… Q. Are there advantages to routinely spraying my trees with oils? A. Routine spraying of any product on healthy trees … bud yet, and the weather should be calm with little wind. There are a few trees sensitive to dormant oil that should not be treated: maple, hickory, redbud, blue spruce, black walnut, beech, Douglas fir and several other evergreens. For these trees, a lighterweight version, sometimes called horticultural or summer oil, is …
Type: Plant Info
… pores that prevent water loss. Burgersfort Aloe, or Aloe burgersfortensis is very similar to two of its closer spotted aloe relatives and is only distinguished from the other similar … is on sandy soils in the open or the shade of trees. The tight rosettes can be 11 inches to 15 inches in height, the leaves are white spotted, brownish, with dry twisted tips. It has a … The spotted foliage is quite decorative and the flowers are said to be unusually attractive for this group of aloes. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Hellebores or Lenten roses are prized for their flowers which appear in late winter or early spring and are often the first flowers to appear in the Chicago garden. Grape Galaxy hellebore grows into a low mound about 2 feet tall … spring but are protected in hotter months. The entire plant contains chemicals that are toxic to humans but makes them unappealing to deer and other wildlife. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Siberian fir is an evergreen tree native to the tundra and boreal forests of Siberia and northern China. The Russian name is Пихта сибирская. The tree grows into a nice pyramidal form, become more narrow as it grows to an ultimate height of over 100 feet. The flattened, one-inch needles are fragrant and green above, with two white stomatal bands beneath. The tree is used as lumber for framing and wood pulp, but is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. The 3-4 inch cones grow …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… monks. They attract a variety of butterflies and moths, and are the primary food source for Old World bees. Another common name, wolfbane, refers to the poison made from this plant's roots, which was used to tip hunting arrows. Medicinal (and poisonous) uses of this plant date back to Roman times. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… and several stalks on each plant. The buds open in series, so a single plant will continue to bloom for 2 weeks or more. It is easy to grow and does well in full sun to part shade. Prairie Blue Eyes has been awarded the Award of …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… and a delightful fragrance. The flowers open light yellow and over time the cups gradually age to a light pink blush. This species will thrive in most of the soils found in the Chicago area in full sun or under the canopy of deciduous trees. In addition to Chicago winters, it is also very tolerant of the hot humid summers of the Deep South that … of chemicals within the sap can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Great for planting near a sidewalk, door or window where the fragrance can be appreciated. Archived …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Ginkgo 'Shangri-La' was patented by Willet N. Wandell in 1984. This cultivar was selected for its compact growth, a uniform arrangement of branches forming a full crown, and rapid growth. … smelly female Ginkgo fruit, and has the typical outstanding golden yellow fall color common to all Ginkgoes. The Shangri-La Ginkgo will mature to a 55 foot tall by 40 foot wide tree and will work well as a shade or street tree. It is one of …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… At a height of 6 – 9 feet, Elizabeth hardy ginger is hard to miss. Her coral pink flowers give off the warm sweet scent of honeysuckle, luring both butterflies and those passing by to stop a moment. Hardy gingers originated in the Himalayas, but have since naturalized in … indoors, or dig up the tubers after our first frost, and store them in lightly dampened peat for next year. Archived Copy: This content was captured before February 2022, and is no longer …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Hellebores or Lenten roses are prized for their flowers which appear in late winter or early spring and are often the first flowers to appear in the Chicago garden. The foliage is leathery and dark green with finger-like … spring but are protected in hotter months. The entire plant contains chemicals that are toxic to humans but makes them unappealing to deer and other wildlife. Choose your site carefully as …
Type: Garden Guide Plant