… reach a height of 3 feet with full sun to partial shade and moderate moisture conditions. It is a specimen. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… asphalt, and masonry store heat and then radiate it — making summer hotter for plants. Rain is channeled into storm sewers and treatment plants rather than replenishing the deep reservoir … 'Tiger Eye Gold') Herbstonne rudbeckia ( Rudbeckia laciniata 'Herbstonne') Black-eyed Susan is a good candidate for gardens because it is a "pioneer plant" — short-lived, but opportunistic and able to grow in a wide variety of …
Type: Plant Info
… and definitely more satisfying. Here are some ideas for demanding sites. Clay Soil Clay is made of minuscule particles that trap water around delicate plant roots, leaving little space for oxygen, which roots need. Wet clay soil is often heavy and sticky, but once it dries, it tends to crack and form a crust, making it … plant-friendly by adding compost. Bee balm Rose of Sharon Sunny and Dry Prairie dropseed is a small native grass with a graceful arching habit and airy flowers. It prefers dry, …
Type: Plant Info
… my worms have generated some nice castings (worm poop) from the food I fed them. My compost is ready to harvest! If you started a worm bin or are planning to do so, you will know your bin is ready to harvest when the paper bedding and food scraps have been turned into a dark, fluffy, … worm bin, the castings will be lightly moist and airy, not wet. (Note: If your worm bin is soggy, open the lid and let the bin dry out for a week or so. Do not add any food scraps …
Type: Blog
… “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” ―Chinese proverb Warm, sunny days and cool nights have ushered in autumn. Before you … choose a small, spring-flowering ornamental tree. Now’s the time to shop and plant. “October is great for planting,” says Tim Johnson, the Garden’s senior director of horticulture. “Any tree …
Type: Plant Info
… The air is brisk, the sun is at a lower angle in the sky, and the autumnal fireworks have begun. Like spring, fall offers a … in a hedge or along a foundation or fence. It grows from 3 to 5 feet tall and its common name is dwarf fothergilla. Rhus copallina 'Lanham's Purple’ Flameleaf and shining sumac are common …
Type: Plant Info
… Mid- to end of August is the best time to seed bare areas of lawn, overseed thinning grass, or lay down sod. When seeding lawns, use grass seed appropriate to your site. The best choice for most lawns in northern Illinois is a mix of Kentucky blue grass, perennial rye, and fescue seeds. If seeding in a shaded area, …
Type: Plant Info
… ( M. acuminata ), lily magnolia ( M. liliiflora ) Description & Symptoms Magnolia scale is one of the largest of the soft-scale insects that attacks trees by sucking plant fluids and sap. It is most noticeable in late spring and summer when it appears as large, whitish lumps, up to ½ … of immobile adult scales. Applying horticultural oil in the early spring and late summer is the best treatment. Horticultural oil will smother active and recently settled crawlers. When …
Type: Plant Info
… types of poppies, especially those in containers. Which are best for Chicago? A. Early spring is a fine time to appreciate poppy species, since quite a few are considered cool-season annuals … series. The Shirley poppy ( Papaver rhoeas ), found naturalized throughout Europe, is considered an annual that can self-sow. Fat, furry buds open to single, double or semidouble … 2 feet and bloom in spring to early summer. The California poppy ( Eschscholzia californica ) is the famous orange California native that grows 12 to 15 inches. The beautiful ‘Thai Silk’ …
Type: Plant Info
… kept in a bright, cool location away from direct sunlight. One to two hours of direct sunlight is acceptable in the winter months as long as they do not become too warm. Temperatures of 60 to … are ideal. The soil should be kept slightly moist at all times. When watering cyclamen, it is important to water near the outer rim of the pot to avoid the center of the plant which can … returned to a cool, bright location. Plants should produce new foliage when regular watering is resumed and a diluted fertilizer is applied monthly. New blooms should be produced in …
Type: Plant Info
