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Help for the Home Gardener

 

Our website is currently being updated to a new layout. The formatting and links on some pages may be affected. We apologize for the inconvenience. 

 

Visit the Center for Home Gardening! 

The Center for Home Gardening building is now open to the public! Get your gardening questions answered by our expert staff and Master Gardener volunteers at the Plant Doctor Desk, or check out our houseplant display and other home gardening resources! Be sure to also take a stroll through our 23 outdoor demonstration gardens, which includes a vegetable and fruit garden, cut flower garden, experimental garden, and a newly renovated native prairie garden. 

Plant Doctor Desk (Walk-In)
Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Horticulture Answer Service (Phone & E-mail)
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Phone #: 314-577-5143
E-mail: plantinformation@mobot.org


Common hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis 'Woodstock'


Miscellaneous daffodil
Narcissus 'Tete-a-Tete'


Spice bush
Lindera benzoin


 

March Gardening Tips

  • Trees, shrubs and perennials may be planted as soon as they become available at local nurseries.
     
  • Loosen winter mulches from perennials cautiously. Re-cover plants at night if frost returns. 
     
  • Heavy pruning of trees should be completed before new growth starts. Trees should not be pruned while the new leaves are growing. 
     
  • Ornamental grasses should be cut to the ground just as the new growth begins. 
     
  • Apply broadleaf herbicides for control of cool-season perennial and annual weeds. 
     
  • Plant peas, lettuce, radishes, kohlrabi, mustard greens, collards, turnips, spinach and onions (seeds and sets) outdoors. 
     
  • Delay vegetable planting if the soil is too wet. When a ball of soil crumbles easily after being squeezed together in your hand, it is dry enough to safely be worked. 

Plastic Pot Recycling Update 2022

We regret to report that the Plastic Pot Recycling program has been cancelled. Garden centers that have had pot recycling collection trailers in the past are no longer accepting garden plastics. Please see the Plastic Pot Recycling: Update and Perspective blog entry for more information about the program's cancellation. Additional questions about pot recycling can be submitted to the Green Resources Info Service at greenresources@mobot.org.