Beth Botts

Frozen soil is fine for gardens in winter, but mulching is important for another reason

December 13, 2020 at 5:00 a.m.

Frozen margaritas: yummy. Frozen toes: bad. Frozen soil: just fine. Many gardeners are afraid their plants will be harmed if the soil freezes in winter. Often they see spreading mulch...

Gardening gifts and trusty tools for the discerning green thumb

December 6, 2020 at 5:00 a.m.

New to gardening? Don't be daunted. "You especially don't need to be confused by the tools," said Julie Janoski, Plant Clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle. "A few...

Acorns are in short supply this year — here’s why

November 28, 2020 at 5:00 a.m.

If we were squirrels, doing our best to stash food away for the winter, this would be an anxious autumn. Acorns — the nuts of oak trees and a favorite...

T-shirts are the perfect tool to help protect arborvitae evergreens from snow damage

November 22, 2020 at 5:00 a.m.

Sooner or later, there will be a big snow. When heavy snow is caught in the needles of evergreen shrubs, it can sometimes bend their branches alarmingly. Usually, the alarm...

Winter is coming: Here are 12 do’s and don’ts for preparing your garden for cold weather

November 16, 2020 at 2:25 p.m.

Working outdoors becomes less appealing when the weather turns cold. So what is really worth doing to wrap up the garden for the winter? "There's no need to tidy up...

Your plants might be hardy enough to survive a Chicago winter, but their blooms are a different story

November 8, 2020 at 5:00 a.m.

Are your plants hardy enough to withstand a Chicago winter? Sometimes it depends on what you mean by hardy. "Hardiness is not a simple, black-and-white thing," said Sharon Yiesla, plant...

Bundle up your garden for winter with burlap, leaves and frost blankets. Here’s what to use for your plants, shrubs and trees.

October 31, 2020 at 5:00 a.m.

People prepare for the oncoming cold by digging out their puffy coat, gloves and insulated boots from the back of the closet. But how can you prepare to protect your...

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