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.
Tree Fruits
Many different types of fruit trees can be grown in the home garden, depending on the space and growing conditions available. From apples to plums to peaches sure to be a tree fruit you can successfully grow at home. Read up to make sure you have the right soil, sun and winter conditions for each fruit, then select cultivars for your growing area.
Featured Fruit Articles
Home Fruit Cultivars for Southern Wisconsin
Find out which fruit cultivars are recommended for Southern Wisconsin. This publication describes flavor, ripening date, winter hardiness, and more, and includes tree fruits, stone fruits and small fruits.
Fruit and Frost
Wisconsin always has a risk of spring frosts, which can injure or kill flowers or immature fruit. This factsheet outlines critical temperatures and describes ways to protect against late season frosts.
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Articles
Planning and Establishing Commercial Apple Orchards in Wisconsin
Apple production can be a rewarding venture, but establishing a successful commercial operation takes time, skill, experience and capital. Learn how to establish a commercial orchard here.
Espalier
Interested in getting higher yields of fruit, want a fruit tree but don’t have much space, or just want an interesting plant as a focal point? Read this article to learn more about the classic technique of espalier…
Black Stem Borer
Black stem borer (BSB), is an invasive beetle from Asia. This factsheet describes the appearance, life cycle, scouting suggestions and control methods of this important pest.
Kiwifruit, Actinidia spp.
What’s brown and fuzzy all over and green inside? Well, the kiwifruit, of course. To learn more about kiwifruit, read this article…
African Fig Fly – Pest Alert
African fig fly is an invasive vinegar fly related to spotted wing drosophila. It’s being carefully monitored in Wisconsin due to unknown potential impact. Learn more here.
San José Scale
This factsheet describes the symptoms, life cycle, monitoring methods and control of San José scale (Diaspidiotus perniciosus), which is a concern in poorly managed orchards.
Serviceberry, Amelanchier spp.
If you’re looking for a small tree with attractive white blossoms in spring and small fruits that can be food for animals or humans, consider one of several species of serviceberry. To learn more, read this article…
Sawflies
Sawflies are a group insects related to wasps. The plant-feeding larvae often look like caterpillars or slugs, and large numbers cause noticeable defoliation on their hosts. Learn more about sawflies in this article…
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.
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.
Watercore of Apple
Watercore of apple is a physiologic disorder caused by adverse environmental conditions. Find out more about this apple disorder in this factsheet.
