Trees and shrubs are the backbone of our landscapes. Properly placed and well-maintained landscape plants help conserve energy, provide shade, increase the property values, attract wildlife, offer privacy and help us create peaceful outdoor living environments. Many trees and shrubs also exhibit showy flowers, vibrant fall foliage colors, and edible fruits. Learn from our publications and fact sheets about selecting, planting and maintaining trees and shrubs in Wisconsin landscapes.
Properly placed and maintained landscape plants can increase the value of real estate. Plant selection is one of the most important decisions a gardener, landscaper or designer makes when landscaping.
When should I consider treating my ash tree for EAB? This factsheet addresses some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the treatment of ash trees for emerald ash borer (EAB), and the removal and disposal of infested trees.
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Major branch dieback, plant decline, and plant death on Viburnum species in Wisconsin are commonly associated with the caterpillars of clearwing borer moths. Heavily infested plants appear unhealthy, and often show swelling, cracks and emergence holes at the base of the plant.
When selecting plants for landscaping, consider choosing ones that offer showy fall foliage. This beautifully illustrated 38-page publication provides an extensive (though by no means comprehensive) list of commercially available woody plants that offer spectacular fall color.
This fact sheet provided a list of 10 relatively easy to identify plant diseases.
Invasive plants can thrive and aggressively spread beyond their natural range, disrupting ecosystems. The Management of Invasive Plants in Wisconsin series explains how to identify invasive plants and provides common management options.
This factsheet summarized ten common plant diseases that are also relatively easy to identify on your own.
Elderberry rust is a visually striking fungal disease that affects stems, leaves and flowers of plants in the genus Sambucus (i.e., elderberries). The disease also affects sedges (Carex spp.). On elderberries grown as ornamentals, as well as on sedges, the disease is primarily a cosmetic problem.
By Brian Hudelson, Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic, UW-Madison As the holiday season wraps up and you begin to put away your decorations for the year, be aware that certain perishable holiday items need to be disposed of properly. In particular, be careful of how you dispose of holiday wreaths and other garlands that contain boxwood […]
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.
Woodpeckers are attractive, interesting visitors to bird feeders and yards. In addition to adding beauty to the landscape, woodpeckers are an integral part of the ecosystem. Woodpeckers are primary cavity nesters, which means that they use their bills (and reinforced skull structure) to excavate holes into dead wood. Woodpeckers use the cavities they create for […]
Are you interested in getting higher yields of fruit, want a fruit tree but don’t have space for a regular-sized one, or just want an interesting pruned plant as a focal point in your garden? There is a horticultural technique involving pruning and training that can accomplish all of these goals. Read this article to learn more about the classic technique of espalier…
Sherry Combs, formerly of the UW-Madison Soil and Plant Analysis Lab Revised: 10/27/2007 Item number: XHT1151 Is your soil pH too high? Probably not, although the popular press urges most gardeners to question whether their garden soil pH is ‘right’. Only a soil test for pH can indicate whether the pH is ‘right’, and ‘right […]
Karen Delahaut, UW-Madison Fresh Market Vegetable Program Revised: 5/17/2012 Item number: XHT1085 The word phenology is derived from the Greek word phaino meaning “to show” or “to appear”. Phenology is a branch of science that studies the relationships between periodic biological events—usually the life cycles of plants and animals—and environmental changes. Natural events such as […]
