Bright dogwood bark gets its most vivid coloring with frequent pruning
A cheery glimpse of color on a gray and wintry day: That's why we plant shrubs with bright bark. Colorful bark is a main feature of red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea...
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Arborvitae plants are popular, cheap evergreen shrubs found all around Chicago. Here’s how to pick one that’s right for your yard.
If you don't have an arborvitae tree or shrub in your yard, chances are your neighbor does. Arborvitaes are among the most commonly planted evergreens in Chicago-area landscapes. Many yards...
When trees suffer cracks or damage, experts have a toolbox full of ways to save them, from steel rods to guy wires
A major crack has appeared in your favorite big tree. Is it doomed? Not necessarily. There are ways to reinforce trees that are in danger of failing, according to Jake...
What’s in a botanical name? How Latin words help gardeners tell a rose from a Portulaca grandiflora
Are you waiting for your snowdrops to bloom? Or do you prefer to call them Galanthus nivalis? "Nearly every kind of plant has more than one name," said Julie Janoski,...
Those cracks in tree bark are called frost cracks. Here’s how to lessen the damage.
When we spend time outdoors in deep cold, we often get red noses and chapped cheeks. In a young tree, sudden, deep cold can cause more severe damage: cracks in...
Removing deadwood makes for happier, healthier shrubs and trees — here’s how to know if branches are still alive
The first step in pruning a shrub or tree is to remove branches that are dead. "Any plant will accumulate a certain amount of deadwood over time, due to harsh...
Pruning shrubs in winter can pay off big for gardens come spring
Midwinter is an excellent time to prune deciduous shrubs. "Because they've lost their leaves, it's easy to see the structure and judge which branches to remove," said Sharon Yiesla, plant...
With a new year comes new plans for your garden. Here’s how to get started.
As the old year passes, it's time to prepare for spring. The first step in planning for a new season in the garden is to think back, according to Julie...
Like dormant plants that emerge and rebuild in spring, we can wait out this cold, dark winter
Perhaps this year more than most, winter is going to be a cold, dark time. We've retreated to shelter, waiting for a dangerous season to pass. If we were plants,...
Yew shrubs, hardy and attractive, are the stuff of ancient legends and a great addition to Midwest yards
At a time of year when we often decorate with holly, mistletoe, pine, fir and spruce, it's easy to overlook some of our most common evergreens: yews. In many Chicago-area...