Tim Johnson – Page 19

Spring annuals such as pansies grow less due to the short season, so if you want a full bed, plant them closer together.

Don’t waste money designing your garden — here’s how to calculate exactly what you need

April 23, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

I need some help calculating how many plants to buy for my garden beds as well as how much mulch to buy. — Leonard Valenti, Chicago Many gardeners are out...

As with any type of plant, taking proper care of the stock before planting, siting it appropriately in the garden, and planting properly are important to achieve success.

How to bear planting bare root shrub

April 15, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

I ordered some bare root shrubs by mail and would like some advice on how to achieve the best results in planting them. — Ed Reilly, Warrenville Bare root plants...

Tulips are a favorite plant for deer to to eat at this time of year.
- Original Credit: RJ Carlson/ Chicago Botanic Gard

Don’t leave your tulips for deer to eat — a good repellent helps

April 10, 2023 at 12:33 p.m.

Deer have been eating my tulip leaves as soon as they poke out of the ground, and I am worried that I will not get any flowers this year. They...

Magnolia scale is common in northern Illinois and is one of the largest of the soft-scale insects that attack trees.

How to save your trees from magnolia scale

April 1, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

My magnolia had a problem with magnolia scale last year. Will it come back, and should I take some action to protect my tree? The leaves were covered in a...

I have been using a product called Sure Power for the lesser celandine growing in my lawn, which seemed to knock it back more dramatically.

Be persistent when attacking lesser celandine

March 25, 2023 at 8:05 a.m.

I have a problem with lesser celandine in my garden. How can I get rid of it? — Fran Gordon, Skokie I noticed lesser celandine sprouting in my garden a...

The right insecticide treatment plan can help save your ash tree from emerald ash borer.

You can protect your ash trees from emerald ash borer with the right treatment plan

March 19, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

We have been on a two-year treatment schedule to protect our ash trees from emerald ash borer and have been fortunate to keep nearly all the trees growing and healthy....

Pollard tree pruning is a method of trimming trees to control their size and shape.

There’s nothing wrong with pollarding trees, if done strategically

March 12, 2023 at 6:00 a.m.

I saw a group of trees that have been topped at the Garden, but I thought that topping trees was bad for them. — Angela Groskopf, Park Ridge You may...

Viburnums should respond well to pruning, providing that they are in good health.

There’s still time to cut down your viburnum plant — here’s how

March 4, 2023 at 5:00 a.m.

I have some very large, overgrown, fragrant viburnums growing along a path to my house and need to drastically reduce them in size. Can this be done successfully and if...

A newly planted Hydrangea arborescens 'Abetwo' requires little pruning.

Tips for prepping your hydrangeas for spring growth

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

I planted a lot of hydrangeas in my garden last year and would like some pruning advice. — Jodi Baumann, Gurnee This is a good time to prune most of...

Dressing in layers is an important strategy to stay warm while working outdoors in the winter.

How to garden outdoors during a Chicago winter

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

I still plan to do some pruning this winter and with relatively warm temperatures in the forecast, I would like some advice on clothing for working long periods of time...

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