Get weeds out now before they go to seed

Weeds are really growing now. My definition of a weed is a plant that is out of place. A good time to weed is when the soil is moist — the roots come out more easily.

It's very important to get weeds out before they go to seed. A small hand weeder or trowel is helpful. Look for tree seedlings such as buckthorn, mulberry and boxelder that tend to establish themselves in hedges and in the base of shrubs. They are easy to spot if you look closely.

• Lightly prune back any unshapely growth on your shrubs to improve their appearance and encourage the development of a fuller plant. Some of your shrubs may need more time to see how they are leafing out before you decide to do more drastic pruning or remove them. Prune out any dead branches.

• Practice integrated pest management in your garden to reduce the need to use pesticides. Begin by choosing the proper plants for your site and using good planting practices, such as amending the soil with compost and planting at the proper depth.

When possible, select plants that are resistant to common diseases and give them the appropriate care to minimize problems. Monitor all plants carefully for insects and diseases. If trouble arises, identify the problem and use the least toxic control measure when damage is not tolerable.

Timing is also important. Apply controls when pests and disease are most susceptible. Never spray just because you see insects, as some of them might be beneficial or harmless. When you use an insecticide, you kill the good insects along with the bad ones.

Look for more pest- and disease-resistant plants to replace any plants that have not performed well in your garden.

• When planting a container, mix different heights of plants for a layered effect. Try something different from the typical tall plant in the center with a ring of shorter plants. Include plants that will cascade over the edge. Think of your containers as large, exuberant floral displays when choosing plants. Combine different sizes of containers in each group for a good effect. A simple design of only one variety of annual planted in each container can also be beautiful.

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