Trees can be trimmed to show off the trunk and branches
Prune out water sprouts (vigorous shoots on the inside of the tree and on the trunk) and suckers (vigorous shoots growing from the base of the tree).
Crabapples and hawthorns tend to send out lots of water sprouts and can benefit from this type of pruning. Prune out dead branches on trees and shrubs as you see them.
• Bulb foliage that has turned brown can be removed from the garden now.
• Some years, grubs can be a problem in lawns. The adult beetles are attracted to irrigated lawns surrounded by dry lawns for their egg laying in early summer. If the season is dry and you are the only one on the block watering your lawn, you will have a greater chance of having grubs.
Your lawn may or may not have a problem with grubs this year, so you do not need to automatically treat for them. Typically, when there are eight to 12 grubs per square foot, visible damage will occur, as they feed on the roots of the grass. The lawn will brown out later in the season when hot and dry weather increases stress on the lawn.
Raccoons and skunks dig in lawns for the grubs; this is often the first sign of grub trouble. Be sure to read an insecticide label carefully to make sure you are using the right product at the right time of year. Products designed to prevent grubs are generally applied between late June and mid-July.
There are products designed to kill grubs quickly that are applied later in the season when grubs reach a threshold in the lawn that is causing damage and you see the results. There is no need to control a small number of grubs that the lawn can withstand. In any case, use an insecticide labeled for grubs at the proper time of year.
Products that are applied improperly may not work at all. I do not water my own lawn nor apply any grub controls and have never had a problem with grubs causing any noticeable damage to my turf, only minor damage that most would not notice.
• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.