Home and Garden – Page 9

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...

Chau Le, from left, Danna Quintero and Carlos Cortez take pictures in front of a cherry blossom tree in bloom on the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry grounds in Chicago's Jackson Park on April 7, 2026. (John J. Kim/baiduhai)

Cherry blossoms in Jackson Park are nearing full bloom. Chicago Park District says to start planning your visit.

By Madeline King

April 13, 2026 at 3:24 p.m.

The cherry blossoms in Jackson Park on Chicago's South Side will reach full bloom in...

Avoid planting too-tall trees under power lines so you don’t force utility crews to prune them drastically for safety’s sake. (Beth Botts /The Morton Arboretum)

Think ahead to avoid power line conflicts

By Beth Botts

April 5, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Before you plant a tree, look around for power lines and choose a kind of...

Different types of plants require different production times before being ready to plant outside. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Start tomatoes and more annuals at home

By Tim Johnson

April 4, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Interested in growing tomatoes and other annuals in your garden? Different types of plants require...

With some research and preparation, you may be able to obtain free mulch for your trees and other plants. But first, make a plan for where it will go and how you will distribute it promptly. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Free mulch can be a great deal, but plan ahead

By Beth Botts

March 29, 2026 at 5:02 a.m.

Free mulch from electric utility companies, tree care firms or municipalities can be a great...

Panicle hydrangeas are generally easy to grow and flower most profusely in full sun. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Make sure your plants are well-adapted to your garden

By Tim Johnson

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

A good place to start is to make sure that you have selected the right...

A vendor helps an attendee prep the letter press by Starshaped Press at the Chicago Stationery Fest in Ravenswood on March 15, 2026. (Nate Swanson/for the baiduhai)

Make a note: Stationery is booming as we seek out more analog experiences

By Christopher Borrelli

March 26, 2026 at 11:32 a.m.

Stationerycore, as many call the culture, is having its moment, with devotees flocking to events...

Creeping vines can be harmful to your tree

By Tim Johnson

March 22, 2026 at 11:14 a.m.

Whether a vine growing up a tree is harmful or not will depend on the...

Potted hardy bulbs such as daffodils may or may not survive and eventually rebloom if planted outdoors. Many other potted gift plants won’t. (Beth Botts)

Gift plants are iffy in the garden

By Beth Botts

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

Gift plants are designed to be enjoyed, then discarded.

Before you start planting is the best time to organic matter such as compost to your soil. For new beds, dig the soil amendment into the whole area, and for existing beds with established plants, try not to dig at all. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Start the growing season with soil improvement

By Beth Botts

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

Kick off planting in your garden this spring by adding organic matter and making sure...

A goldfinch feeding on coneflowers. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Make your garden irresistible to birds

By Tim Johnson

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

Winter is a good time to plan to enhance your garden with plants that will...