The Illinois Dunesland Garden Club (IDGC) 2023 FREE Garden Tour will have 7 gardens this year. The gardens are all different and range from shabby chic, to mixed flowers and vegetables, a new garden just starting out, a fabulous “she shed,” with raised beds, recycled and refurbished items, to a bit of local signage and […]
We all get hungry and need nourishment to live. Plants, too. Plants in the ground might get by without food, but for container plants, it is essential. Food and water—take Goldilocks’s advice: not too much, not too little, just right. So, let’s take a look at what’s on the menu for our plant babies. Fertilizer […]
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! When you see certain words, run the other direction as they generally indicate you are looking at a plant thug. Those are the plants that look good at first but threaten your sanity in a year or two. You can find these at garden centers all over. The plant might be ornamental […]
Now that we have our tomatoes planted and growing, let’s consider tomato care. That would be watering, feeding, staking, pruning and disease control. Watering: The first and probably most important consideration is watering. Tomatoes require regular, consistent watering—infrequent, but deep is the best. The amount should equal about 1” (including rainfall) of water per week […]
Native plants often have a reputation for being “aggressive”, “thuggish”, or “weedy”. Sometimes this reputation is earned. Common milkweed, for example, is great for monarchs, but can be a real pain for a gardener to try to control (only plant this particular variety if you have lots of space and an informal style!). And it […]
So, you’ve been considering container gardening. Let’s think a bit more specifically about what it takes to create a spectacular pot. You don’t need professional help or specialty plants—Just take a walk down the aisles of your favorite garden center this spring and choose wisely. Plan the structure of your pot. The easiest way is […]
What is the most popular fruit grown in our home gardens? You know it as a tomato. Botanically it is a fruit as are zucchini, peppers, cucumbers, beans and peas. Nutritionists call them all vegetables, mainly because we eat them as savory dishes. But by whatever classification, a tomato is what so many of us […]
Starting plants from seed is a relatively easy project if you plan ahead. Planning and equipment needed is important, so here’s some items you will need: Seeds Read the back label for instructions on how to plant and when to plant determined by the last frost date in your area. You won’t be planting all […]
If you click on the image below, you will be taken to the annual flower seed sowing PDF and you can print directly from there. Good luck and happy planting!
If you click on the image below, you will be taken to the vegetable seed sowing PDF and you can print directly from there. Good luck and happy planting!