Home and Garden

A vendor helps an attendee prep the letter press by Starshaped Press at the Chicago Stationery Fest in Ravenswood on March 15, 2026. (Nate Swanson/for the Chicago Tribune)

Make a note: Stationery is booming as we seek out more analog experiences

By Christopher Borrelli

March 26, 2026 at 11:32 a.m.

Stationerycore, as many call the culture, is having its moment, with devotees flocking to events...

Creeping vines can be harmful to your tree

By Tim Johnson

March 22, 2026 at 11:14 a.m.

Whether a vine growing up a tree is harmful or not will depend on the...

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

By Beth Botts

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

Gift plants are designed to be enjoyed, then discarded.

Spathiphyllum, or peace lily, in flower. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Encourage your peace lily to bloom with these simple tips

By Tim Johnson

January 24, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

Peace lilies can be erratic in flowering, but there are a few things you can...

Weeding the garden. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

What makes a weed?

By Tim Johnson

January 18, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

There is a biological difference between a weedy plant and an invasive plant, a garden...

Researching the care and conditions needed by any plants you’re considering for the coming season is one important gardening task to do in midwinter. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Get busy on this year’s garden

By Beth Botts

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

What a gift to be a gardener at this time of year! For most other...

To give an old, tangled, overcrowded shrub a new start, rejuvenate it by cutting off all stems within 2 to 4 inches of the soil. In many species, new, more vigorous stems will sprout in spring. (Jeffrey Ross/The Morton Arboretum)

Give an old, tangled shrub a new start

By Beth Botts

January 11, 2026 at 12:01 p.m.

Midwinter is a good time to prune deciduous shrubs because it's easy to see the...

Make sure wood is properly seasoned before burning it in the fireplace. (RJ Carlson/Chicago Botanic Garden)

Can cut trees be safely used for firewood?

By Tim Johnson

January 10, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

I am having a couple of trees cut down next week. Is it OK to...

After your holiday tree has filled your home with light and cheer in the dark of winter, make sure it goes on to do more good. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Christmas tree can live on if you dispose of it properly

By Beth Botts

January 4, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

As this holiday season wraps up, make sure your Christmas tree comes to a good...

Sugar maples can be a good replacement for invasive Norway maples. (Jeff Carrion/Chicago Botanic Garden)

New year, new gardening to-dos: Edit your garden to fit your unique taste

By Tim Johnson

January 3, 2026 at 5:00 a.m.

I take possession of a new home in early January, and wonder how to approach...

The Chicago Botanic Garden currently uses sand on roads and walks to control slippery conditions once the snow is removed. (Jeff Carrion/Chicago Botanic Garden)

How can I best keep my sidewalks safe during winter?

By Tim Johnson

December 28, 2025 at 1:43 p.m.

Winter has gotten off to a fast start this year, with lots of snow along...

Even when branches are bare, plants in midwinter are already preparing for the leaves and blooms of springtime. (Hailey Hoffman/The Morton Arboretum)

Plants are looking for the light

By Beth Botts

December 27, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Even in cold, dark times, life goes on and spring will come.

A plastic spiral tree guard can help deter deer from rubbing their antlers on the bark of a young tree, but the best protection against animals that rub or eat bark is a barrier of wire mesh. (Beth Botts/The Morton Arboretum)

Itchy deer, hungry rabbits can threaten young trees, shrubs

By Beth Botts

December 21, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Hardy trees and shrubs are naturally well armored against winter weather, but they have fewer...