Beth Botts – Page 42 –

Preserve tender bulbs that can’t survive outside in a cold Chicago winter

May 23, 2019 at 9:02 a.m.

An avid gardener often will spend an autumn day digging up and storing tender bulbs — the root structures of prized dahlias, caladiums, elephant ears, and other tropical plants. “They’re...

Some garden insects invade houses at this time of year

May 23, 2019 at 9:02 a.m.

When the chill of fall sets in, we all want to find a warm, cozy place to spend the winter. That includes some bugs that spend the summer outdoors in...

When choosing a tree or shrub, consider its mature size and where you will plant it

May 23, 2019 at 9:02 a.m.

Nurseries and home centers have a bounty of trees and shrubs in early fall, and it’s a fine time to plant them. Just be sure you choose one that won’t...

To improve garden soil, add organic matter — aka dead plants

May 23, 2019 at 9:02 a.m.

To improve their soil, gardeners often are told to add organic matter. What’s that? “Organic matter is anything that used to be alive,” says Meghan Midgley, soil scientist in the...

September’s garden song: Time to transplant

May 23, 2019 at 9:02 a.m.

September’s song: end of the summer fling, back to school, time to transplant. “If you get plants in the ground in early September, there’s still plenty of time for them...

Too much fertilizer can dry out plant tissue

May 23, 2019 at 9:02 a.m.

Do your container plants have too many leaves and too few flowers? Are they short and stunted? Do the leaves have discolored edges? Does your lawn have dead patches or...

Read entire label before using pesticide, especially in hot weather

May 23, 2019 at 9:02 a.m.

A hot weekend afternoon may seem like the perfect time to spray those pesky weeds in the lawn. Stop! Spraying certain insecticides and herbicides in hot weather can increase the...

That dusty white film disfiguring plant leaves has a name: powdery mildew

May 23, 2019 at 9:02 a.m.

On languid summer days, a milky, sometimes splotchy film of dusty white or gray often creeps over the leaves of trees, shrubs and perennials. This is powdery mildew, one of...

Alkaline or acid? Know your garden’s soil type so you can pick plants that suit it

May 23, 2019 at 9:02 a.m.

For iced tea, the question is “sweet or unsweet?” For garden soil, it’s “alkaline or acid?” The answer can make a big difference in the health and growth of your...

9 garden tips from Morton Arboretum’s longtime plant whisperer

May 23, 2019 at 9:01 a.m.

Doris Taylor has heard from thousands of anxious gardeners in her more than 20 years as manager of the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum, answering letters, calls and emails...

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