Join us for our FREE webinar series!
These engaging mini-webinars are 30 minutes including Q&A. Mini-webinars are free, but registration is required.
The first year presentations in this series are now online. View them here.
The next series will be starting in January.
Find out more information on these webinars.
Online Courses: Growing and Caring for Plants in Wisconsin: Foundations in Gardening
Offered every fall, this is an online introductory course where you learn key concepts for selecting, growing, and maintaining plants- from trees to houseplants to vegetables!
Find out more.
New to Gardening?
Gardening and learning to grow your own food provides many benefits, but we know it can be a bit intimidating when first starting out.
Check out our New Gardener Resources to get your Wisconsin garden started quickly and easily.
Latest Horticulture News
Fall is here, so it’s a good time to think about preparing the vegetable garden for winter. There are things you can do now to protect or extend harvest of existing crops and prepare your soil for next year. Here are some tips
Fall is a beautiful time of year in Wisconsin, but it comes with a list of chores to be done before the snow flies. Is raking leaves one of those chores? Maybe, maybe not. If you have trees dropping leaves on your lawn grass, in many cases there is no need to incur blisters by raking them up. Leaves have nutrients, which can be recycled into your lawn. The concern is if your leaf layer is very thick and will smother the grass.
After stressful summer, lawn grasses in Wisconsin rejuvenate in autumn and it is considered one of the best times to seed, renovate and establish new lawns. Moderate temperatures in 70’s and ample soil moisture in September promotes speedy establishment of lawn grasses.
Check out Horticulture News Posts from earlier in the season!
Timely Articles for Summer Gardens
The Wisconsin Bee Identification Guide provides information about 13 of the most common bees found in Wisconsin. From the very small Sweat Bee, measuring in at 1/4″ long, to the big Bumble Bee, this guide helps identify many incredibly important pollinators!
This factsheet summarized ten common plant diseases that are also relatively easy to identify on your own.
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.
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!
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.
A great how-to book for backyard apple growers. Covers everything from planting tips to pruning to disease and insect management strategies.
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 […]
Laura Jull, Woody Ornamental Specialist, UW-Extension, UW-Madison Revised: 7/13/2012 Many of our established woody ornamentals can survive periods of prolonged drought. In response to drought conditions, some of our woody ornamentals, both native and exotic, can start the annual fall leaf defoliation a bit early during prolonged drought conditions. Leaves can also turn brown and […]
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.
Robert Tomesh, horticulture specialist, University of Wisconsin Extension, Cooperative Extension Revised: 3/31/2011 Item number: A3933-01 Vine-type fruits and vegetables—such as tomatoes, melons, and cucumbers—are some of the most popular produce grown. Various trellising, staking, and caging techniques can be used to enhance yield, minimize disease, and improve harvesting. Find out which techniques will work in […]
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 […]
Learn how to make the most of your garden. Features tips for setting up and planting raised beds, including wheelchair access.
