Articles in category: Tree & Plant Care
- Fall Planting
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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
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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... - Fall Planting of Trees and Shrubs
Fall Planting of Trees and ShrubsBy Christine E. MartnerHorticulture Crew LeaderThe Morton Arboretum At The Morton Arboretum, we plant specimens in our botanical collections in both the spring and fall. With the usual generous spring rains in the...
- Drought Stress
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By Doris TaylorPlant Information SpecialistThe Morton Arboretum According to weather predictions, the Chicago area is destined for a long, dry summer. If landscape plants are not maintained properly, excessively dry soils can cause roots to die,... - Coping with Exposed Tree-root 'Elbows'
By George WareDendrologist Emeritus, The Morton Arboretum How should one manage those visible surface roots that appear in lawns around well-established trees? These exposed root segments are commonly seen near the trunks of silver maples and...
- Changing Procedures in Urban Tree Planting and Management
By Dr. George WareResearch AssociateThe Morton Arboretum Coping with abiotic problems offers ongoing challenges for managing woody plant landscapes. In recent years, numerous improvements in methods and procedures have followed understanding and...
- Caring For Newly Planted Trees and Shrubs
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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
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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
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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?
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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... - Transplanting Trees and Shrubs
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 Horticultural Care
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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
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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,... - Soil Considerations for Growing Trees and Shrubs
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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
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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
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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 ... - Tree Root Problems
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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
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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
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“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
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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
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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
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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
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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 ... - Seasonal Needle Drop
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DESCRIPTION: Contrary to popular opinion, needles of conifers have varying life spans and do not remain attached indefinitely to the tree. Triggered by the weather and season, many evergreen needles, as they age, will turn yellow, then... - Decline in Trees and Shrubs
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.... - Spring Gardening Tips
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Wait until new growth is established before removing winter mulch protection. Mulch protects plants from late spring freezes. Mulching Trees and Shrubs [PDF] Remove tree wraps applied last fall. General clean up: rake the lawn and... - Winter Gardening Tips
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Water plants, especially evergreens, before the ground freezes. Watering Trees and Shrubs [PDF] Prune trees and shrubs in winter when the branches are without leaves. Remove waterspouts, dead, or crossing branches. Pruning Evergreens,... - Fall Gardening Tips
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September's cooler weather and moist soils offer ideal conditions for fall planting. See Transplanting Trees and Shrubs [PDF] Late summer into early autumn is the best time to divide perennials that bloom in spring and... - Summer Gardening Tips
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Water trees and shrubs deeply if natural rainfall is less than one inch per week. Watering the soil and not the foliage reduces leaf spot diseases. Watering Trees and Shrubs [PDF] Replenish mulch under trees and shrubs to conserve... - Choosing an Arborist
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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 ...