Posts by Ben Tyler
How Dirty is Your Dog??
Enter Our Dirty Dog Contest Below! As we enter a season of snow and cold (or rain on warmer days), our dogs still have to go outdoors for their business. The problem then comes when they return inside and bring in more of the outside than you ever wanted in your home! Whether they’ve gone…
Read More2017 Christmas Theme Trees
Every year, and actually all year, not just the Christmas season, our team of expert designers spend countless hours on our famous themed Christmas trees! Starting with the selection of products and colors to best match the theme ideas, and then eventually building, designing, and decorating the trees. These trees and collections are our pride…
Read MoreIn the Landscape: Fall is Finally Here, What Now?
After a cooler than usual August in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, we just endured several record days of heat for September and it was also one of the driest Septembers on record. Now we’ve cooled off a little (finally!) to more “normal” temperatures for this time of year. What does this mean for your lawn…
Read More4 Ways to Avoid Raking Leaves
If you’re like the majority of homeowners, as soon as leaves start to change color, all you can think about is the daunting, mundane, difficult task of raking up all those [beautiful] leaves and hauling them to the curb for disposal. (If only they would just stay on the trees, where we can enjoy them!!)…
Read MoreFall is Perfect for Planting
Cooler fall weather is soon approaching, meaning this is a prime opportunity to evaluate your garden. You may discover spots that need filling, replaced or improved. Perhaps there are even some areas you weren’t ready to tackle in the hot days of summer, well here’s your chance. 7 Reasons to Plant in the Fall Cooler…
Read MoreOutstanding August Donations for the Schmidt Family!
For the month of August 2017 we collected donations for the Schmidt family, a local family who suffered a terrible tragedy in July 2017. Through the incredible generosity of both our Frankfort, IL and St. John, IN communities, we were able to collect nearly $18,000 to be given to the Schmidt family to help in…
Read MoreThank You For Your June Donations!
St. John | Planting Possibilities – Munster, Indiana www.plantingpossibilities.org Through donations at the check-out registers in our St. John location, we were able to raise over $830 for this organization! St. John patrons have the opportunity to help raise funds for Planting Possibilities, a tax-exempt not-for-profit organization with the mission to provide employment, job skills…
Read MoreGive Grafted Tomatoes a Try This Season!
So What is Grafting Anyway? You may have heard lately about grafted tomato plants and you have begun to wonder what this means and why they might cost a little bit more than “standard” tomato plants. No, it’s not a weird GMO thing that we do to the plants. Basically, grafting is a centuries-old process…
Read MoreVote for Alsip Home & Nursery: Times Best of the Region 2017
Support Alsip in Our Best of The Region 2017 Categories! Alsip Home & Nursery in St. John, IN is once again in the running for The Times Best of the Region 2017 voter polls. We would greatly appreciate our customers and local Northwest Indiana region residents for taking a few moments of your time to cast…
Read MoreHoliday Eats & Good Treats
One of the best things about the holidays is the parties! And the best thing about the parties? FOOD! Stonewall Kitchen not only offers incredible gourmet foods, but also fantastic recipes to try everything and really impress your guests! Browse the menu below of some of our favorite recipes using these great products. They’re sure…
Read More2016 Christmas Theme Trees
Every year, and actually all year, not just the Christmas season, our team of expert designers spend countless hours on our famous themed Christmas trees! Starting with the selection of products and colors to best match the theme ideas, and then eventually building, designing, and decorating the trees. These trees and collections are our pride…
Read MoreMum’s The Word
Alsip Home & Nursery is the biggest and best Independently owned Garden Center in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana area. Our stores are known for miles around, and for the last 47 years customers have been coming here to get the best quality and selection of plants of all types. Our customers have been voting us best…
Read MoreSummer Weed Control
Here are some of the most common weeds that plague our lawns through the summer season: Annual Bluegrass • Light green, cool-season annual grass • Bunch type or ‘clump’ growth habit • Numerous seeds, especially in spring, making it very noticeable in the lawn • Dies out during the heat of the summer • New…
Read MoreHow to Keep Your Dog Cool in the Summer Heat
Summer Heat Can be Very Dangerous to Your Pets! Summertime means outdoor activities, and we like to spend time with our pets at the same time. But we need to be careful about how the heat affects our dear pets. Dogs and cats do not have the efficient ‘cooling system’ that us humans have: sweat.…
Read MorePrune Perennials and Create Stunning Summer Bouquets
Pruning Perennials Now that it is OFFICIALLY summer, many early spring/early summer flowering perennials will be ready to be cut back. Most of these perennials can be cut back to about 10-12” above the ground and will bloom again after just a few weeks. Now the quickest method is to just hack the whole plant down to size and…
Read MoreTop 5 Plants to Repel Summer Insects
Top 5 Plants to Repel Summer Insects Each summer, after the first few big rainfalls, our local garden centers are inundated with requests for plants that repel mosquitoes. Here are some plants that are rumored to repel these pesky buggers. 1.) Citronella Plant, AKA Scented Geranium These give off an oily fragrance that has…
Read MoreKeep Plants Hydrated in Summer Heat
What’s the Secret to Hydrated and Happy Plants in Summer Heat? Watering your flowering baskets, planters, flowerbeds, and even your lawn everyday is essential, especially now in the heat of summer. But what happens when life just gets too busy and you forget to water? Is there a way to avoid having to water as…
Read MoreWhat are Cool Season Crops?
These crops are cooler than you think! What is a cool season crop? Cool season varieties (often called “cole crops”) are best harvested in cooler temperatures of spring or fall (or winter for our mild climates gardeners). The temperature is important because heat can encourage bolting (prematurely flower), which…
Read MoreReady? Set? Sprout!
Why Should YOU Sprout? Sprouts are by far more nutrient dense than their mature plant versions. This is because a seed is not just a baby plant, it is also a tiny package of nutrients and enzymes ready to spring into action at germination. While types of sprouts vary, generally, studies show sprouting increases the…
Read MoreLovebird Care
Lovebirds are a small, stocky variety of parrot, generally growing to be 5-7″, with a large beak. They usually live up to 10-12 years, but have been recorded to live as long as 25 years on occasion. Lovebirds are best kept in pairs, as they are very social and affectionate. If only raising one lovebird,…
Read MoreSulcata Tortoise Care
Sulcata tortoises grow rapidly for the first 5-10 years, and then their growth slows with age. They can live more than 70 years. At full maturity, tortoises can exceed 70, 90, even 100 lbs. The Sulcata tortoise is also known as the African spurred tortoise. It is recommended that you soak baby sulcata tortoises in shallow, warm water…
Read MoreHermit Crab Care
A hermit crab can live up to an astounding 25 years! They begin about the size of a marble and can grow to be the size of a baseball. Hermit crabs are happiest and best-kept in pairs at the least, as they are actually quite social. They should not be kept in captivity with other…
Read MoreCorn Snake Care
An adult corn snake can grow to be 4-6 feet in length and live, on average, 6-8 years, but in captivity can live to be up to 23 years old. Habitat Adult corn snakes need a cage at least the size of a 20-gallon long aquarium. 85° F is perfect, and room temperatures (low 70s) are…
Read MoreJackson’s Chameleon Care
Adult females are typically 7 to 8″ in total length, and males are 8 to 10″ total length. A healthy male Jackson’s chameleon will likely live 8-10 years. The females, however, will only live approximately 4-5 years. Habitat Screen cages are ideal, and should be a minimum of 3 foot tall by 2 foot square. Ficus tree, pothos,…
Read MoreVeiled Chameleon Care
A Veiled Chameleon will live approximately 5 years in captivity, possibly 8 years for males. Adult males can reach 18-24 inches in total length (about 12 inches snout to vent length), while females tend to be quite a bit smaller at 10-13 inches (just 4-6 inches in snout to vent length). Habitat A very tall enclosure…
Read MoreAnole Care
Adult anoles grow to be 5-8 inches long, both males and females. In captivity they can live about 7 years Habitat Being a smaller lizard than most of the geckos, an anole will be comfortable in a 10 gallon screen-top tank. We recommend the use of Eco Earth (made from coconut fiber) or Jungle Mix…
Read MoreGolden Gecko Care
Adults can live for 10 years or more. Golden geckos reach an adult length of around 7-8 inches, though females tend to be a bit smaller than males. Habitat A 20 gallon tall terrarium is sufficient for a golden gecko. Reptile bark or shredded coconut fiber bedding are great for the bottom of the enclosure.…
Read MoreCrested Gecko Care
Adult Crested Geckos grow to be about 8 inches long, with a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of about 4 to 4.5 inches. In many cases, they can live 15 to 20 years in captivity. Habitat An adult crested gecko should be housed in a 20-gallon tank with screen top. Temperature should be maintained at 78 to…
Read MoreGiant Day Gecko Care
Giant Day Geckos are active mostly during the day. Adult males can reach 1 foot in total length, females are typically 1 – 2 inches smaller. Average lifespan is between 6 and 8 years. Habitat Screen and glass enclosures measuring 24″ tall by 24″ long by 12″ wide will comfortably house an adult pair. Bamboo has been a long-time…
Read MoreChristmas Light Tips
Christmas Light Tips Here are some quick tips to help you get your Christmas decorations and lights set up and perfected in no time at all! November is the Best Time to Decorate There’s no sense in waiting until the week before Christmas to hang your outdoor lights and other decorations. We have been fortunate to have…
Read MoreIt’s Pool Closing Time!
As Summer Comes to a Close, So Must The Swimming Pool Sadly enough, as the cool weather starts to come in, it is time to start thinking about closing your pool. Closing your pool for the season properly will save time and money when it comes time to open it again next year. Winterizing helps keep…
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