Articles
Gardening Articles
Research-based horticulture information to help keep your plants and gardens thriving.
Thousand Cankers Disease
Though not yet found in Wisconsin, Thousand Cankers disease (TCD) is a serious, potentially fatal disease of black walnut, a native tree. Learn what to watch for here.
Bacterial Soft Rot
Bacterial soft rots are diseases that damage succulent plant parts including fruits, tubers, stems and bulbs. Learn how to identify and avoid problems with bacterial soft rot in this factsheet.
Impatiens Downy Mildew
Impatiens downy mildew is a serious threat wherever impatiens are grown, including Wisconsin. Impatiens downy mildew has been so destructive in the past that it has made impatiens unusable as a garden ornamental.
Brown Rot
Brown rot is a destructive fungal disease of the genus Prunus, including plums, cherries, apricots, and peaches. This factsheet will help you identify and manage brown rot.
Common Corn Smut
Common corn smut is a fungal disease that affects field, pop and sweet corn, and forms swellings (galls) on ears, kernels, tassels, husks, leaves, stalks, buds and even aerial roots of the plant. Learn more here.
Maintaining Lawn and Garden Tools
When it comes to digging in the garden or pruning trees and shrubs, having high quality tools that are cleaned, lubricated, sharpened and otherwise properly maintained, makes any outdoor job simpler and more efficient. Learn how to maintain your garden tools in this useful factsheet.
Huitlacoche
This mushroom-like mass found on the ears of corn and corn relatives can be a problem for corn growers (i.e., “corn smut”), but is also often a culinary delicacy! Learn more in this factsheet.
Black Rot of Crucifers
Black rot is a serious bacterial disease of cruciferous plants including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, rutabaga and turnip. Learn about identification and management here.
Rose Rust
Rose rust is a common fungal disease which affects affects many varieties of rose, with some varieties and hybrids more prone to the disease. Learn to identify and manage this disease in this factsheet.
Professional Guide to Emerald Ash Borer Insecticide Treatments
This factsheet lists and discribes the variety of insecticide products and application methods available to professionals for control of the emerald ash borer (EAB).
Drought and Watering of Ornamental Plants
Learn how to water woody plants to help them survive prolonged periods of drought in this article.
Home Garden Fungicides
While cultural methods are the preferred options for disease management in home vegetable gardens, fungicides may occassionally be warranted. Learn about options here.
