“Things that survived the drought, and did well, have also become popular,” Heidgen said.
He said many gardeners, for instance, learned last year that, if they kept up with watering, the heat produced bumper crops of tomatoes, squash and other backyard fruits and vegetables.
At the Wasco Nursery on Sunday, Brian Wiedenhoeft, of Geneva, said he intended to again plant annual red and white petunias this year along the front of his home, as he has for years.
He said the planting marks his only foray into gardening each year.
“It really makes the front of the house pop, you know?” Wiedenhoeft said.
He said the petunias, while noticeably smaller, seemed to pull through last summer’s drought. And that, he said, reinforced his decision to plant them again this year.
Others out on Sunday had more ambitious gardening and landscaping projects.
Maureen and Ray Zmich, of the Windings subdivision, west of St. Charles, said they were in the process of reclaiming a portion of their wooded lot that had become overrun with invasive weeds and shrubs.
The work included clearing the invasive plants, creating trails with mulch and stone, and replanting other, more desirous flowers and other plants.
“We were out all morning (Sunday),” Maureen said. “And we just ran out of plants.”
KNOW MORE: Want to know what you can do to succeed at your next gardening project? Meagan Provencher of the Wasco Nursery, west of St. Charles, and Joe Heidgen of the Shady Hill Gardens near Elburn, offer some tips:
– Don’t think it’s too late to plant. Did you run out of time to plant in May? No worries, said Provencher. “We plant from early spring to Christmas,” she said. “It can be done.”
– Take the time to improve your soil. Heidgen recommended using compost, peat or other organic material to augment your dirt. He also recommended changing at least half of the soil in planting containers annually. “It can be boring, but it’s a lot of the determination in how it’s going to turn out,” he said.
– Don’t overthink things. Don’t become too consumed with worry about pests or diseases. “I kill stuff all the time,” Provencher said. “Just take it and learn from it.”
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