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.
Fall scenery is so rich in color and warmth, but while our trees and shrubs are taking on such gorgeous autumn shades, many of our summer annuals have bitten the dust. If your container gardens and pots look tired lately, we recommend adding some late-blooming fall annuals and ornamental plants to spruce up the scenery! Here are some container design ideas to get the creative energy flowing.
The first snow of the year is always and exciting day, but by February, we’re all pretty tired of staring out our window at the plain white landscape. Luckily, with some strategic planting in fall, you can be sure your garden never lacks color and texture – even when it’s covered in a blanket of snow!
Is your lawn looking weak and thin? Overseeding can help you get back to the thick, lush, green lawn you’ve always wanted. By spreading grass seed over your existing lawn, you can thicken up the thin areas, and your lawn will start to look terrific again. (This is different from reseeding, which is when you start over and plant a completely new lawn.)
October was officially proclaimed Oak Awareness Month in Illinois by Governor Bruce Rauner in 2015 through the amazing advocacy efforts of The Chicago Region Trees Initiative and its partners. The purpose of Oak Awareness Month is to raise awareness of the decline in the Oak tree canopy in Illinois and the importance of their role in our very fragile ecosystem.
Most home landscapes have shrubs. They improve soil stability, boost air quality, and create habitats for wildlife. On top of that, shrubs can provide beauty to the landscape throughout all seasons. These small- to medium-sized woody plants can be evergreen or deciduous flowering varieties. They can accent landscape beds, highlight hardscapes, or flank paths or entryways.
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.
Fall blooming plants extend the season of our gardens after many plants have dried up or are done blooming for the year. They are also a much-needed food source for pollinators who are still foraging and getting ready for winter.
I posted a picture to Facebook once with the comment “…I think I might have too many bird feeders…” There were six – not counting the suet feeder – in my small back yard. I have so many, simply because I love birds, but I wonder if there wasn’t something happening subliminally in my awareness.
Fall and flowering trees are like peanut butter and jelly. They just go together. Plant a flowering tree in the fall and reap the benefits of their beautiful flowers in the spring!
The native plants in my garden tell me when summer is beginning to turn toward autumn. Culver’s Root (Veronicastrum virginicum) is already blooming in the shady rain garden despite lack of rain. Royal Catchfly (Silene regia) grows tall and delicate in the butterfly garden, a stand-out because its blossom is the only true red among so many softer colors. Soon asters of many varieties will begin to bloom. Native grasses will not be far behind. When they and the goldenrods bloom, we know for sure that autumn is here.
