Tim Johnson is a senior director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden and manages operations in the Horticulture division, which includes 28 display gardens, plant production, plant healthcare and general grounds. He has been with the Garden for nearly 40 years in a variety of positions and is an instructor at the Garden’s Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School. His home garden is low maintenance and consists primarily of mixed shrub and herbaceous borders. (RJ Carlson/ Chicago Botanic Garden)

Tim Johnson

Tim Johnson is a freelance writer for the Chicago Tribune and a senior director of horticulture at the Chicago Botanic Garden and manages operations in the Horticulture division, which includes 28 display gardens, plant production, plant healthcare and general grounds. He has been with the Garden for nearly 40 years in a variety of positions and is an instructor at the Garden’s Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School. His home garden is low maintenance and consists primarily of mixed shrub and herbaceous borders.

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Sod will quickly compost if left rolled up and piled up in hot weather. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden) ​

Install sod ahead of ground freeze

We just finished an addition on our house and would like to quickly restore our backyard so that our kids can play outside. Is it OK to install sod now...
A gall on the leaf of a witch hazel. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Leaf galls rarely cause serious harm

Insect and mite galls are common on trees and shrubs throughout the Chicago area and are generally nothing to be concerned about.
The flowers of goutweed are white and last about a month, starting in late spring and lasting until midsummer. (Julie McCaffrey/Chicago Botanic Garden)

How big of a problem is aggressive goutweed?

I have a very aggressive plant that is spreading in my shaded garden, and the clump seems to be continually expanding. My friend, who is an avid gardener, thought it...