Featured Programs

2024 Q&A Series:
Gardening and Landscape Questions

Register for the upcoming Q&A series to get all of your questions answered!


Free Online Gardening Programs

Suitable for gardeners of all skill levels and watchable on mobile, tablet, and desktop devices.

Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundations in Gardening

Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundations in Gardening is an online introductory course where you learn key concepts for selecting, growing, and maintaining plants – from trees to houseplants to vegetables and everything in between!

Registration for the Fall 2024 course is open

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Latest Horticulture News

Timely Articles for Summer Gardens

Outdoor Hazards in Wisconsin: A Guide to Insects, Plants, and Wildlife

Scott R. Craven, Phillip J. Pellitteri, Mark J. Renz Revised:  1/15/2010 Item number:  G3564 Wisconsin’s bountiful natural resources make it an ideal place for outdoor recreation. Most plants and creatures you encounter won’t hurt you, but timber rattlesnakes, yellow jackets, wild parsnip, and others can be troublesome. This guide will help you recognize, avoid, and […]

image of plant

Pollinator Gardens: Plant Selection and Garden Care

By: Susan Carpenter, Wisconsin Native Plant Garden Curator, UW-Madison Arboretum In this video, learn how to select and care for plants to attract and support diverse pollinators in your garden all season long. This presentation emphasizes native plants and pollinators and includes sustainable gardening practices. Pollinator Gardens: Plant Selection and Garden Care (Link to YouTube) […]

Specialized Gardening Techniques: Wide-Row Planting, Square-Foot Gardening and Raised Beds

Learn how to make the most of your garden. Features tips for setting up and planting raised beds, including wheelchair access.

long-horned bee Melissodes sp. on oxeye daisy

Wisconsin’s Busy Bees: Getting to Know the Bees in Your Area

By: PJ Liesch, Extension Entomology Specialist, UW-Madison While bees such as honey bees and bumblebees are well-known, Wisconsin is home to nearly 500 species of bees. Most of these bees go unrecognized by the public but provide critical pollination services. In this video, you will learn about some of the commonest wild bees in the […]

image of person applying wood mulch to flower bed

Mulches for Home Gardens and Plantings

Boost your garden’s production with mulches. This publication shows when to use organic mulches, like bark or leaves, and synthetic mulches, like plastic sheets, and teaches how to apply them.

Rain Barrels

Mike Maddox, State Master Gardener Program Manager & Darren Lochner, Formerly of the UW-Extension Lower Chippewa River Basin Revised:  2/5/2008 Item number:  XHT1157 What is a rain barrel?  A rain barrel can be any large container designed to collect rain water.  Typically, rain barrels are placed at the bottom of downspouts in order to collect […]

Growing Apples in Wisconsin

This publication is a great how-to resource for backyard apple growers. It covers everything from planting to pruning to disease and insect management strategies, to help you get a great harvest.

Wisconsin Lawn Care Calendar

The following lawn care calendar provides an overview of home lawn maintenance. Not all lawns require every maintenance activity. Be sure to customize the care of your lawn to its specific problems and needs.

Trellising, Staking and Caging – Vertical gardening techniques for vine-type vegetables

Various trellising, staking and caging techniques can be used with vine-type fruits and vegetables to enhance yield, minimize disease, and ease harvesting. Find techniques for your garden here.

Drought and Watering of Ornamental Plants

Learn how to water woody plants to help them survive prolonged periods of drought in this article.

WPR Garden Talk: Late Summer Threats by Lisa Johnson & Brian Hudelson (August 10, 2019)

Late summer in the garden can be a challenge. We turn to two plant experts to discuss how to deal with pests like lily leaf beetle and jumping worms, and diseases like mildew and cedar-apple rust.  Listen to this episode.

Photo of a compost bin

Making and Using Compost in the Garden

Making your own compost is an easy, practical, and satisfying way to make use of yard waste and table scraps. With this publication, designed for the home gardener, you’ll be composting like a pro in no time!

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