Articles
Gardening Articles
Research-based horticulture information to help keep your plants and gardens thriving.
European Chafer
An insect pest of turfgrass, European chafer beetle grubs voraciously feed on turfgrass roots and cause thinning, wilting, and irregular dead patches. This fact sheet details the life cycle and recommendations for control.
Eastern Filbert Blight
Eastern filbert blight is a potentially serious fungal disease found throughout the United States, affecting Corylus species, commonly known as hazelnuts or filberts. Symptoms and management are described in this factsheet.
Living Stones: Lithops
Plants that look like rocks? Those would be living stones, in the genus Lithops. These are small succulent plants that survive in their harsh environment by having much of the plant body below ground, and only the wide leaf end visible above the rocky ground. To learn more about these fascinating plants that make good houseplants, read this article…
Burro’s Tail, Sedum morganianum
Burro’s tail is a low maintenance houseplant ideal in hanging containers to showcase its fleshy, bluish green leaves covering long, drooping stems. This houseplant does best in bright light and can be moved outdoors in summer. Learn more about Sedum morganianum in this article.
Fairy Rings
Fairy rings are circular areas of abnormal turf growth most commonly found on lawns and golf courses where soils have high levels of organic matter. Learn what to do if fairy rings appear in your lawn in this concise factsheet.
Spotted Lanternfly
Spotted lanternfly (SLF) is an invasive planthopper native to Asia. Though not yet found in Wisconsin, SLF has potential for severe damage on a large plant host range. Learn what to watch for with this new pest.
Cucumber Mosaic
Cucumber mosaic is a viral disease that affects a wide range of fruits, vegetables, herbaceous and woody ornamentals, and weeds. This factsheet covers identification and ways to prevent this incurable disease.
Capers, Capparis spinosa
Most of us have eaten capers at one time or another – those salty, slightly astringent and pungent, pea-sized, dark green things used as a seasoning or garnish in Mediterranean dishes or with lox. But do you know what the plant is that you’re eating? Learn all about what capers are in this article…
Basil Downy Mildew
Basil downy mildew is a devastating disease that affects the leaves, branches, and stems of many types of basil commonly used for cooking. This factsheet describes symptoms and how to avoid problems with this disease.
Stinkhorns
Stinkhorns are mushrooms that can appear in mulch, lawns, and areas with bare soil. Stinkhorns do not cause plant disease, and can be beneficial, as described in this factsheet.
Garlic, Allium sativum
Cultivated for thousands of years for both culinary and medicinal uses – and to repel vampires – garlic is a well-known herb. Learn more about the many types of garlic and how to grow it, harvest and use it…
Praying Mantids
The praying mantids are a group of insects with very characteristic front legs designed to capture and hold prey. The common name comes from the way the legs are held upright when hunting, but they don’t really have any religious affiliations. To learn more about these fascinating predators, read this article…