Beth Botts

Beth Botts is a staff writer for The Morton Arboretum, a 1,700-acre outdoor museum and garden of trees near Lisle. She works with the Arboretum’s horticultural and scientific staff to provide practical, reliable garden advice in her weekly column. The author of two books, she writes and speaks widely about trees, gardening and nature. She was an editor and reporter at the Chicago Tribune for more than two decades.

As you fill your pollinator garden in springtime, be sure to include some late-blooming plants such as asters to provide nectar and pollen for insects in August and September. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Plant a pollinator garden that blooms all season

May 23, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Don't forget to plant for nectar, the food reward that entices animals to provide the service of fertilizing plants.

Reed canary grass or ribbon grass (Phalaris arundinacea var. picta) is an example of an invasive plant that easily spreads from gardens into natural areas to choke out native plants and damage ecosystems and wildlife. Avoid planting invasive plants. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Protect wildlife by eliminating invasive plants

May 17, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

May is Invasive Species Awareness Month in Illinois. It's a good time for gardeners to focus on their role in keeping invasive plants at bay.

Before you buy any plant, carefully read the label for information about whether it is suitable for the place where you plan to plant it. If you buy the plant, keep the label to guide care. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Let plant label guide you at garden center

May 9, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Before you fall for a gorgeous blooming perennial at the garden center or a hot-deal tree at the big-box store, stop and read the label.

Lilac shrubs are likely to bloom more and be healthier if they are pruned regularly soon after they finish blooming in spring. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Prune lilacs soon after boom

May 2, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Hardy and resilient, a lilac can live for many decades, and if it is not regularly pruned, it can become tangled, overgrown and choked with deadwood.

To avoid planting a new tree too deeply, first locate the root flare, the place where the trunk widens out into the first big roots. The root flare should be planted just at the level of the surrounding soil. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Plant with care for a healthy tree for Arbor Day

April 25, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

As we celebrate Arbor Day on the last Friday in April, here are some tips for choosing and planting trees.

It’s easy to damage underground utility lines when digging for projects such as tree planting. Call in advance of the project to have the utility lines marked so you can avoid them. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Planting a tree? Check below ground.

April 19, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Before you dig a hole to plant a tree, set a fence post or build a deck, first check for utility lines under your lawn.

Tracking growing degree days through the Plant Health Care Report of The Morton Arboretum can help you anticipate when plants such as redbuds will bloom and when to look out for insects and diseases. (The Morton Arboretum)

Use solid data to fight pests, diseases

April 11, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

The Morton Arboretum publishes a Plant Health Care Report every week during the growing season.

Avoid planting too-tall trees under power lines so you don’t force utility crews to prune them drastically for safety’s sake. (Beth Botts /The Morton Arboretum)

Think ahead to avoid power line conflicts

April 5, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Before you plant a tree, look around for power lines and choose a kind of tree that will never grow large enough to contact any wires.

With some research and preparation, you may be able to obtain free mulch for your trees and other plants. But first, make a plan for where it will go and how you will distribute it promptly. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Free mulch can be a great deal, but plan ahead

March 29, 2026 at 5:02 a.m.

Free mulch from electric utility companies, tree care firms or municipalities can be a great deal, if you plan ahead for it. “Be prepared with a place where it can...

Potted hardy bulbs such as daffodils may or may not survive and eventually rebloom if planted outdoors. Many other potted gift plants won’t. (Beth Botts)

Gift plants are iffy in the garden

March 21, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Gift plants are designed to be enjoyed, then discarded.

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