Free Yard & Garden Webinar Series
We are offering free webinars to help you become a better gardening and take care of your plants in an more environmentally friendly manner. Connect with UW-Madison state specialists and extension educators.
Find out more and register today!
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
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.
If you fertilize only once per year, the most important time to fertilize is now, around Labor Day into early September! Apply no more than one pound of actual nitrogen per 1000 square feet per application.
As July arrives in Wisconsin, Japanese beetles become active and can cause problems for gardeners, landscapers, and farmers. Activity often peaks in late July and August. Japanese beetles can feed on hundreds of different types of garden and landscape plants, but some of their favorites include roses, lindens, birches, grapes, and raspberries.
Check out Horticulture News Posts from earlier in the season!
Timely Articles for Summer Gardens
Teryl R. Roper, Daniel L. Mahr, Patricia S. McManus Revised: 7/5/2010 Item number: A3565 A great how-to book for backyard apple growers. Covers everything from planting tips to pruning to disease and insect management strategies. Download Article
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!
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 […]
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!
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 […]
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.
This factsheet summarized ten common plant diseases that are also relatively easy to identify on your own.
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.
Learn how to make the most of your garden. Features tips for setting up and planting raised beds, including wheelchair access.
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 […]
