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.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN HERE
ENQUIRING MINDS WANT TO PLANT!
Knowledge and resources about plants and planting are so vast they can be overwhelming. The best approach is to take advantage of information based on your areas of interest and then seek the guidance of a plant professional. Your local nursery or garden center has inspired people ready to offer advice.
LEARN, ASK, PLANT!
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.
Design Inspiration for Your 2023 Spring Bulb Garden
Fall has arrived, and that means it’s time to plant those spring-blooming bulbs and exercise your creative inspiration in the garden! The good news is that there are many gorgeous color palettes and fascinating new cultivars to experiment with when designing a spring landscape. If you’re looking for ideas, we’ve got some winning combinations that will look beautiful in your 2023 garden, plus tips on getting as many blooms as possible.
5 Smart Spring Landscaping Tips You’ll Want To Start Today
Early spring is here, and, if you are like us, that’s when plant lovers start to get their itch to begin working on their landscaping curb appeal and gardening. If you are looking to get a jump on the season, here are our early spring landscaping tips that will appease your drive to being planting.
Five Flowering Trees to Plant instead of Bradford Pear
One of the surest signs that spring has arrived each year is the blooming of the Bradford pear trees. Widely planted as a street tree, in the parking lots of malls and offices, and in home landscapes, they’re impossible to miss: oval-canopied trees with a mantle of white flowers so thick that it almost resembles snow.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
Most of us probably remember this popular nursery rhyme; Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow? While we aren’t likely to be growing silver bells, cockleshells and pretty maids all in a row, we are interested in how our gardens grow. Gardening tends to be a skill that is learned best by doing.
Proper maintenance extends lifespan, saves money on garden tools
One of the pricier expenditures for home gardeners is quality hand tools. High quality tools will last longer, but this does mean the tools — whether shovels, rakes, pruners, or hand trowels — cost more.
Evergreen Trees and Other Plants for Privacy
Privacy trees are a great investment – they make front and back yards feel more homey and comfortable, and outdoor entertaining feels more comfortable when you’ve got some privacy from neighbors. Privacy trees are also great for shielding front windows if you keep your curtains open for your plants! Whether you have a small front yard in the city or sprawling field in the country, there are plenty of evergreen trees and plants for privacy in suit landscapes of any size.
What are the Benefits of Columnar Oaks in Winter?
Usually, it’s evergreen trees that come to mind when thinking about privacy, screening, color, and texture for enjoyment in the landscape during the winter months. While evergreens are a perfectly acceptable option for achieving this feel in your yard, columnar oak trees are a seriously underrated option.
