… in early fall. Stop fertilizing your roses in early August and stop deadheading by Labor Day to allow the plant to shut down and set hips (seeds) for winter interest. Remove fallen leaves from the garden. It's best not to cut or prune your roses at this time of year as the cuts will not have sufficient time to callus over before winter. Roses should be dormant before winter protection is applied. After several days of below freezing temperatures, create a mound of soil, compost, …
Type: Plant Info
… When farmers’ markets wind down, many of us want to preserve the bounty of this year for the next. Why not save save seeds from your last tomatoes … reproduce the “parent plant.” 2) Choose a ripe, disease-free tomato; one past being edible is best. 3) Cut the tomato ‘around the equator’ and squeeze out the seeds and ‘goo’ in to a …
Type: Blog
… A tall-grass prairie native that adds beauty to gardens and nurtures wildlife, switchgrass is now being considered as a potential new fuel source. Divided into two types, upland and … considered an important strategy for reducing atmospheric CO2, and switchgrass is one of the best crops for achieving this "carbon sequestration." When above-ground switchgrass is harvested …
Type: Plant Info
… orange, gold, and vermillion leaves. But winter offers its own spectacular scenes, according to Robin Carlson, the Garden’s photographer. “The display gardens here are irresistible in the … shadows of branches cast on fresh snow. “One of the things I like about the Garden in winter is the branch patterns and the silhouettes of trees," she said. "The best part of photographing the Garden this time of year is that there’s always something to see, …
Type: Plant Info
… Repurpose, recycle, reuse. We’ve all heard those terms. Giving new life to old things, whether donating clothing or recycling plastic, prevents them from piling into a … transformed into compost—a rich organic substance—used to improve your soil . Homemade compost is practically free, costing only your time. What is Compost? Compost is simply a pile or … soil that is dark and crumbly, which is why compost is often called black gold. DIY You can buy bagged compost, but making your own is easy and saves money. Composting can be as simple as …
Type: Plant Info
… in most essential environmental processes. However, even though they are not immune to the stressors that threaten animals and plants, including habitat loss, over harvesting, and … and other organizations and agencies are focused on how these field observations can best inform conservation activities in the United States and Canada. At the global level, work … and Puffball Specialist Group, as well as co-leading the Global Fungal Red List Initiative, is focused on significantly increasing the number of fungi on the Global Red List, raising the …
Type: Research
… Early autumn ushers in a welcome peacefulness to a rich and still-blooming landscape. Trees and shrubs are at their peak of growth for the … has succumbed to storm damage, disease, or insect attack needs to be replaced? What are the best choices for gardeners today who are planting for tomorrow’s generation? The Chicagoland … and gold fall color lights up the landscape. Marmo maple, Acer x freemanii 'Marmo', is a cultivated variety from the hybrid cross of red maple, Acer rubrum , with silver maple, …
Type: Plant Info
… “Gardening is something you learn by doing—and by making mistakes. Like cooking, gardening is a constant … blue-flowered salvias sent out a last gasp and quickly shriveled after a few days. Sigh. To mollify my misery I realized that I’m helping keep the green industry in business. Whether … pots, window boxes and borders. That should help tamp down the overwhelming feeling of what to buy and where to put it. And, it should help your budget. ( Helpful hint: Never show your credit …
Type: Plant Info
… disease- or pest-resistant. As ground covers, some can be used in place of turf grass, which is difficult to grow in shade. Others, like ferns, complement nonnative perennials in shady beds, borders, and … shade tolerant and provides much-needed late-summer blooms that last into fall. It grows best when planted in rich, organic soil. Although it will grow in full sun, turtlehead does well …
Type: Plant Info
… Tom Soulsby is the senior horticulturist for the Rose Garden, Heritage Garden, and Linden Allée. He is … his passion for horticulture excellence. As a lifelong gardener, some of Soulsby's best horticulture education has come from practical hands-on gardening that included working as a child alongside his dad. His love of gardening carries over to his own home. Before pursuing his passion for public horticulture, Soulsby was a director at …
Type: Staff bio
