Certificate of Appreciation from Illinois Prairie Path
Horticulture Report – May 2018
May gardening 2018
Ornamental Garden
Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as forsythia that have already flowered.
Fertilize roses early this month or mid-month if you already fertilized last month. Use a 20-20-20 liquid solution when flower buds are set. Mulch around the plants to retain moisture.
Stake perennials before they reach 6 inches.
Pinch back fall-blooming perennials such as chrysanthemums, asters, and tall sedums once a week. Continue reading “Horticulture Report – May 2018”
GCI 2018 Summer Meeting
COD’s prairie gives students hands-on education
Natural areas on the College of DuPage’s Glen Ellyn campus help students and the community connect with the environment while providing educational opportunities.
Read the complete article at http://www.dailyherald.com/submitted/20180411/cods-prairie-gives-students-hands-on-education/
Illinois Pollinator Week Poster
Horticulture Report – April 2018
Lift and divide perennial plants now to improve their vigor and create new plants for your garden.
Divide Hostas before they come into leaf.
You can start to move evergreen shrubs and trees now provided the soil isn’t frozen or waterlogged.
Plant summer-flowering bulbs such as Lilies, Gladiolus and Ranunculus into beds, borders and containers.
Feed trees, shrubs and hedges with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer by lightly forking it into the soil surface. Roses are greedy plants and will greatly benefit from feeding as they come into growth. Continue reading “Horticulture Report – April 2018”
GCI Meeting
March meeting with Walter Fedyshen
photos from our March program 
Horticulture Report – March 2018
Shrubs and trees
In most areas it is still possible to do dormant spraying of fruit trees until the 15th, after that date dilute the spray by 1/2. Spraying should be done on a still day with the temperature above 40 degrees F.
Late March and early April is a good time to transplant shrubs and trees. As soon as the soil is workable, but before buds have swelled or broken open, you can move shrubs and trees.
Fertilize shrubs and trees if this wasn’t done in February. Use an acid type rhododendron fertilizer to feed evergreens, conifers, broad leaf evergreens, rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias. Use an all-purpose fertilizer to feed roses and other deciduous trees and shrubs. If you use granular type fertilizers, be sure to water it in thoroughly.
Finish pruning fruit trees this month – before the buds swell.
Perennials, annuals, and bulbs
There is often a strong temptation to start removing winter mulches from your flower beds…. WAIT!!! Pull the mulch off gradually as the plants show signs of new growth. Continue reading “Horticulture Report – March 2018”