Gardener's Corner

Water Garden Landscaping

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

University of Illinois Extension horiticulturist Jeff Rugg discusses some of the basics of water garden landscaping.

Planning Flower Beds in Your Landscape

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

Extension horticulturist Richard Hentschel presents a simple idea for making the maintenance of your flower beds more manageable.

Grouping Containers to Liven a Garden Space

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST

U of I Extension horticulturist Greg Stack talks about how grouping containers can liven an otherwise boring and uninspired garden space.

Consider a Sedge or Grass in Your Garden

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

U of I Extension horticulturist Greg Stack talks about two sedges and an ornamental grass that can add some texture to your garden.

Planning a Garden in Difficult Places

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

U of I Extension horticulturist Richard Hentschel discusses various ways gardens can be designed to deal with difficult spaces in the home and commercial landscape.

Prairie Dropseed - A Fragrant Ornamental Grass

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

Prairie Dropseed is a native prairie grass that makes a nice, fragrant addition to the perennial border.

Proper Drainage for Overwintering

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

Horticulture educator Nancy Pollard points out the need for proper drainage in container gardens, particularly in those containers you are using to overwinter plants.

Overwintering Plants in Containers

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

Horticulturist Nancy Pollard gives some tips for successfully overwintering perennials in containers.

How to Climatize Houseplants

Thu, 8 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

Learn from U of I horticulturist Greg Stack how to successfully bring a houseplant home from a greenhouse or garden center and have it thrive in your home.

Daylilies Offer Weeks of Bloom

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

Daylilies, an old garden standby, now come in a rainbow of colors and a variety of sizes and textures. As always, they provide weeks of color for your perennial borders.

Add Drama to the Garden with Bold Perennials

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CST

You can add some drama to your garden by planting some big and bold perennials. Greg Stack discusses two Rudbeckia that can make a splash in your garden borders.

Selecting a Tree in a Garden Center

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CST

Horticulturist Greg Stack gives you a quick guide to selecting trees to plant this fall in your landscape.

Managing Fall Lawn Weeds

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CST

Extension specialist Richard Hentschel discusses common weed control measures. For more information about lawn care, please visit Lawn Talk at http://urbanext.illinois.edu/lawntalk/

Garden Cleanup

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CST

University of Illinois Extension horticulturist Jeff Rugg talks about the importance of cleaning up the vegetable garden.

How to Prune Roses

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CST

Extension horticulturist Greg Stack discusses the proper way to prune roses.

Identifying Thatch

Fri, 4 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CST

Extension horticulturist Richard Hentschel discusses thatch in lawns -- what it is and what it isn't.

Summer Vacation for Houseplants

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 00:00:00 CST

Now is the time to start preparing your houseplants that were given an outdoor "summer vacation" for their return to an indoor environment.

Sweet Peas Thrive in Cool Weather

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST

Cool, wet weather in the Midwest this year has allowed cool season plants like sweet pea to thrive all summer long.

What's Wrong with My Tomato Plant?

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST

Many tomato plants are showing stress and disease this time of year. Green industry specialist Richard Hentschel talks about some common late summer problems with tomato plants.

Using Tropical Vines in Containers

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST

Learn how to use tropical vines in a Midwestern garden.

Growing Herbs in Containers

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST

Growing herbs in containers can give you a fresh-scent near an entryway and provide fresh herbs for cooking all season long.

Growing Vegetables and Herbs in Containers

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST

Learn the basics of planting and growing vegetables and herbs in containers.

Space-Saving Ideas for Vegetables

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST

If you don't have a large area for growing vegetables, you may want to try these ideas for growing vegetables in limited spaces

Proper Plant Spacing in Containers

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST

Make sure to using proper plant spacing when planting containers.

Using Common Nursery Plants

Fri, 7 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST

You don't need exotic plants to make good-looking container gardens. Common plants can make attractive and colorful containers.

Plant Perennials in the Fall

Thu, 6 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST

If you follow a few simple guidelines, fall can be a good time to successfully plant perennials.

Opening Roots when Planting Perennials

Tue, 4 Aug 2009 00:00:00 CST

Make sure to open the roots when planting container grown perennials.

Try Coleus for a Blast of Color

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Coleus have always provided a splash of color in your shade garden, and now there are varieties that can be planted in full sun. Greg Stack demonstrates three varieties of Sun Coleus.

Using Colors in Containers

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Using monochromatic or complimentary color schemes in your containers to liven up your garden.

Watering Containers after Planting

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Make sure you water the container thoroughly after planting.

Controlling Japanese Beetles

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Japanese beetles feed on a wide variety of plant species in the garden. Greg Stack discusses the best ways of controlling this garden pest.

Creating Water Gardens in Containers

Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Learn the basics of creating an easy-to-maintain water garden in a container.

Japanese Beetles Feed on a Variety of Plants

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Japanese beetles will attack a wide variety of plants including woody shrubs, roses, perennials and bulb plants.

Refreshing Perennial Plants After Bloom

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

With some perennials, cutting back after their first bloom will clean up the plant, make it look better, and allow the plant to send up a second flowering.

Mixing Plant Types in Containers

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Create interesting container gardens by mixing the type of plants you use.

Grooming Container Plants

Thu, 2 Jul 2009 00:00:00 CST

Keep your containers looking nice by doing a little grooming throughout the growing season.

Using Common Nursery Plants in Containers

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

You can create beautiful looking flower containers using common plants found in most garden centers.

Fertilizing Vegetables in Containesr

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

When you are growing vegetables in containers, a regular fertilization schedule is important.

Choosing Containers

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

The choices you have for containers are just limitless. Learn the advantages and disadvantages of different container types.

Growing Vegetables in Containers

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A number of vegetables can be grown as container plants. Learn how to select the plants and container to increase your chance for success.

Tips for Reducing the Weight of Containers

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A variety of materials can be added to the bottom of your plant containers to make them more light weight and easier to move.

Selecting Plants for a Container

Tue, 9 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

When choosing plants for a container, you should consider factors such as location, color and texture.

Selecting Fertilizer for Container Plants

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

A wide variety of fertilizers are available for use with container gardens.

Making a Wire Basket Container

Fri, 5 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

You can create interesting, unusual gardens by using wire baskets as containers.

Container Topiary

Thu, 4 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Introduce some fun and whimsy into your garden through container garden topiary.

Choosing a Soil Mix for Your Container

Wed, 3 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Choosing the right soil media can make the difference between success and failure of your container garden.

Assembling a Container Garden

Tue, 2 Jun 2009 00:00:00 CST

Assemble a container garden that includes plants in a variety of sizes and colors -- spillers, thrillers and fillers!