garden of pink tulips

Join us for Wisconsin Celebrates Pollinator Week!

Check out our free online programs, activities you can do at home, and pollinator resources!
Find out more information about Wisconsin Celebrates Pollinator Week

Did you miss one of our recent programs from the Webinars for WI Gardeners?
All of our webinars are recorded! Find them here.
Check back often for upcoming programs starting later this summer.


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!

Next course: Fall 2023

Registration begins in July 2023. Stay informed about all our offerings, including 2023’s Foundations in Gardening course. Join our mailing list to receive reminders about this course and 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

What’s the deal with “No Mow May?”

Have you heard about “No Mow May?” Many people have committed to not mowing their yards in May, allowing flowering plants to grow to help provide food for pollinators. Before you stow away your mower for May, let’s look at what options you can take to help pollinators this Spring. Sometimes – it depends on […]

Now is a great time to fixing dead spots in lawns

As lawns wake up from winter and start greening up, many of us are seeing spots where the grass has died over the winter. To repair larger areas of damaged grass, it is best to work up the soil and re-seed.

Photo of purple Flowers
Smart Shopping: Dodging Disease When Purchasing Plants

May is a prime time to visit your local greenhouse, nursery or garden center to buy annuals, perennials and vegetables for your home garden. Unfortunately, these plants can be carriers of plant disease-causing organisms. Here are some pointers on what to look for when buying plants.

Check out Horticulture News Posts from earlier in the season!

Timely Articles for Spring Gardens

Growing Vegetables in Containers

This article provides practical tips on growing plants in containers. With a few tips, growing plants in containers can be easy!

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.

image of blueberries on the plant
Growing Blueberries in Containers

The blueberry is a wonderful fruit rich in vitamin C, dietary fiber, and vitamin E. Due to its popularity, there is a growing interest among gardeners to plant blueberries in backyard gardens.

image brown shrubs
Winter Burn

This publication covers winter burn, a common problem of evergreens including those with broad leaves, needles and scale-like leaves grown in open, unprotected locations and exposed to severe winter conditions.

image of insects stuck to yellow trap
Fungus Gnats on Houseplants

Fungus gnats (Family Sciaridae) are insects commonly associated with overwatered houseplants. They can become a nuisance when they are present in large numbers and fly around inside a home. In most situations, fungus gnats are a cosmetic problem. However, on occasion, fungus gnat larvae can cause plant damage.

Extending the Garden Season

Cold frames and hot beds, hoop houses, cloches, and floating row covers allow gardeners to grow plants earlier in spring and later in fall. Get ideas that will work for you in this factsheet.

What’s the deal with “No Mow May?”

Have you heard about “No Mow May?” Many people have committed to not mowing their yards in May, allowing flowering plants to grow to help provide food for pollinators. Before you stow away your mower for May, let’s look at what options you can take to help pollinators this Spring.

Swallowtail butterfly on monarda
How do Pesticides Affect Pollinators and Songbirds in Your Yard

By: Lynn Markham, Extension Land Use Statewide Specialist, UW-Stevens Point Maybe you’ve heard news stories about declines in pollinators and songbirds. In this video, you will learn what research studies have found about how pesticides affect pollinators and songbirds. You will also learn about what people have done to help in their yards and communities […]

Phenology

Phenology is a branch of science that studies the life cycles of plants and animals with seasonal changes and weather. Learn more in this factsheet.

Effects of Flooding on Woody Landscape Plants

“How long will my plants survive with their roots under water?” This publication will help you answer that question.

image of fresh pine shoots
Pruning Evergreens

Pruning can help control the size of an evergreen, direct growth, or maintain plant health and appearance. Learn how to prune evergreens in this factsheet.

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