… sun to partial shade and moderate moisture conditions. Its white blooms attract butterflies in May and June. It belongs in a border and is resistant to deer. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… tasks are often dictated by its arrival. Cleanup and maintenance chores take a starring role in advance of winter. Although our gardens are bidding farewell to the last of the season’s flowers, October is a great time to plant spring-blooming bulbs in anticipation of next year’s growing season. Garden To-Do List Plant spring bulbs Fall is prime … winter. Feed compost heaps Keep your compost pile active by adding layers of green material (e.g., grass clippings and spent annuals or perennials) and brown dried material (fallen leaves, …
Type: Plant Info
… Many homeowners do their lawn renovation in spring, but in fact this work is better done in fall once summer's heat and drought have passed. In fall, cool air temperatures and warm soil …
Type: Plant Info
… have caused many plants to become rare or endangered. By banking seeds of these plants in safe storage, away from danger, the Chicago Botanic Garden is working to safeguard their … true. If harvesting seeds from your garden, start with one type of seed from each species (e.g., one type of cucumber, one type of tomato, etc.) to avoid cross-pollination. Just starting … Remove seeds, place them in an airtight container, and store in a cool and dry location (e.g., garage or refrigerator). Voilà, your own mini seed bank! Using Seeds . Seed viability …
Type: Plant Info
… ; at the other, you have gardeners simply escaping the noises of the street or spending time in the company of growing things. Below, a Chicago Botanic Garden master gardener discusses gardening as therapy. Chores Become Their Own Rewards Taking an active part in the work of the garden can be therapeutic, as long as it is something you enjoy doing. What … into a game I call "Good Guys Against Bad Guys." When I enlist my two grandsons, ages 3 and 6, in my war against weeds, it makes great sense to them. Amazing how quickly we can break through …
Type: Plant Info
… If you’ve thought about delving into gardening but don’t know quite where to start, you’re in the right place. Any kind of gardening—whether you want to grow houseplants or herbs, flowers … and how to care for plants. The Garden offers many resources to get you growing. Let’s dig in. Start Small Don’t have space to garden outdoors? Start indoors with pint-sized houseplants . … your green thumbs—around a patio, on a deck, on a balcony or near an entryway—growing plants in pots is a good way to add color and a little pizzazz. Flanking a walkway or a front door with …
Type: Plant Info
… an unbelievable amount of information about companion planting, but you don’t find much in the way of scientific journals or reviews,” says Tom Tiddens, supervisor of the Garden’s Plant … CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Tiddens is big on having plant and environmental diversity in the home landscape. “Rather than using plants to discourage certain insects, you can attract a … when there’s something for them to eat. “We want to mimic Mother Nature by having diversity in the landscape to strike a natural balance. You can do that on a small, quarter-acre yard.” …
Type: Plant Info
… are great for crafts, decorations and food. A member of the squash family, pumpkin is high in beta-carotene, potassium and vitamin C; low in fat; and high in fiber. Smaller, three- to six-pounders are the best for pies since they're sweet and …
Type: Plant Info
… gardeners consider hostas quite similar to daylilies — absolutely fail-safe plants. Stick them in the ground, give them a little water, and they're on their own. In fact, they grow so fast and multiply so freely that, in a few years, you'll be splitting them apart and giving them away to friends. Hostas have …
Type: Plant Info
… and with some careful plant selection your winter garden can be a very colorful place indeed. In winter, almost any color is welcome, but remember that these plants will be in the garden in summer, too, and must blend in with that summer garden's foliage and flowers. Colors of …
Type: Plant Info
