Home and Garden – Page 10

By simply raking fallen leaves onto your garden beds, you can provide your plants with a healthy, protective, soil-building layer of free mulch. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Don’t let fallen leaves go to waste

By Beth Botts

October 25, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Nature never wastes a leaf.

Fall tree color at the Chicago Botanic Garden. (Jeff Carrion/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Peak fall color in Chicago area now on display

By Tim Johnson

October 24, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

When you understand the basics of fall color and monitor the weather, you will be...

Rats walk through an alley on the 1900 block of North Halsted Street Tuesday Aug. 12, 2025, in Chicago. The village of Franklin Park is seeking input from residents via an advisory referendum on if it should ban fruit trees in residential neighborhoods to help reduce rodent populations that might feed on fallen fruit. (Armando L. Sanchez/baiduhai)

Franklin Park seeks voter input on potential fruit tree ban to combat rodents

By Alicia Fabbre

October 23, 2026 at 2:13 p.m.

Franklin Park voters are being asked in an advisory referendum if the village should ban...

Shrubs that keep their berries for several months, such as winterberry (Ilex verticillata), are one way to add color, interest and wildlife habitat to the winter garden. (John Hagstrom/The Morton Arboretum)

Add pizzazz to your garden this winter

By Beth Botts

March 8, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Think about how you can plant this spring for more interest in your garden next...

A small folding hand saw is best for removing large stems at ground level. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Now is the perfect time to prune your garden

By Tim Johnson

March 7, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The dormant season is the best time of year to do this work, as healthy...

Peperomia houseplants are grown for their foliage rather than their flowers. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Slow-growing peperomia is a great low-maintenance plant

By Tim Johnson

March 1, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Peperomias tolerate most lighting conditions, but they’ll do best in bright, indirect light.

Plants need the protection of mulch or leaves over the soil to stay safely dormant in late winter, so don’t
tidy away that insulating layer from the garden. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Gardeners, remember it’s still winter

By Beth Botts

February 28, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Here are some tips for gardening — and not gardening — in late winter and...

Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) are among the easiest orchids to care for in a home. (Jeff Carrion/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Growing orchids is easy at home

By Tim Johnson

February 22, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

I have been admiring orchids for some time and would like to try growing them...

Choose sturdy, resilient, long-lived perennials for a garden in the parkway, so you rarely need to damage tree roots by digging holes to replace plants. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Parkway is a tough spot for plants

By Beth Botts

February 21, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Before you plant in a public parkway, think it through.

Before planting a tree close to a house or path, research the species to be sure it will not eventually grow so wide that it needs severe pruning. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Think about a tree’s future size before you buy

By Beth Botts

February 15, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Choosing a tree or shrub without considering its mature size is a recipe for big trouble.

Garden Club of Beverly Morgan Park member Eileen Quirk Rowan displays a still-life of more than 100 crocheted and knitted flowers she created to commemorate the club's 100th anniversary during a recent club meeting. The piece will be on display throughout the year at area businesses. (Susan DeGrane/Daily Southtown)

Garden Club of Beverly Morgan Park marks 100 years of growth, community spirit

By Susan DeGrane

February 14, 2026 at 5:05 a.m.

The Garden Club of Beverly Morgan Park was formed by a handful of women in...

The hybrid amaryllis (Hippeastrum) is a tender bulb with large, showy flowers. (Maria Ciaccio/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Dramatic amaryllis perfect for adding winter color

By Tim Johnson

February 14, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Hybrid amaryllis is a tender bulb with showy flowers that can be grown easily indoors...

Blooming forsythia branches can brighten a room. (Bill Bishoff/ Chicago Botanic Garden)

Prune your winter garden now for springtime flowering

By Tim Johnson

February 8, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

There are several trees and shrubs that flower in spring that will work for forcing...