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  • … the Scott Arboretum in Pennsylvania. Leaves are rounder and growth more upright. Shrubs can get quite large, up to 8 feet, and suckering may occur. Plant in full sun or partial shade, in … states, it blooms on new growth, so do not prune until after flowering. The Chicago area is a little north of its native range, so some winter damage may occur, but will not affect flowering on new growth. The genus Calycanthus is separated into its own family, with its nearest relatives in the laurel family, which includes …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … and sit atop short branchlets. Leaves can be 4-6” long, with a rough texture. Shrubs can get quite large, up to 8 feet, and suckering may occur. Plant in full sun or partial shade, in … states, it blooms on new growth, so do not prune until after flowering. The Chicago area is a little north of its native range, so some winter damage may occur, but will not affect flowering on new growth. The genus Calycanthus is separated into its own family, with its nearest relatives in the laurel family, which includes …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … its distinctive horizontal branching habit appears to belong in a Japanese garden, though it is a native species. Its scientific name Cornus alternifolia indicates that its leaves alternate … are borne in late May and early June and are followed by bluish-black fruit in July that is much beloved by birds. Fall foliage is reddish purple. Members of the genus Cornus , commonly known as dogwoods, are welcome in the …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … power to wipe out a crop with one fell storm. In this month’s edition of Smart Gardener , we get to the root of three fears that often pop up in veggie garden conversations—and offer up some … Peas Radishes June sun warms the soil Beans Cucumbers Squash   The back of the seed packet is a wonderful place to find information on how to plant. For most of the above, simply hoe a … but not sure if your yard qualifies? The Strategy: Send for a Soil Test It’s the best way to get the scoop on what’s really happening underground before you plant—even advanced gardeners …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … slow-growing, this boxwood ( Buxus microphylla ) should make a full recovery. The bad news is that more plant damage is likely to appear once the weather is consistently warm, though many … creatures that travel under the snow, from hawks and other predators, leaving the creatures free to gnaw on branches and trunks. The drifts also provide a stepladder for rabbits, which feed … and perhaps replant this spring. For more information about gardening in winter, go to our free public Plant Information Service:  chicagobotanic.org/plantinfoservice . …
    Type: Blog
  • … relatively high humidity and warm temperatures for the best results. Ensure the potting media is free draining and fertilize with dilute foliar feed during the summer months. The orchid family … 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 -- …
    Type: Garden Guide Plant
  • … 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 … undecomposed material from the bucket of castings back to the worm bin. It is not necessary to get every piece, as these will continue to decompose over time. You can screen the material by … in municipal water supplies kill microbes. While this keeps our drinking water safe and free of harmful bacteria, it also kills the microbes that are necessary for waste decomposition. …
    Type: Blog
  • … connections to each other, to your family’s health, to our food sources, and to the planet. Get tips on how to engage your family in gardening through ownership, responsibility, and of …
    Type: Item Detail
  • … Q. I am building a compost heap for the first time this fall. How hot does it have to get in order to kill fungi, insect eggs or other pests that may be on the garden debris? A. Most …
    Type: Plant Info
  • … and it's time to order seeds for your garden. You type  seeds  into your search engine—only to get 257,000,000 results. Next you type in  seed catalog . Hmm, down to 19,100,000. You need an … Lenhardt Library, the Nursery Catalog Database—and its companion, a physical file of catalogs—is a gardener's dream: an already-edited and constantly updated list of hundreds (currently 784) … Have an unusual interest? So do the mushroom folks at Garden City Fungi ( gardencityfungi.com ), the banana experts at Going Bananas ( going-bananas.com ), and the Kitazawa Seed Company ( …
    Type: Plant Info