… The thunderstorms this past May are just a memory now, but they left many homes and streets in northeastern Illinois with standing water. The rainfall resulted in the wettest … permeable surface to catch rainwater, grass roots are only 3 to 4 inches deep. When the soil is dry, the water initially runs right off the lawn into adjacent areas. As cities and suburbs … complaint is that rain gardens can look messy. Designing a rain garden can be a challenge. The site can be a little too dry or too wet for certain plants. Determine where and how the water …
Type: Plant Info
… when winter temperatures fluctuate widely. The longitudinal cracks occur from the expansion and contraction of the bark that is warmed by the sun and then rapidly cooled by cloud cover or nightfall. The resulting crack may be accompanied by a …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. When and how should I plant bare-root roses? A. Bare-root roses can be planted as soon as the soil is workable in the spring. Remove the wrapper and packing material and soak the roots or entire plant for 8 to 12 hours to fully hydrate it …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. I noticed roots showing around some of my perennials. Is this normal? Is there anything that I should do about it? A. It is not uncommon to see … out of the ground at this time of the year. Fluctuations in temperature during the winter and repeated freezing and thawing of soil cause some plants to heave or push themselves out of the ground, and expose …
Type: Plant Info
… Native to western China, the Chinese red birch is notable for its orange brown bark that peels off in thin layers, which are creamy white when … used this property to harvest the bark from fallen paperbark birch trees to make canoes, bowls and shelter -- practical as well as beautiful. A strong secondary ornamental feature is the usually colorful golden fall foliage. Given their preference for cool weather and acid soil and their susceptibility to bronze birch borer infestations, birch trees can be …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The Virginia roundleaf birch is a critically endangered native species, which occurs naturally in the wild in only one county … used this property to harvest the bark from fallen paperbark birch trees to make canoes, bowls and shelter -- practical as well as beautiful. A strong secondary ornamental feature is the usually colorful golden fall foliage. Given their preference for cool weather and acid soil and their susceptibility to bronze birch borer infestations, birch trees can be …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… The Tortuoso Purpurea European beech takes its name from its unusual twisted, spreading habit and its purple foliage. A wide range of cultivars of the European beech have been developed, many … or gold); they are often featured as specimen trees where space permits. The smooth gray bark is an attractive feature of the species. The genus Fagus includes 10-13 species of the beech tree, which are native to temperate regions of Asia, Europe and North America. Only Fagus grandifolia , the American beech, is native to the U.S. and …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… 15 feet tall with a spread of 8 to 15 feet. The large, conical flowerheads are 12 inches long and are composed of showy but sterile flowers and smaller, fertile but non-showy ones. Strong stems hold the flowerheads upright without … in the middle and then creamy white as new flowers emerge at the tip. The color of the flowers is not affected by the pH of the soil. The blooms continue into the fall. Pink Diamond blooms on …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… PINK-A-LICIOUS™ spirea features flat-topped clusters of pink flowers in June. Fall foliage is a colorful mix of yellow, pink, chartreuse and orange -- all on the same plant at the same time. This shrub is a Chicagoland Grows® … Grows® is a plant introduction partnership of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Morton Arboretum and the Ornamental Growers Association of Northern Illinois formed to promote plant cultivars …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Judd viburnum, a cross between V. carlesii and V. bitchuense , was originally propagated at the Arnold Arboretum in 1920. It has a rounded habit reaching 6 to 8 feet tall; its shape is very full and balanced. The flowers of the Judd viburnum are pink in bud, opening to white and very …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
