Twine and train espalier plants to enhance design

Espalier plants are used to soften large blank spaces on walls or fences. To train espaliers, twigs and branches are bent when they are young and supple to meet design requirements. Carefully tie the branches in place with raffia or plastic tape. The ties should be secured loosely so the flow of water and nutrients through the stem is not constricted. Make adjustments to the ties during the remainder of the growing season as necessary.

• When using power equipment such as a weed whip in the garden, wear protective glasses and earplugs. The plastic line can kick up debris that could injure your eyes or sting your legs if you are wearing shorts. The line can also damage the bark of trees and strip paint off fence posts. Some equipment can be loud, making ear protection especially important if you are using it for an extended period of time. I wear earmuffs when mowing the lawn or using a leaf blower.

• Prune out any dead branches that you see on your trees and shrubs now that plants are well developed. Once that is done, you can assess whether or not your tree is worth saving.

• Emerald ash borer is old news, but this insect is still killing ash trees in the Chicago area. The dead and dying trees can be seen in home gardens, woodlands and along roadsides. This insect attacks ash trees and will kill them in time if the trees are not treated. The wood of dead ash trees dries out quickly and causes the trees to become hazards, so prompt removal of any dead trees is best. Contact your local arborist to begin a treatment program if you want to save your ash trees. Unfortunately, it is probably too late to start treating your trees. The treatments need to be done every one to two years depending on the product applied. It is likely best to replace the ash tree with a different type of shade tree. The Chicago Botanic Garden has a list of recommended replacements: chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/ash_tree_alternatives.

• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.