Join UW-Madison Extension at the 2026 Garden & Green Living Expo in Madison. This annual expo brings together experts, exhibitors, and attendees for a weekend of learning and inspiration. Whether you’re looking to enhance your gardening skills, explore eco-friendly living solutions, or connect with local plant and sustainability experts, the expo offers something for everyone.
At the expo, you’ll have the chance to explore a variety of educational opportunities, from hands-on demonstrations to expert-led seminars. Many of these sessions are presented by horticulture experts from the UW-Madison Division of Extension. Check out the lineup of UW presenters below and learn more about the topics they are covering.
All seminars and stage demonstrations are free with the cost of admission.
UW-Madison Extension Presentation Lineup at the 2026 Garden & Green Living Expo
View full education schedule here
Jump to: Friday, Feb. 13 | Saturday, Feb. 14 | Sunday, Feb. 15
Friday, Feb. 13
Garden Talk with Larry Meiller: Live
Larry Meiller, Lisa Johnson and Brian Hudelson | Noon-1 p.m. | Mendota 1-2
Join us for the second seating of a live broadcast of Wisconsin Public Radio’s Garden Talk with Larry Meiller Noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, 2026. Expert guests Lisa Johnson and Brian Hudelson will share their years of knowledge and talk about key things to know for creating your perfect garden.
Ornamental Grasses for Wisconsin
Bruce Spangenberg | 12:15-1:15 p.m. | Mendota 5
Ornamental grasses have surged in popularity in recent years. Learn more about their selection and care, including suggested native and non-native species suitable for Wisconsin gardens and landscapes.
DIY Landscape Design Basics
Jacob Kluza | 12:30-1:30 p.m. | Mendota 4
Learn the core steps of landscape design in this practical session. Jacob will share his process, methods and tools to help you plan and design your own landscape with confidence. Perfect for anyone interested in a DIY approach to creating a cohesive and functional outdoor space.
Choosing a mulch for Every Occasion
Amy Freidig | 1:45-2:45 p.m. | Mendota 4
There are many mulches to choose from, but how do you know which is best for your garden? In this presentation, we will walk through the pros and cons of different types of mulch for common garden and landscape settings.
Bagging Apples for Insect and Disease Control
Josie Dillon | 3-4 p.m. | Mendota 4
Apples are a delicious snack for humans and non-humans alike! From fruit-loving insects to blemish-causing diseases, apple trees face a wide range of challenges. In this session, you’ll learn the basics of integrated pest management, meet some common apple troublemakers, and discover how fruit bagging can help protect your apple harvest.
Tree Pruning Fundamentals
Lisa Johnson | 4:15-5:15 p.m. | Mendota 4
Learn how to identify structural issues like co-dominant stems, crossing branches and poor branch angles, and how to correct them through strategic pruning. We’ll explore key terminology, dive into the timing of pruning for different species and seasons, and proper techniques that promote strong architecture for long-term tree vitality. We will address shaping young trees as well as corrective pruning on more mature ones to equip you with the knowledge and confidence to prune with purpose.
Fundamentals of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Allen Pyle | 5:15-6:15 p.m. | Mendota 1-2
Learn how to reduce pest damage in gardens and landscapes with Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM is a science-based approach based on understanding pest life cycles and using a combination of targeted control measures to control pest damage. IPM is applicable to pests including insects, mites, diseases, weeds and even critters. This presentation includes examples and information on common pests in Wisconsin as well as new invasive exotic pests threatening the state. Learn useful techniques regardless of your gardening experience.
The Bad and the Ugly: 10 Plant Diseases Not to Compost
Brian Hudelson | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Mendota 3
Certain plant diseases are so horrible or so deadly that composting is not an appropriate way to get rid of affected plants. Learn about some of these diseases and their proper management.
Saturday, Feb. 14
Honeyberries: A Promising New Berry Crop for the Upper Midwest
Steffen Mirsky | 9:15-10:15 a.m. | Mendota 1-2
This presentation will introduce honeyberries to the audience, including a brief history, fruit characteristics and the A to Z of production for both backyard and commercial growers. It will be geared towards beginner to intermediate growers. Attendees will gain all the knowledge and resources they need to grow this promising, and delicious, new berry crop with confidence.
Art of the Snip: Apple Tree Pruning
Josie Dillon | 9:30-10:15 a.m. | Demo Stage B
Understanding how to properly prune your apple tree is important when it comes to long-term health. This demonstration will feature a model tree with “prune-able” branches and will overview basic apple tree morphology, the goals of pruning, recommended pruning tools and types of pruning cuts.
Wisconsin Lawn Care Calendar
Bruce Spangenberg | 9:30-10:30 a.m. | Mendota 6-7
Properly timed, sound maintenance practices are key to healthy, problem-free lawns with less chemical use. Learn more about what to do on your lawn, how to do it and ideal timing in the season to keep your lawn looking good with minimum use of chemicals.
Coping with Environmental Extremes in Your Garden
Amy Freidig and Allen Pyle | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Mendota 1-2
Weather extremes have become more common in Wisconsin. This talk will help you understand current climate realities and how they negatively impact yards and gardens. It will introduce you to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension’s new climate-related articles, and presents real life strategies for improving garden resilience plus suggestions of plants that can handle extreme weather.
Cold-Hardy Grapes for Wisconsin Gardens
Jacob Kluza | 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Mendota 5
Learn how to successfully grow cold-hardy grape varieties suited for Wisconsin’s challenging climate. This session covers site selection, pruning, trellising and variety recommendations for both home and small-scale growers. Participants will gain practical tips for achieving healthy vines and quality fruit in northern conditions.
Spring-Blooming Shrubs for Beauty and a Healthy Environment
Lisa Johnson | 1-2 p.m. | Mendota 1-2
We will take a deep dive into spring-blooming shrubs — both native and non-native — that thrive across diverse environments. We will explore how to select the right shrub for the right place, factoring in soil, light and ecological impact. Learn the art and science of pruning for maximum bloom, using techniques such as thinning, heading back and rejuvenation cuts. Whether you’re designing a pollinator-friendly garden, enhancing curb appeal, or creating a privacy hedge this session, this presentation will help you make informed, beautiful choices that last beyond the spring flowering season.
New, Unique and Top-Performing Plant Varieties
Allen Pyle | 2:15-3:15 p.m. | Mendota 8
Learn about new plant varieties, award winners and top performers in trials and public gardens in the 2025 season. Midwest variety trials allow outstanding plants to demonstrate their worthiness over existing varieties in our climate, including annual, perennial and edible plants.
10 Diseases of Native Plants
Brian Hudelson | 3:45-4:45 p.m. | Mendota 3
Learn about common diseases of plants that are native to Wisconsin. This presentation will include information on how to identify these diseases, as well as information on how to manage them. *Please note this talk is 90 minutes long.
Sunday, Feb. 15
Bagging Apples for Insect and Disease Control
Josie Dillon | 10:30-11:30 a.m. | Mendota 4
Apples are a delicious snack for humans and non-humans alike! From fruit-loving insects to blemish-causing diseases, apple trees face a wide range of challenges. In this session, you’ll learn the basics of integrated pest management, meet some common apple troublemakers, and discover how fruit bagging can help protect your apple harvest.
Diseases of Houseplants
Brian Hudelson | 11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Mendota 4
Learn about common diseases of houseplants and their management.
Gardening Success Starts with Soils
Bruce Spangenberg | 12:45-1:45p.m. | Mendota 8
Good soil conditions are key for gardening success. Essential components of soils and how various amendments and fertilizer applications impacting soil conditions for plant growth will be discussed. Learn what you can do to create and maintain optimum soil conditions in your yard and garden.
Choosing a Mulch for Every Occassion
Amy Freidig | 1-2 p.m. | Mendota 4
There are many mulches to choose from, but how do you know which is best for your garden? In this presentation, we will walk through the pros and cons of different types of mulch for common garden and landscape settings.
Container Gardening
Lisa Johnson | 2-3 p.m. | Mendota 1-2
Gardening with containers allows us to garden in small spaces as well as gardening with less bending and kneeling. To be a successful container gardener, you need to know not only about plants that grow in containers but also how growing in containers affects plants. This talk will review the advantages and disadvantages of different container types and designs, address container soils and their characteristics, how to gage watering and fertilizing schedules, and list some plants that are well suited for containers.
Honeyberries: A Promising New Berry Crop for the Upper Midwest
Steffen Mirsky | 2:15-3:15 p.m. | Mendota 4
This presentation will introduce honeyberries to the audience, including a brief history, fruit characteristics and the A to Z of production for both backyard and commercial growers. It will be geared towards beginner to intermediate growers. Attendees will gain all the knowledge and resources they need to grow this promising, and delicious, new berry crop with confidence.
