How Late Can You Plant Trees and Shrubs in Fall in Illinois?
In Illinois, the conservative deadline for planting trees and shrubs in fall runs from September 12 to September 22, which is six weeks before the first…
Gardening in Illinois
Everything we have worked out for Illinois: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Chicago, the last spring freeze runs April 11 to April 22 and the first fall freeze runs October 24 to November 3, USDA zones 5a-7b, 3,274 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 26.1 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Illinois: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
What Eats Asparagus in Illinois, and When
The honest answer starts with a gap. No verified list of Illinois asparagus pests came with the facts this page is built on, so it names no insect.
Growing Roses in Illinois: Planting Dates, Varieties and Local Pests
Plant roses in Illinois in spring, once the soil can be worked and the hardest freezes are behind you, or in early fall with about six weeks of…
Hedge Plants for Illinois: What Holds, and What Only Looks Hardy
Ten of the twelve hedge plants on this site hold across all of Illinois, which runs from USDA zone 5a to 7b. Two do not.
Growing Hydrangeas in Illinois: Types, Colour and Winter
Container-grown hydrangeas go into Illinois ground after the last spring frost, or in early fall while the soil is still warm enough for roots to settle.
What Do Homes in Illinois Cool With?
Illinois homes cool almost universally with air conditioning, and most of them do it through a central system tied into existing ductwork.
Roof Snow Load, Wind Speed and Ice Barrier Rules in Illinois
Illinois has no statewide building code, so the ground snow load, wind speed and ice barrier requirement all trace back to Chicago’s reference figures and your local building department.
Finishing a Basement in Illinois: Permits, Ceiling Height, Egress and Waterproofing
Illinois sets no state basement code, so permit rules, ceiling height minimums, egress window sizes and waterproofing steps all depend on your local building department.
When to Start Pepper Seed in Illinois
In most Illinois locations, the window for starting pepper seed indoors runs from roughly mid-February to late March, timed backward from a transplant…
What Eats Pepper in Illinois, and When
Three insects account for nearly all documented pepper damage in Illinois: the brown marmorated stink bug, the Colorado potato beetle, and the Japanese…