If I told you there was a way to make spring come just a bit earlier this year, would you believe me? Well there is. And while it may not be a permanent fix for those cold-weather blues, it is a temporary hiatus from what winter is dealing us. If you have some spring-flowering trees and shrubs in your yard, forcing could be just what the gardener ordered. Lucky for me, I have pussy willow, forsythia, lilacs, spirea and crabapple. All of which are great candidates. Cornelian Cherry, Witch Hazel, Red Maple, Cherries and Hawthorns would work too. To be sure branches have received the right …

A few months ago, I attended a meeting at the National Garden Bureau (NGB) where they unveiled the winners of the All American Selections (AAS) program for 2011. Every year, representatives of the garden industry select an annual and a vegetable based on their productivity, maintenance requirements and versatility in the garden. And the winner is ... They've declared 2011 "The Year of the Zinnia and the Tomato." And what could be easier than a zinnia? They are among my favorites. Not only for their richly saturated flower colors but also because they require little in the way of care and the …

Salt's not only bad for your blood pressure, it can really do a number on your garden too. De-icing salts are common this time of year as homeowners and highway trucks battle Winter's slippery groundcover. Problem is, these salts accumulate on plants and in the soil. This accumulation is a recipe for disaster. Not all de-icing agents are alike and some are better than others. Sodium chloride or rock salt is the most commonly used de-icer. Probably because it's the cheapest. But it's also the most damaging to plants and corrosive to metal tools like snow shovels. Better de-icing agents are …

We gardeners are a hopeful bunch.  But this year is unlike no other when it comes to resolutions. Sure I set out with the best intentions. Then life interferes and my shiny new plans wilt like a sun-drenched hydrangea. Anyone who says there is such a thing as a "low-maintenance" garden is lying. And if you believe them, I have a time-share in the Bahamas for practically pennies. All kidding aside, it's work. But I resolve to continue to do things that make my garden journey easier. Perhaps my five resolutions will speak to you and lighten your load as well. Bleach is your friend. I'm a big …

Christmas cactus, dead. African violets, mushy and rotten. Orchid, barely hanging on. Sago palm, riddled with spider mites. This is a "Do as I say, not as I do" situation. I have the worst luck with houseplants. Sure I set out with the best of intentions. Carefully choosing which plant to put where. For the first several weeks, the plant is lovely. But its lifespan really is a crap shoot once it settles into my home. I don't talk to it and only offer water shortly before it reaches death's door. This is so strange to me as I am such a disciplined gardener. How is it that these plants fade …

The air you breath at home could be making you sick. And now that winter's grip is upon us, our homes lock in even more toxins as windows are rarely opened and we spend more time indoors. The invisible toxins that would float out of the windows in the warmer months have nowhere to go. So they hang around and wreak havoc on our respiratory systems. Energy efficiency in the home is a beautiful thing. But it's also a major contributor to "Sick Building Syndrome." As homes become "tighter", there's even less of a chance that fresh air will enter. Making matters worse are the modern building and …

Got a special gardener on your Christmas list? Look no further. I have a few ideas that won't break the bank and are sure to please. Seeds made to order I receive tons of garden catalogs all year long. One of my favorites comes from High Country Gardens in New Mexico. The company specializes in "water wise" plants. Which in itself is smart. But I discovered a brilliant gift idea in their most recent catalog. Seed collections for less than $20. High Country Gardens is offering boxed and bowed collections of seeds tailored to the interests of the gardener. Know a container gardener? A butterfly…

Just because it's November, it doesn't mean your work in the garden is finished. Looking ahead and thinking about ways to improve your garden is always necessary to  make the most of it. Here are a few suggestions to kick off next year's growing season: Garden Gold Autumn is prime time for fortifying garden soil. After the dismal performance of my veggie garden this year, a little amending is just what the gardener ordered.   Assuming the soil hasn't frozen, amendments can be added well into winter. Many gardeners make the mistake of adding organic matter in the spring when soil is too wet …

Aging is inevitable. Factor in the little aches and pains that seem to weasel in about ever five years or so and I'm left wondering what my gardening life will be like in 30 years. Sleep too long and my back aches. Kneel to long and my knees hurt. Sit too long and well, I look ancient as I slowly rise, back hunched. As I've heard time and again, getting older is a real &$^%*! Perhaps rugby wasn't the best decision after all. But then I've never been one for regrets. Gardening's hard work. There's nothing easy about clay soil. It takes muscle to move it. But there are products out there meant …

At the end of every gardening season, I take some time to sit back and think about the garden. What worked? How can I improve it next year? What did I kill? All great questions that have made me a better gardener. The knowledge that's grown from trial and error is invaluable. But remembering the year-to-year successes and failures without a written record would be like ice skating uphill on greased skates. When the garden was small and new, like a baby, it was easy to recall what happened each season for the first few years. But as time passed and the garden grew out of its infancy, the who, …

The garden season has run its course but it doesn't have to end completely. There's always the windowsill. And if you like to cook, this is the ideal location to grow a few easy kitchen herbs. I spoke with Diana Husband, an herb pro and University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener from Orland Park. She has a few tips for making the most of this often overlooked sweet spot. Location, Location, Location "Herbs grown in the house are not much harder than those grown in the garden," Husband said. They love sun and thrive in the hottest locations. A south window is perfect. Be sure your spot …

We all know the old adage about life in a glass house. Certainly not an ideal situation. But from a gardener's perspective, it's definitely a great place to play. My glass house, also known as a Wardian case, was a Christmas gift from my husband a few years ago. Not only is it beautiful, but it allows me to continue gardening after the outdoor garden is fast asleep. The case serves as a self-sustaining biosphere. While the learning curve wasn't steep, I had to do some research to ensure that my little experiment would have the best chance at success. A book, The New Terrarium by Tovah Martin…

Color is everywhere. The autumn landscape is ablaze with the reds and yellows that make the late season garden a place of beauty and interest before the harsh reality of winter slaps us in the face and leaves us barren. My Endless Summer Hydrangea, a plant one of my clients sourly refers to as "endless bummer," stopped me dead in my tracks the other day. The fall foliage is, by far, its most beautiful attribute, trumping the billowing flower heads. Had she seen it, I'm sure she would agree. The garden should never just be about May and June. Sure roses, salvia and daylilies are lovely, but …

Through the years I've accumulated a good number of gardening books and magazines. And while I've gleaned useful info from most of them, there are a few whose Post-It-Note-flagged pages have seen better days. Some are great for cold winter evenings when the garden bug is gnawing away, others will venture into the garden with me as I try to identify a bug, a weed or some funky leaf deformity. The following books are prized members of my personal gardening library and ones that would make an excellent addition to any gardener's stash. A pinch of this, a snip of that Every gardener should have a…

Being in the know can turn a black thumb green. My first foray into bulb planting happened many years ago when I planted about 30 red tulips in front of my home. Much to my delight and relief, they emerged the following spring and looked quite lovely until the neighbor decided to let their pet rabbit free. The smorgasbord, otherwise known as my red tulip patch, became a graveyard of decapitated stems. I hate bunnies. I think I'll add an addendum to my true marks of a gardener: he or she also must despise rabbits. But I did learn, and here's here's what I know now about bulb planting and …

When the fireplace contractor called to say he'd be starting construction this week, I panicked. Romantic thoughts of a crackling fire on Christmas morning quickly passed as I wondered how I would move an entire shade garden to make room for the chimney. Better yet, where would I move it? I was pretty confident in my ability to transplant. I move things in the garden all the time. But when you're faced with a 12-foot-tall sand cherry, a billowing mop-head hydrangea, lady fern, astilbe, clematis, geranium, hosta, Japanese forest grass and ligularia, things get a little dicey. Moving a garden …