Midwest Regional Reports

  • robotic lawn mower in use
    Midwest Regional Reports

    Are Robotic Lawn Mowers Effective?

    Automation is everywhere, promising to make our lives easier and more productive. When it comes to mowing our lawns, the traditional time-saver has been finding someone else to do the…

  • several pots of Laurentii snake plant
    Midwest Regional Reports

    Low-Light Indoor Plants with Unique Foliage

    Who wouldn’t love a lush display of fabulous foliage filling their home during dreary winter months? I attempt to achieve this with select tropical plants I have nurtured for years.…

  • Midwest Regional Reports

    Grow a Halloween Garden with These Spooky Plants

    As the garden season wraps up and kids are selecting their Halloween costumes with visions of tricks and treats, there are some neat, spooky plants that can be enjoyed in…

  • fall container with dried corn stalks and faux pumpkins
    Midwest Regional Reports

    Uncommon Combinations for Fall Container Gardens

    Containers are the finishing touch in any garden and can be filled for every season. Summer is typically seen as the pinnacle of planting for containers, but that is just…

  • Midwest Regional Reports

    Setting Up a Three-Bin Compost System

    The value of having compost available for use in the home garden is immeasurable, and the convenience of creating that compost on-site for instant availability adds to the reward. Of…

  • Whorled Milkweed
    Midwest Regional Reports

    Native Plants for Summer Interest in the Midwest

    Whorled Milkweed Asclepias verticillata Zones: 3–9 Size: 1 to 2½ feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; adaptable to a wide range of…

  • bumblebee on lacecap hydrangea
    Midwest Regional Reports

    Common Hydrangea Pests and Diseases: Identification, Prevention, and Treatment

    As one of the most popular flowering shrubs for the modern landscape, it is no surprise that we are now seeing more evidence of various diseases and insect damage on…

  • Midwest Regional Reports

    Fast-Growing Warm-Season Vegetables

    While we might be waiting for tomatoes or peppers to ripen later in the summer, some tasty treasures will be prolific and supply the kitchen in short order. As cooler…

  • native plants for poor soil
    Midwest Regional Reports

    Native Plants That Do Well in Poor Soils

    If only every garden was blessed with free-draining, loamy soil with the perfect pH and balance of nutrients. Life would be so easy and the choice of plants gloriously abundant.…

  • Blue Barlow Columbine
    Midwest Regional Reports

    Plants That Take Sun and Shade for the Midwest

      1. Magical® Pinkerbell Smooth Hydrangea Name: Hydrangea arborescens ‘Kolpinbel’ Zones: 4–9 Size: 3 to 5 feet tall and wide Conditions: Full sun to partial shade; average to rich, moist,…