… that's perfect for growing vegetables and flowers. There is also evidence that plants mulched with compost have a degree of disease resistance that they might not normally have. Mulching with compost moderates the soil temperature, retains moisture, and provides nutrients for plants. … diseases and pests. How to make compost The most efficient compost pile is arranged in layers with fairly uniform distribution of organic material. Since few home gardeners have all the …
Type: Plant Info
… for generations of woodpeckers, chickadees, and other birds. Oaks are long-lived native trees with stately stature. The Garden's collection contains more than 60 oak varieties (20 species are … bark, which serves to insulate the tree from freezing temperatures and fire. “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir, American naturalist Then there’s another group—the conifers—cone-bearing plants, with their green, blue, silver, or gold-green needles. Drooping, weeping, upright, dwarf, narrow, …
Type: Plant Info
… serving. Culture and Care Basil plants require full sun and very well-drained, rich soil with even moisture. Their requirements are quite similar to those of the tomato, and the two … Plant seeds either in a large seed tray or plant several seeds per 2-inch pot. Cover the seeds with 1/4 inch of potting mix. Moisten the potting mix by watering from below, and cover the seeds with plastic wrap to retain moisture. Keep the tray warm, and supply bottom heat if temperatures …
Type: Plant Info
… apart, rather than lined up in rows. All were planted in full sun in rich garden soil amended with compost. Plants were kept well watered during dry spells, and loose straw was used as a … back, tied to a trellis and grown like a tomato. Tomatillos can be green or purple inside with a papery husk outside. When the husks have been split open for several days, they're ready … Bush cucumbers are another warm-season vegetable grown for salads as well as salsa. As with all warm-season vegetables, cucumber seedlings cannot be set out until all danger of frost …
Type: Plant Info
… that prevent seed germination. This may seem counterintuitive, but many seeds come equipped with mechanisms that stall germination until the time is right. Without the inhibitors in the gel … ceramic pan and allow them to dry out completely. There is an alternate method. Put the seeds with a little bit of water in a sieve and run cool water over them. Swish them around to allow … dry, store them in a cool (not cold), dry place away from pests. Be sure to label your seeds with the name of the variety and the date that you saved them. Tomato seeds may remain viable for …
Type: Plant Info
… our gardens aren’t really sleeping. Look closely and you’ll discover that they’re often alive with many types of birds. Cardinals, chickadees, woodpeckers, titmice, blue jays, and others … hide from predators. Gardens can offer seeds, berries, water, and shelter from snow and ice. With a little planning, your garden can provide these necessities and you can benefit from the … chokecherry, arrowwood viburnum, sumac, white pine, white oak, and dogwood provide birds with nourishment during the coldest months. Red fruits of native winterberry holly (Ilex …
Type: Plant Info
… ...and this year's fall colors It’s hard to think of fall without picturing a mosaic of trees with warm-colored hues. Amber browns, golden yellows, and blazing reds cover many natural areas … the Chicago Botanic Garden. It’s all thanks to fall’s shorter days and cool nights. But with our changing climate, what happens to that classic fall color we’ve come to know and love? … have already dropped, some are the light yellow that is so attractive, and some remain green with no sign of their producing fall color.” So, how does fall color work, exactly? Ordinarily, …
Type: Blog
… One morning in early July, while conducting routine pollinator assessments with my Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) student Jenny, we noticed something unusual: a bumblebee with a bright orange patch on its backside. Could it be? At the Chicago Botanic Garden? The … the next several weeks, Jenny and I searched for Bombus affinis across the Garden’s campus with great success locating more than ten different individuals. The discovery of the rusty …
Type: Blog
… gold standard at the Garden, where it's our signature tree. Large and graceful, they shimmer with golden leaves in fall, especially when there's wind in those willows. Just past the Visitor Center bridge, the Crescent Garden is lined with weeping willows by the water, which is where willows like to be. Katsura trees ( … need a shrub rather than a full-sized tree, native witch hazels put a twist on fall color, with yellow flowers that bloom amid the yellow leaves. 'Harvest Moon' drops its leaves early, the …
Type: Plant Info
… sure your soil is healthy. You can arrange to have your soil assessed , or do it yourself with one of the many kits on the market. Select rose types that are disease resistant. Many new … as some shrubs should not be cleared from the middle. Make sure to sanitize your pruners with a 10 percent solution of bleach before moving from one plant to the next; this will lessen … and Insects Naturally. Rose care commonly involves the use of strong chemical deterrents. As with the potassium bicarbonate approach suggested above, if cultural care fails, use ecofriendly …
Type: Plant Info
