Northern & Central Midwest Regional Report

What Am I Going to Do With All Those Leaves?

It's that time. What are you going to do with all those leaves? Let me give you some suggestions! I'm always on my soapbox about adding organic matter to the soil. Leaves are a perfect organic amendment. Shred your leaves by running them over with the...
Read More

Resources

Green Planet
Cut Leaf European Beech

Watch for Houseplant Pests
Pot Holiday Tender Bulbs
Force Bulbs Indoors
Remove Iris Foliage
Clean Tools

Seeds, Seeds, Seeds

As the fall begins to wind down, the leaves are dropping and many trees and shrubs are leaving behind their seeds to start new plants next year. It's hard not to be tempted to help nature along and collect seeds to start plants on our own. Starting...
Read More

Resources

The Essential Garden Maintenance Workbook
Drown Those Pests

Adjust Houseplants to Indoors
Protect Tender Roses
Take Care of Containers
Get Ready for Birds
Bring Tools, Chemicals Inside

Fall Perennial Care

By the time you are reading this you may very well have had your first frost. Even if it's still to come, though, the garden is beginning to wane, and perennial flowers are not looking so good. Except for mums and asters, of course. So, I thought I'd...
Read More

Resources

Soil Web
Oakleaf hydrangea

Prepare Lawn for Winter
Pick Green Tomatoes
Plant Bulbs
Clean Tools
Store Seeds Well

Don't Stop Watering!

Fall is coming! I can feel and smell it, and I know by how the garden is acting that it's coming faster than I want. Although irrigation needs will vary depending of the amount of rainfall in your area, it's time think about watering before winter....
Read More

Resources

Woody Plant Propagation
Quick Compost Bins

Ready your Pond for Winter
Lift Tender Bulbs
Plant Bulbs
Transplant Trees and Shrubs
Fertilize Woody Plants

I was riding my local bike trail the other day and saw two people walking and tasting berries all along the way. I admire anyone who is willing to try wild foods, but it is extremely important that you know what you are tasting before taking a chance....
Read More

Resources

U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine
Lemon Queen Sunflower

Let Amaryllis Go Dormant
Prepare for Lady Beetle Invasion
Apples are Ripe
Plant Pansies
Don't Move Firewood

Black-Eyed Susans are Hot!

This time of year, it is almost impossible to drive down a rural road or neighborhood street and not see black-eyed Susans. These landscape favorites start their show in mid July and continue through frost, depending on the variety. There are hundreds...
Read More

Resources

Wildflower Information
Wildflowers

Protect Houseplants from Frost
Prune Raspberries
Harvest Cool-Season Crops
Leave Collards, Kale, Brussels Sprouts
Harvest Winter Squash Correctly

Garlic!

I'm going to convince you to grow garlic for next year. The garlic this year is phenomenal, so this is the time to hit the farmer's market for garlic to store for winter and also for planting. I just used the last cloves from my 2008 crop a few days ago...
Read More

Resources

Square Foot Gardening
Square Foot Gardening

Core Aerate
Plant Cool-Season Flowers
Water Evergreens
Start a Compost Pile
Clean Up Vegetable Garden

Weeds in Your Garden?

So, you say you have weeds. What exactly is a weed? Basically it is any plant that's not wanted or that's planted in the wrong place. Sounds simple enough. But, one person's weed might be another person's wildflower. Right now the crystalline blue...
Read More

Resources

Weed Identification
Safe Weed Control

Bulb Planting Time
Let Lawn Go Dormant
Harvest Onions
Dearhead Annuals
Shear Herbs

Midsummer Color in the Perennial Garden

It is midsummer, the time of ripeness in the vegetable garden, full-blown fruits in the orchard, and hot summer color in the perennial garden. This is a time when days are lazy and there is not a lot of incentive to getting out in the garden for...
Read More

Resources

Lincoln Square Garden Walk in Chicago
Tomato Soup Coneflower

Keep Deadheading
Keep Watering
Move Irises and Peonies
Pick off Japanese Beetles
Watch Moisture on Tomatoes and Peppers

Salvage as Garden Sculpture

I've gone to art fairs for years and coveted some of the expensive garden sculpture, knowing I'd probably never purchase. It always gives me ideas, and I've become pretty creative at producing my own bits of art. I don't mean welding, but rather...
Read More

Resources

Brent and Becky's Bulbs
Wood Spurge

Deadhead Roses
Water Compost Pile
Harvest Vegetables Young
Plan For Fall Bulbs
Stop Fertilizing

Midsummer Garden Tasks

As I make my daily walks around my neighborhood, it makes me feel so good to see the efforts everyone is making to beautify their homes and landscapes, not to mention growing food. I thought I'd offer a few tips and reminders for keeping landscapes...
Read More

Resources

Silver Whispers Stone Pine
Use Same Trellis for Peas and Beans

Let Lawn Go Dormant
Pick Summer Squash Young
Net Small Fruits
Watch for Tent Caterpillars
Remove Bulb Foliage

Northern & Central Midwest Regional Report

What Am I Going to Do With All Those Leaves?

Resources

Reminders

Seeds, Seeds, Seeds

Resources

Reminders

Fall Perennial Care

Resources

Reminders

Don't Stop Watering!

Resources

Reminders

Resources

Reminders

Black-Eyed Susans are Hot!

Resources

Reminders

Garlic!

Resources

Reminders

Weeds in Your Garden?

Resources

Reminders

Midsummer Color in the Perennial Garden

Resources

Reminders

Salvage as Garden Sculpture

Resources

Reminders

Midsummer Garden Tasks

Resources

Reminders