Let talk dirt! Or what I really should say is soil. So often these terms are used interchangeably but not all soils are created equal. Sure, they look similar but in science class you will learn that soil usually contains the following ingredients-minerals, organic matter, living organisms, gas, and water.
Top 10 plants for pollinator-friendly containers
Bees, birds, butterflies, and other pollinators play an important role in our global ecosystem. In fact, they are essential. By transporting pollen from one plant to another, they make growing the food we eat and the beautiful garden spaces we enjoy possible
A Beginner’s Guide to Pruning
Pruning your trees, bushes, and perennials is a great way to keep them healthy and promote active new growth.
10 Front Yard Landscaping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Landscaping around the house is an important home improvement project to boost your home’s curb appeal and add visual interest to your front door and walkways. But how do you get the right balance of plant size, color, and style for your home?
Beat Inflation by Growing Your Own Food
With food prices going up, growing your own food just makes more and more sense these days. For less than one grocery run, you can buy seeds for a whole spring, summer, and fall’s worth of produce. Saving money has always been a perk of gardening, but that’s not the only reason to do it.
Top 12 Unique Perennials for Shade
Finding suitable plants that can thrive in a shady garden can seem like a discouraging task. The choices are actually more abundant than you might think. But what if you are looking for an exceptional plant that’s not so commonly seen, with unique qualities?
Using Native Plants to Manage Water
It rains hard and often in spring, and then we have big puddles, muddy gardens and soggy lawns. Then midsummer comes and the garden is dry and hot. The plants are gasping for water and the soil is dry and cracked. Sound familiar? This is typical weather in Illinois, and it presents challenges that only native plants can meet.
Choosing a Mulch
Although the right mulch can put the finishing touch on garden beds, most importantly, a layering of mulch will help to control weeds, retain soil moisture and keep temperatures as consistent as possible.
Pick the Best Trees for Your Home
In recent years, we have lost many varieties of trees due to pests and diseases. Some of the notable ones include ornamental flowering pears, Bradford pears, elms, oak, and ash trees. There are many more, but these were the most prevalent in central Illinois.
To get in Touch with nature, Create a Sensory Garden
For centuries, gardens have provided a unique bridge between humans and the natural world. Gardens were viewed by many cultures as a “reflection of heaven on earth.” Today, most gardens are considered landscape projects. But sensory gardens, with their engaging sights, sounds, smells, and tastes once again connect us with nature.