Using Manure in the Home Garden
Manures are a good source of organic matter that can also be used as a fertilizer. To learn more about using manure in the home garden, read this article…
Articles
Cucumber Beetles
In late summer and fall, cucumber beetles are common visitors to squash and cucumber flowers. They eat the petals, and sometimes the plant foliage. To learn more about these beetles, read this article…
False Solomon’s Seal, Maianthemum racemosum
Solomon’s seals are great native woodland plants to add to any shade garden. False Solomon’s seal looks very similar to the “true” Solomon’s seal, but the two are easily distinguished by the shape and location of the flowers and berries. Learn more about Maianthemum racemosum (false Solomon’s seal) in this article…
Euphorbia Diamond Frost®
Need an airy plant that blooms for a long time but is very low maintenance? Euphorbia Diamond Frost® is a great little plant that requires little care yet continues to flower all season and combines well with almost any other garden plant. Learn more about this tough but dainty looking tender perennial in this article…
Malabar spinach, Basella alba
While most leafy greens wither or go to seed in the heat of summer, hot weather is when Malabar spinach shines. To learn more about this interesting plant, read this article…
Elephant Ears (Colocasia, Alocasia, and Xanthosoma)
If you want a tropical look in your garden, just add elephant ears! Lots of new ornamental cultivars of these tender perennials – that are frequently grown as annuals here in the Midwest – have been developed in recent years. To learn more about this group of plants with large, heart-shaped leaves, read this article…
Scarlet Runner Bean, Phaseolus coccineus
If you’re looking for a multipurpose plant to cover a trellis or fence, provide some food, and have showy flowers, look no further than scarlet runner bean. Learn more about scarlet runner bean in this article…
Cardoon, Cynara cardunculus
Looking for dramatic foliage to make a bold statement in the garden? Consider cardoon, a relative of the artichoke that has large, spiny, blue-green leaves that provides huge contrast with most other garden plants. The purple thistle flowers are just a bonus if you can get it to bloom. Learn more about Cynara cardunculus in this article…
Feather Reed Grass, Calamagrostis x acutiflora ‘Karl Foerster’
Ornamental grasses can add texture and movement in a garden. ‘Karl Foerster’is a great cultivar of feather reed grass that provides vertical interest with its tall, narrow flower heads. It adapts readily to many types of soils, is drought tolerant once established, and is hardy in zones 3-9. Learn more about this low-maintenance plant in this article…
Eastern Redbud, Cercis canadensis
Need a small tree with spring flowers and interesting structure? Unless you live way up north eastern redbud may fit the bill. To learn more about Cercis canadensis, read this article…
The Basics of Micro Irrigation
Micro irrigation has numerous advantages in greenhouses, orchards, vineyards, fields, lawns, and gardens. Learn about components of micro irrigation systems and benefits and drawbacks these systems provide.
Garlic Mustard
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a European woodland plant introduced to North America by early settlers for its culinary and alleged medicinal qualities. Identification and control methods are covered in this concise factsheet.
