actually entire inflorescences in which each individual flower is reduced to a single stamen or pistil. They are aggregated in a small cup-like …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Mid- to end of August is the best time to seed bare areas of lawn, overseed thinning grass, or lay down sod. When seeding lawns, use grass seed appropriate to your site. The best choice for most lawns in northern Illinois is a mix of Kentucky blue grass, perennial rye, and fescue …
Type: Plant Info
… make attractive houseplants over winter, but they also provide some fun culinary ingredients for the kitchen. They can be used in lemonade, iced tea, cocktails and mocktails. You can find … we anticipate that first fall frost around October 15. When plants are brought indoors, place them in an area that receives direct sunlight, away from heat sources and cold drafts. … long-stemmed grasslike herb outdoors in a 12-inch pot in full sun or light shade. Come fall place it indoors in a sunny window. The stems, which add a fresh, bright note to Asian dishes and …
Type: Plant Info
… of the mounded foliage on this nonhardy succulent that blooms from fall through late winter. Place this kalanchoe in a brightly lit area and avoid over watering. This plant is tolerant of …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… late spring frosts, as well as hot summer days. Leslie Woodriff topped the popularity polls for three years and earned a place in the Lily Hall of Fame. The unsurpassed grace and beauty of this lily make it a lovely …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
