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Gardening
Tips for February
 Love is in the air… or is that the first
breath of spring? Bulbs will begin to pop their beautiful heads out of
the ground this month, buds will begin to slowly swell, and the
gardeners start to feel the anticipation of the coming gardening
season. Your local garden centers will soon be bursting at the seams
with colorful new perennials, and annuals, shrubs and trees. Here are a
few things you can look forward to this coming spring and summer, and a
few tips to help you get your gardens ready coming planting season.
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Be on the look out for new plant
introductions! Every year there are many new plants introduced to
garden centers. Some are great and become tried and true, others
maybe not so great….Do your research. Know your hardiness zone and
your soil type- these two things can help you pick plants that will
perform better in your landscape. The ICN PRO’s at your
local garden centers are ready, willing and able to help too! They can
help you choose plants for your area and help you figure out where
to put them! For the latest plant introductions check out
www.chicagolandgrows.org.
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Hire a landscape designer. Have you
ever purchased a plant from your local nursery, took it home and
then had no idea where to put it? A landscape plan created by a
professional designer can really help! It allows you to have a plan
that you can implement yourself, in stages that fit your budget. So
there is no more waste. You can buy plants, know where you’re going
to put them and be confident that they are going to work for you. If your not the do-it-yourselfer kind of person, most garden centers
and landscape firms have a professionally trained crew that can
install your plan for you with awesome results. 
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Now is the time to get out and clean
up your gardens. Cut back ornamental grasses, perennials and
roses. Some plants are a little more picky than others in how they
are pruned. If you have questions, you can contact the ICN Pro at
your local garden center for recommendations or for online tips
check out
web.extension.uiuc.edu/state/hort6.html.
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 The urge to purchase plants out of
garden catalogs becomes very strong this time of year But remind
yourself, that you’ll be able to see the real thing, in just a few
more weeks! And seeing the real thing and asking questions of a
professional can really make a big difference!
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For Valentine’s Day, have you ever
considered giving a nice blooming houseplant or a gift card to her
favorite garden center instead of chocolates? Many garden centers
will have a nice selection of blooming houseplants that she could
treasure for years to come. To get a good idea of what’s available
check out
www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/houseplants.
Your local garden centers are changing
constantly this time of year. New products arriving, new plants -
filling the greenhouses to the brim! Stop by and catch a breath of
spring! You’ll find it relaxing and invigorating!
by Carey
Boehm-Corrie, ICN Pro of the
Year (2003), Boehm's Garden Center,
Rushville, IL
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