Beth Botts – Page 19 –

When you plant a tree, dig a hole just deep enough so the place where the trunk flares out into the roots will sit at the level of the surrounding soil. Planting trees too deeply causes many problems.

Plant your tree the right way with these tips

May 6, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Planning to plant a tree? "It's important to do it the right way," said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist in the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. "Many...

Remove stakes or wrappings from young trees now. It's one of the tasks to get done in spring.

Need a garden to-do list? Here are 8 things you can do to keep plants healthy.

April 30, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Spring can go by fast. "Think ahead now," said Sharon Yiesla, plant knowledge specialist at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. "Many tasks are much easier when the plants in your...

Adult magnolia scale insects protect themselves with a waxy shield while they suck sap from the tree. Only the soft-bodied young are vulnerable to treatments.

Scale back scale insects in your garden with these tips

April 22, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Spring beauty is fleeting, and so is the opportunity to stop scale insects that live on the bark of magnolia trees and suck their sap. "With scale insects, timing is...

Garlic mustard, identifiable by its small white April flowers and pungent odor, is an invasive plant that should be removed from gardens and woodlands.

With a watchful eye, you can root out invasive garlic mustard in your garden

April 16, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

When an upright plant with clusters of small white flowers begins to bloom in April, it's not good news. If the leaves have a distinctive onionlike odor when crushed, it's...

Before planting in spring, top-dress beds with organic matter such as compost and plan to spread mulch afterward.

Soil upkeep can lengthen your plant’s lifespan

April 9, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Before you start planting this spring, take some steps to improve the soil your plants will live in. "Early spring is a good time to make your soil a good...

Preserve a healthy layer of wood chips or other mulch in place on the soil when you tidy up the garden this spring.
- Original Credit: Beth Botts

Make sure mulch is a part of your spring gardening

April 2, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

When you tidy up the garden after the winter, don't tidy it too much. "Make sure you leave the mulch layer that covers your garden's soil," said Sharon Yiesla, plant...

When you move into a house with an established landscape, identifying the plants already growing there is an important first step.

If this is your first year with a yard, here’s what you need to know

March 26, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Is this your first year with a yard? Perhaps you just moved into your first house, and you're not sure how to go about your first season as a gardener....

Morton Arboretum/ Pictures for Seasons (Garden Tools)

User Upload Caption: A sharpening stick is handy for sharpening pruners and other cutting tools. Sharp tools are easier to use and better for plants.
- Original Credit: Mike Hudson.

Sharpen your tools ahead of planting season

March 18, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

Before the spring gardening season begins, prepare by sharpening your garden tools. Sharp tools are safer and easier for you to use and healthier for your plants, according to Julie...

Cut back ornamental grasses in early spring before new growth starts.

Follow these do’s and don’ts when tending your early spring garden

March 11, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

A warm weekend in March often drives winter-weary homeowners outside to start yard work. That can be a mistake. "Don't jump the gun," said Julie Janoski, manager of the Plant...

A pole pruner can extend your reach to snip small branches, but it can be awkward and tricky to use.

Here’s how to use a pole pruner in your garden this spring

March 5, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

If you often need to prune large shrubs or small trees, a pole pruner can be a useful tool. "It can extend your reach to trim small twigs and branches,...

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