… are tiny, mouselike rodents with stocky bodies and short legs and tails. They weigh only 1 to 2 ounces. Voles eat mainly the leaves and stems of grassy plants although they will eat other … at ground level under brush or other protective covering. They usually leave their nests only for short times, following well-defined routes as they forage for food. Voles do not hibernate … or shrub. Treatment & Solutions Removing the habitat voles seek for nesting and feeding is the best control. Weeds, dense ground cover, brush, low spreading evergreens or even thick mulch can …
Type: Plant Info
… lady orchid.& Grow indoors in bright light, relatively high humidity and warm temperatures for the best results. Ensure the potting media is free draining and fertilize with dilute foliar feed … and contrasting colors and in a variety of shapes and sizes. Although some orchids are native to temperate zones, most orchids tend to prefer a semi-tropical or tropical environment (USDA …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… flowers at each node. Plant this bluebeard in full sun and in sandy, well-drained soil for best long-term survival in the Chicago region, where they don’t do well in heavy clay soil in … mid-summer through fall. Insect and disease resistant, the fragrant foliage is also a turn-off to rabbits and deer. This cultivar is a classic example of "what’s in a name." Arthur Simmonds …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… than other selections of the P.J.M. grex of rhododendrons. The leaves change from deep green to a mahogany color in late fall and, in a mild winter, will remain on the plants until spring. … commonly sold rhododendrons in the Chicago area. Like other rhododendrons, this cultivar grows best in moisture-retentive, acidic soils in climates with cool summers. Water it well the first couple of years after planting to ensure that the small, fibrous roots growing near the soil surface become well-established. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… also called southern maidenhair fern, produces delicate, new, pale green fronds that mature to medium green. The stems are very thin, wiry and dark purple. Each individual leaflet, called a … north in warm microclimates, such as hot springs. It would be an elegantly textured addition to the shade garden in the South. In the Chicago area it is best grown in a greenhouse. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… be therapeutic, as long as it is something you enjoy doing. What could be more exhilarating, for example, than raking leaves on a crisp autumn day? Even mowing the lawn can be therapy for some. I have a neighbor who mows his lawn at least twice a week simply because he loves to cut grass. For most people it would be a chore, but for him it's enjoyable and therapeutic. … to do but sit back in an easy chair and dream about next spring? Armchair gardening is at its best with a garden catalog in one hand and a wish list in the other. The catalog should be …
Type: Plant Info
… Something amazing is about to happen in the Bernice E. Lavin Plant Evaluation Garden: dozens and dozens of witch hazels will … Timber Press. Portland, Oregon. p. 227. At first glance, witch hazels hardly seem candidates for tests or trials, since, as a group, they are hardy, maintenance-free, and ignored by most … the witch hazel trial. Their question: which of the myriad witch hazel cultivars perform best in Chicago's less-than-perfect soils? The Witch Hazel Trial The trial features 22 …
Type: Plant Info
… Many gardeners consider hostas quite similar to daylilies — absolutely fail-safe plants. Stick them in the ground, give them a little water, … because they are so easy to grow and so adaptable to many situations, they tend to be taken for granted, even considered a little... boring. However, they are anything but, especially the … tract and speeds up the drowning process. If slugs are in your garden, be prepared for them to visit daylilies in the early, cooler days of summer, before temperatures and midday sun send them …
Type: Plant Info
… produces abundant white blooms along its upright branches. The genus Spiraea consists of small to medium sized flowering shrubs with a fine-textured twiggy mounding habit. The small simple leaves are generally lance-shaped and held close to the branch. Spring to early summer abundant blooms tend to be in white or pink tones, … are quite small, they occur in clusters of inflorescence that can be very showy. Spireas are best used in groupings in a shrub or mixed border, where they are valued as tough, reliable and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Q. What accounts for the different autumn color displays in trees and shrubs? A. Certain plants have a built-in … displays. But even with these genes in place, trees and shrubs need ideal weather conditions to show off their best color. Trees should also be healthy, well-watered all season and located in full sun. During …
Type: Plant Info
