Winter Gardening Tips

Colorful amaryllis to brighten up your colorless winter days

December 15, 2022

The large, colorful blooms of the Amaryllis can brighten dreary winter days. This South American native has showy flowers in a range of colors from white to pink to red. Amaryllis is a beautiful addition to holiday or winter décor. Getting Started Often you will find Amaryllis sold as a bulb in a kit with soil and a pot. These large bulbs produce bell-shaped flowers on long stalks. As the...

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Dark green and mottled leaves of snake plant

Brighten up dim interiors with low-light houseplants

January 13, 2023

Flowers, Fruits, and Frass

Uplift any room with the look and life of a lush houseplant. While common in the corner of a bright room or displayed in the front picture window, houseplants grow well, even thrive, in low-light rooms; the key to success is choosing the right plant for the right place. Boost indoor air quality...

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When should I start my seeds?

February 10, 2023

Good Growing

Seed starting is a great way to scratch the gardening itch we often get during late winter. In addition to getting a head start on the growing season, there are a number of additional benefits to starting your own seeds....

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Are my seeds still good? Testing seed germination

January 20, 2023

Good Growing

Have you ever found a packet of seeds lying around and wondered if you could grow them? Every year when I get ready to start seeds, I inevitably find a half-full packet or a packet I forgot to plant altogether. Unfortunately, as seeds get older, their germination rate decreases. Fortunately, there...

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Prairie dropseed is shorter native grass that nicely accentuates the edge of garden beds or walkways.

Native Perennials with Winter Interest

November 12, 2022

The Garden Scoop

As fall progresses and most plants lose their leaves or retreat to their winter dormancy, portions of the landscape can appear bare and boring for winter. Evergreens and woody plants are commonly considered the best specimens for winter interested, providing structure throughout the seasons to...

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Winter: Hibernation or adaptation

December 22, 2022

Good Growing

I once heard a succinct description of natural process as “everything points towards winter”. As a Midwesterner not so fond of cold, my immediate response to this synopsis was denial but with time, I’ve come to adore this mentality. Annual plants know they have one growing season to complete their...

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drooping inflorescence of cheatgrass with background of field of grasses

Keep an eye out for Cheatgrass, a winter annual

February 6, 2023

Grasses at a Glance

It might be difficult to imagine that even in the middle of winter, certain weeds have gotten a jumpstart on growth for the spring. Annual plants complete their life cycle in one year and are often divided into winter annuals and summer annuals. Several grasses fall into each of these categories....

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News releases

January 16, 2023

Tree bark adds visual bite to winter landscapes
URBANA, Ill. – With bright colors and interesting shapes, unusual tree and shrub bark can add visual interest to winter landscapes. Many types of bark become more distinctive and sought after during winter months. Selecting trees based on their bark can bring four seasons of visual interest to...

Celebrate the Holidays with Plants

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Troubleshooting Houseplants

Winter Tree Identification

Illinois Extension

Winter Gardening Tips

Colorful amaryllis to brighten up your colorless winter days

Brighten up dim interiors with low-light houseplants

When should I start my seeds?

Are my seeds still good? Testing seed germination

Native Perennials with Winter Interest

Winter: Hibernation or adaptation

Keep an eye out for Cheatgrass, a winter annual

Gardenbite: Growing and harvesting cranberries | #GoodGrowing