Articles in category: Tree & Plant Care
- Seasonal Needle Drop
Published in
DESCRIPTION: Every year, evergreens experience a seasonal needle drop that is a normal part of the plant's cycle. Needles of conifers have varying life spans and do not remain attached indefinitely to the tree. Many evergreen needles, as they... - Poison Ivy Control
Poison ivy leaves in summer (photo credit: Sharon Yiesla) Poison ivy in early fall color (photo credit: John Hagstrom) Poison ivy can occur as a vine, climbing trunks of trees or along the ground, or it can grow...
- Horticultural care fact sheets
These links take you to fact sheets on horticultural care. Animal damageChlorosisChoosing an arboristCompostingDecline in trees and shrubsFertilizing trees and shrubsGetting started with a landscape designLeaf scorchMulching trees and...
- Fall Planting
Published in
To plant or not to plant in autumn, that is the question...Q&A with Pete Linsner, Manager of Plant Production Did you know that fall is the ideal time to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials? Arboretum expert Pete Linsner explains why new plants... - Garden Calendar
Published in
Gardening tips from January to December Each season brings growth, change, and opportunities to care for plants and landscapes. Work in your garden to learn the cycles of nature, and feel the joy your efforts give rise to. JANUARY Check young... - Determining the Health of Your Soil
Determining the Health of Your SoilBy Daniel ThorpePlant Pathology InternThe Morton Arboretum Soil is the foundation to plant sustainability in the landscape. Unfortunately, the importance of soil to plant health is often overlooked because our...
- Deep Roots Are Harming Trees
Deep Roots Are Harming TreesBy Gary Watson Deep or buried root systems have been causing problems for arborists for decades. Though it is often referred to as "planting too deep," the cause of buried root systems is not limited to the planting...
- So what are degree days and why do we care about them anyway?
So what are degree days and why do we care about them anyway?By Donna Danielson, M.S. We list the growing degree days we've accumulated at The Arboretum, The Chicago Botanic Garden, and other sites around the state near the beginning of each...
- Caring For Newly Planted Trees and Shrubs
Published in
By Doris TaylorPlant Information SpecialistThe Morton Arboretum Transplant shock is fairly common in newly transplanted trees. Arboretum researchers have found that a tree can lose as much as 90% of its root system when it is removed from the... - Tree Roots and Foundation Damage
Published in
By Gary Watson Reports of building foundation subsidence have been increasing since the drought in 2005. Cracking of walls or windows is usually the first symptom noticed. Trees are sometimes blamed for subsidence of foundations. While trees can... - Lightning Protection
Published in
The Morton Arboretum is using an advanced lightning protection system for many trees in our collections. The system can equip a tree so that lightning will be conducted harmlessly into the soil. "The new system uses specially designed fasteners,... - What are the Ages of Trees in Your Neighborhood?
Published in
By John F. DwyerResearch AssociateThe Morton Arboretum Trees are often a distinctive feature of the urban landscape. Large trees are especially prominent, have a particularly significant influence on the urban landscape, and symbolize permanence... - Planting Trees and Shrubs
Published in
Trees can be obtained from the nursery in many forms—bare root, container-grown, balled and burlapped, or dug by tree spade. Transplanting can be successful with all forms. Always put extra effort into the planting process to ensure a good start... - Pruning Trees
Published in
WHY Pruning is done for a variety of reasons. Most pruning is aimed at improving structure and safety, or for controlling size. Other objectives can be to open vistas, repair storm damage, and provide clearance for structures and traffic. Good... - Pruning Deciduous Shrubs
Published in
The objectives of pruning shrubs are to maintain vigor, remove damaged or diseased branches, help maintain the natural size and shape of a plant, and improve flowering and fruiting. There are four basic pruning techniques used for maintaining... - Pruning Evergreens
Published in
Evergreen refers to a group of plants that retain their foliage during winter. Most evergreens have a strong central branch leader, which requires little pruning except to control plant height, increase the density of branching, or to shear into... - Preventing Construction Damage to Trees
Published in
Wooded lots are an added value when selecting a site for building a home, just as mature trees add appeal to an already existing home. Homes that are constructed in the midst of trees take advantage of the aesthetic and environmental ... - Trunk Wounds and Decay
Published in
Urban and suburban trees are more likely to have wounds and decay than trees in native stands because people cause most wounds. These wounds are usually unintentional, such as automobiles, construction equipment, or lawn mowers bumping the tree... - Landscaping Your Home for Energy Efficiency
Published in
How does landscaping help? Landscaping enhances your home, not only by improving its appearance and creating useful outdoor spaces, but also by helping to maintain comfortable indoor living spaces. Careful selection, placement, planting, and care... - Soil Considerations for Growing Trees and Shrubs
Published in
Soil is a complex part of the living landscape. A natural soil takes centuries or millennia to develop. Precipitation, temperature, plants & animals, land forms, and geologic material (bedrock, glacial deposits, river sediments,... - Mulching Trees and Shrubs
Published in
Mulching plants is both functional and decorative. Mulch typically is an organic material spread on the soil surface to protect roots from heat, cold, and drought, and to provide nutrients to plants as it decomposes. Once you have chosen the right... - Fertilizing Trees and Shrubs
Published in
A fertilization program is used to maintain trees and shrubs in a vigorous condition and to increase their resistance to injury from diseases and insects. However, the addition of any soil nutrient is recommended only if soil or plant foliage tests... - Tree Root Problems
Published in
Root systems are vital to the health and longevity of trees. All plants need water, oxygen, and nutrients. These are most readily available near the soil surface where precipitation infiltrates the soil and oxygen from the atmosphere... - Watering Trees and Shrubs
Published in
Excessively dry soils cause the death of small roots and reduce a tree’s capacity to absorb water, even after the soil is re-moistened. The resulting drought stress increases a tree’s susceptibility to certain diseases and insects. Precious... - Preventing or Reducing Fruit on Ornamental Trees and Shrubs
Published in
“Nuisance fruit” is a concern for many people including homeowners, landscapers, and park and city officials. The fruits and seeds of some trees and shrubs, such as buckthorn, mulberry, persimmon, and (female) ginkgo are... - Winter Injury to Trees and Shrubs
Published in
The frequency and severity of winter damage is determined by a number of factors, including the plant species or cultivar involved, the location and conditions under which the plant is grown, and the exact timing of weather extremes during the... - Composting
Published in
Composting is a biological process whereby plant material, such as leaves and grass clippings, and other sources of organic matter decompose into humus – a dark brown, crumbly mass resembling rich garden soil. Composting does exactly what nature... - Leaf Scorch
Published in
Leaf scorch is a non-infectious, physiological condition caused by unfavorable environmental situations. It is not caused by fungus, bacteria, or virus. The problem may appear on almost any plant if weather conditions are... - Getting Started with a Landscape Design
Published in
The most important aspects of successful landscape planning happen long before the first planting hole is dug. A lot of careful observation and thoughtful planning go into creating a landscape that will be a functional and pleasing part of your... - Decline in Trees and Shrubs
Published in
When shade trees and shrubs gradually lose vigor and display pale green or yellow color, small leaves, poor growth, early leaf drop, early fall color, and dieback of twigs and branches, it is referred to as tree “decline.” There... - Chlorosis
Published in
Chlorosis is a yellowing of normally green leaves due to a lack of chlorophyll. Many factors, singly or in combination, contribute to chlorosis. In northern Illinois, some of the most common causes among trees and shrubs include nutrient... - Animal Damage
Published in
Deer Damage Deer can cause two types of damage to plants: rubbing or battering by antlers and browsing. Battering usually occurs prior to the deer's rutting season, in late summer and early fall, as male deer rub their antlers against young trees,... - Drought Care
Published in
Weather extremes and the prospect of continued global warming require us to understand the special care trees need in the event of drought. Drought stress develops in plants when the available soil water becomes limited. As this happens, young... - How to Plant Trees
Published in
Before you plant Choose plants that are hardy to your area: Chicago is in USDA zone 5 (-20°). Select the appropriate site for your plant based on sunlight, soil, and moisture. Be sure your space is large enough for the plant at maturity.... - Choosing an Arborist
Published in
Choosing an arborist is similar to choosing any contractor. You should do some research and consider everything from the first impression to final cost. A tree that takes decades to grow can be destroyed or disfigured in minutes if the arborist is...