… Later this month, selectively prune branches from flowering trees and shrubs and bring them indoors for forced blooming. Most flowering plants … the ground with snow, gently sweep off snow with a soft broom and then elevate the tree branch from underneath. Using heavy objects like shovels risks cutting the tree bark — a possible point … damage if this has been a problem in the past. Rabbits will gnaw or strip off lower bark from trees. They can stand on top of snow piles to reach higher up on trees. Young bucks will rub …
Type: Plant Info
… “I was excited to learn different things and to get a box of veggies I don’t normally get from the grocery store,” said Jackie Sanchez, who discovered the VeggieRx program to help her … calcium, and vitamin C, making them a nutritional powerhouse. But what do you do with them? Start off with this kale and roasted beet salad (below) that won over the Sanchezes. “I tried … every 20 minutes. They are finished when you can easily pierce them with a toothpick. Remove from oven to cool. Once cool, cut the rough tops off beets, peel roasted beets, and cut into …
Type: Blog
… cascade of bright yellow flowers. Depending on the spring weather, they flower any time from mid-March to mid-April. Most forsythias are native to east Asia, although one species hails from southern Europe. They range in size from 18 inches to 10 feet or more in height. Forsythia … ‘Fiesta’ was created by plant breeders in New Zealand, and boasts colorful foliage. The leaves start out creamy yellow with a green edge and become green with white veins as the season …
Type: Plant Info
… record (there were 9 days above 80 degrees), which signaled to the trees that it was time to start growing. April’s subsequent sharp drops to freezing temperatures caused tissue injury and … The Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden’s 34 apple varieties have chill requirements ranging from 600 to 1200 CUs. Chicago’s weather historically can meet those requirements, barring extreme …
Type: Blog
… Cover these bulbs. If you are adding another layer of smaller bulbs, leave 1½ inches of space from the top of the pot. Add the small bulbs in this layer, leaving 1/2 inch of space between … refrigerator. In ten weeks, your plants can be moved to a warm, sunny location. You should start to see growth within a week. (If you don’t want to bring your plants out at this time, they …
Type: Blog
Q. While spraying a weedy patch with Roundup, I inadvertently exposed some evergreens to the herbicide, and now quite a few of them have brown needles. Can I restore these plants? A. Roundup is a non-selective herbicide that can seriously damage or kill most plant material it contacts. It is also capable of interfering with a plant's ability to generate new growth. Once evergreen needles turn …
Type: Plant Info
… across. Small, Medium, or Large? There's a waterlily to fit every water garden: sizes range from pygmy (with flowers an inch across) to giant (flowers more than a foot across). The most … five- to seven-gallon pot? A good-sized fountain or pool? A small pond on your property? Start with one or two rhizomes of an appropriately sized waterlily to see how it grows in your … a personal choice. Our horticulturist's suggestion? Plant one of each. A few more smart tips from our horticulturists: All rhizomes need to be planted in soil, either in a pot (a shallow, …
Type: Plant Info
… shaded yards, bugbanes stand about 3 feet tall, stretching up to 5 feet when spikes flower (from September to October). Tall, Dark, and "Tropical" Stopped in your tracks by … variety? Walk toward the Model Railroad Garden, where 'Hefner's Red,' stands around the corner from the entrance. Its starry leaves and brighter red color are especially wonderful in fall—but … Dark, and Airy One of the easiest tall and dark plants to grow, bronze fennel can be sown from seed. Its dark and delicate, wispy foliage can be used to great effect in the border. An …
Type: Plant Info
… the early American settlers. In time, a fruitful garden became a common symbol of independence from foreign imports—highlighting a new American pride in agriculture. The farm-to-table movement … Strawberry flowers are susceptible to frost. Here, a transparent plant cover called a cloche (from the French word for bell) is used to protect plants if frost is expected. Plan to plant … as one grown in your own yard. An easy starter crop, strawberries are self-fertile, so you can start small if you like—plant just one variety or only one plant—and still reap a reward. Choose …
Type: Blog
… short shower only washes the dust off the leaves. A rain gauge placed in an open area, away from buildings, fences and trees, provides a true picture of how much rain reaches the soil. In … as well. 4. A Soil Thermometer If you grow edibles, a soil thermometer will give you a head start on spring crops. Seeds need specific soil temperature ranges for proper germination. For … last year, high temperatures in the Chicago area during late March through mid-April ranged from 69°to 73° degrees, and the soil had begun to warm. (Once the seeds germinate and leaves …
Type: Plant Info
