… garden, and kitchen waste? Make your own compost—it can do magic for your garden. Compost is simply a mixture of soil and pieces of plants that have decomposed to the point of being unrecognizable. Dark brown and crumbly, it is an attractive addition to any garden. And the things it does for the garden are nothing short … lawn waste out of landfills, it also creates a rich soil amendment for the garden. Compost is the ultimate soil conditioner, since it improves both texture and structure, giving soil that …
Type: Plant Info
… For many of us, part of the joy of spring is heading out to the forest preserves and seeing the wildflowers in bloom. But for Susanne Masi, … information will help to maintain their numbers and ensure their survival in the wild. She is assisted by more than 100 volunteers in a monitoring program called Plants of Concern, a joint … Midwest," she said, "and yet we have 17 genera here in the Chicago area alone. The difference is that orchids are mainly arboreal in the tropics, but here they’re terrestrial. What makes …
Type: Plant Info
… Q. Is there anything that I can do to prepare my trees and shrubs for winter? A. The best thing that can be done to prepare your plants for winter is to make sure they enter the cold winter months with plenty of moisture. It is easy and quite common to forget about woody plant maintenance as we clean up spent annuals and …
Type: Plant Info
… The popularity of agave-based drinks like tequila and mezcal is at an all-time high in the United States. And that is bad news for agaves. As Hector Ortiz, Ph.D., plant conservation scientist at the Negaunee … the recent popularity of these drinks has fueled the expansion of agave monoculture—where land is cleared to grow a single species of agave, destroying the habitats of wild agaves and reducing …
Type: Blog
… they may be present if your turf begins to brown and lifts easily off the ground. Minor damage is usually not cause for treatment. Pull back turf and check for white, C-shaped larvae with black heads. If more than 10 to 12 grubs are present in a square foot of soil, treatment is advised. Chemical controls vary in their timing. Homeowners can spot-treat small areas … at regular intervals over entire lawn. Plugs are left on lawns to decompose. Core-aeration is recommended to help rectify compacted soil, heavy thatch accumulation, and poor drainage. …
Type: Plant Info
… by a wide, white border are produced up and down the canes (pseudobulbs) of this orchid. This is a challenging plant for most homeowners to successfully maintain without the benefit of a … number of genera, each with its own unique characteristics. A common characteristic, however, is the basic form of the flower, which consists of three petals surrounded by three sepals—often … nights—though the absolute temperature range (cool, intermediate, or warm) varies by genus and is consistent with their natural habitat. While requiring adequate sunlight for a stunning bloom …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Small bronzy 'dancing ladies' flowers shade to yellow in their multitudes on this cultivar that is easy to cultivate. Bright light, high humidity, well drained soil and dilute fertilization … number of genera, each with its own unique characteristics. A common characteristic, however, is the basic form of the flower, which consists of three petals surrounded by three sepals -- … -- though the absolute temperature range (cool, intermediate or warm) varies by genus and is consistent with their natural habitat. While requiring adequate sunlight for a stunning bloom …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Green Mile sweetbay magnolia is a hybrid selected for its deep dark green foliage and its narrow upright habit. In the more southern parts of its range, sweetbay magnolia is evergreen but it may lose all or most of its leaves during the winters in the Chicagoland area. It is one of the few magnolias that will tolerate swampy conditions. Members of the genus Magnolia …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Santa Rosa sweetbay magnolia is one of the hardiest of the species and features the same creamy white fragrant blooms. In the more southern parts of its range, sweetbay magnolia is evergreen but it may lose all or most of its leaves during the winters in the Chicagoland area. It is one of the few magnolias that will tolerate swampy conditions. Members of the genus Magnolia …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… MOONGLOW™ sweetbay magnolia is a cultivar selected for its upright habit and cold hardiness. It bears fragrant white blooms … slightly larger than the species. In the more southern parts of its range, sweetbay magnolia is evergreen but it may lose all or most of its leaves during the winters in the Chicagoland area. This species is one of the few magnolias that will tolerate swampy conditions. Members of the genus Magnolia …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
