AYGQ: LIVE – October 2026 Session Links and Resources

Fruits & Vegetables

Cutting Asparagus Foliage

Q- Should asparagus foliage be cut down in fall?
A-The general recommendation is leaving healthy asparagus foliage standing through winter because it can help trap snow and provide insulation for crowns. The primary exception would be asparagus affected by diseases such as rust or other fungal problems, where removing infected material can help reduce disease carryover. Some gardeners choose to cut back foliage in fall to reduce spring cleanup, but crown protection should still be considered.

Q-Should asparagus foliage be cut down in fall if Asparagus Beetles are a concern?
A-Asparagus beetles often overwinter in surrounding plant debris and nearby protected areas, so simply removing asparagus stems may not eliminate beetle populations. Gardeners are encouraged to balance sanitation efforts with winter protection for crowns.

• Growing Asparagus – umn.edu
• Asparagus Beetles – wisc.edu

Violets and Rhubarb

Q-Are violets choking out the rhubarb?
A-The panel felt it was unlikely that violets alone were suppressing rhubarb growth. While weeds can create competition, declining rhubarb vigor is often linked to other factors including aging crowns, increased shade, site conditions, or overcrowding. Removing competing vegetation may improve air circulation and appearance, but gardeners should also evaluate broader environmental conditions affecting plant growth.

• Rhubarb – wisc.edu
• Options for Managing Yard & Garden Weeds – wisc.edu
• Wild Violets – umn.edu

Preserving Old Apple Varieties

Q-How to identify and propagate an old apple variety?
A-Identifying old apple cultivars can be challenging. Visual identification resources may help narrow possibilities, and DNA-based identification projects such as Washington State University’s My Fruit Tree Project may provide additional information. To preserve the variety, grafting is the preferred method. Water sprouts collected from the tree can be grafted onto purchased rootstocks. Educational opportunities are offered by organizations such as Seed Savers Exchange.

• Seed Savers Exchange – seedsavers.org
• My Fruit Tree Project – wsu.edu
• Fruit ID – fruitid.com
• Rootstocks for Fruit Trees in Wisconsin – wisc.edu
• Whip and Tongue Grafting – iastate.edu

Overwintering Poblano Peppers

Q-How to overwinter Poblano pepper plants?
A-The panel discussed overwintering peppers as perennial plants. Gardeners should focus on helping plants survive rather than actively grow through winter. Reduced watering, avoidance of fertilizer, protection from drafts, and adequate light are important. Growth can be encouraged again in spring as outdoor conditions improve. Experimentation was encouraged, and gardeners were invited to share their results.

• Growing Peppers in the Home Garden – umd.edu
• Bringing the Garden Inside (Video) – wisc.edu

General Gardening

Growing Fall Mums

Q-How should fall-flowering mums be grown successfully in Wisconsin?
A-Many blooming potted mums purchased in autumn are best treated as seasonal plants because they rarely establish enough roots before winter to survive outdoors. Gardeners interested in perennial garden mums should select hardy garden varieties and plant them in spring. Mums require full sun, good drainage, consistent moisture, periodic fertilization, and pinching of stems before midsummer to develop compact plants with heavy flowering. Clay soils can present challenges because mums perform poorly in poorly-drained sites. Leaving stems standing through winter and providing winter mulch improves survival.

• Mums the Word for Fall Flowers – wisc.edu
• Pinch Your Mums – purdue.edu

Winterizing Mums & Asters

Q-How to prepare hardy mums and asters for winter?
A-It is recommended to leave stems and foliage standing through winter whenever possible. This helps trap snow and insulate crowns. Winter mulches should generally be applied after the soil begins to freeze and plants are dormant. The primary goal is protecting crowns from temperature fluctuations and severe cold.

• Mums the Word for Fall Flowers – wisc.edu
• Aster – wisc.edu
• Preparing Landscape Plants for Winter – wisc.edu
• Getting Landscape Plants Ready for Winter (Video) – wisc.edu

Heritage Rose Identification

Q-How to identify a rose from a historic farmstead? Could it be identified through DNA testing similar to the apple identification?
A-Josie indicated that she was not aware of any university-based rose identification project comparable to the apple DNA programs currently available. Other panelists were likewise unaware of a reliable DNA-based identification service for heritage roses. The group noted that identification generally relies upon flower characteristics, growth habit, bloom timing, fragrance, and historical records when available.

• Rose Types – illinois.edu

Houseplants

Holiday Cactus Care

Q-How can I encourage a Thanksgiving cactus to bloom?
A-Holiday cacti require long periods of uninterrupted darkness and cooler temperatures to trigger flowering. Approximately six to eight weeks of 12–14 hours of darkness each night, combined with cooler temperatures around 60–65°F, will encourage bud formation. Fertilizing should be reduced or stopped during this period, and plants should not be overwatered. Slight stress often helps stimulate flowering. A cool porch or protected area can provide favorable conditions before plants are brought indoors.

• Overview of Holiday Cactus – wisc.edu

Insects

Seasonal Update: Fall Cleanup for Beneficial Insects

PJ Liesch shared guidance on balancing fall garden cleanup and insect conservation. Gardeners should consider leaving at least some fallen leaves in place because leaf litter provides important overwintering habitat for many beneficial insects and other arthropods. Leaves also contribute organic matter and nutrients as they decompose. For gardeners concerned about smothering turfgrass, allow some grass blades to remain visible through leaf cover or relocating leaves to beds or less-managed areas rather than removing them entirely.

• Xerces Society Nesting & Overwintering Habitat – xerces.org
• Leave the Leaves. To rake or not to rake? – wisc.edu
• Yard and Garden Clean-up with Disease and Insects in Mind Video – wisc.edu

Monarch Butterfly Population

Q-Are Monarch butterfly populations increasing?
A-Many gardeners reported seeing more monarch butterflies during the summer, although observations vary by location. Summer sightings alone cannot reliably measure population trends because monarchs spread across a vast geographic area. The most accurate estimate comes from the annual winter population assessment in Mexico, where scientists measure the total area occupied by overwintering monarchs. Results from those surveys provide the best indication of whether the population has increased or declined. He also discussed how the concentration of monarchs into overwintering sites creates vulnerability to severe winter weather events.

• Monarch Joint Venture – monarchjointventure.org
• The Monarch Butterfly in North America – usda.gov
• Eastern Monarch Butterfly Numbers – xerces.org

Fall Iris Cleanup

Q-Should iris foliage be removed to help prevent iris borer?
A-Iris borers overwinter as eggs on dead iris foliage and nearby plant debris. Removing iris leaves in fall can reduce overwintering populations and help manage future infestations. The panel noted that while many plants benefit from leaving foliage in place for wildlife habitat, Iris is one situation where cleanup can be advantageous. Diseased foliage should also be removed to reduce disease carryover.

• Iris Borer – wisc.edu
• Growing Iris – ncsu.edu

Lawn Grub Management

Q-How should May/June beetle grubs be managed in lawns?
A-Accurate identification is important because several species of white grubs occur in Wisconsin and management strategies differ among species. May/June beetles often have extended life cycles lasting two to three years. Preventive products can work well when timed appropriately, but large established grubs are difficult to control regardless of the treatment used. Monitoring grub populations and maintaining healthy turf were recommended as important parts of management.

• White grub Control in Turfgrass – wisc.edu
• May/June Beetles – wisc.edu
• European Chafer – wisc.edu
• Lawns-Insects – wisc.edu

Lawns

Lawn Plug Repairs

Q-Can lawn plugs be used to repair a dead section of Kentucky Bluegrass lawn?
A-Lawn plugs could work but first recommended determining why the lawn area died. Soil problems, pet damage, drainage issues, or other environmental factors should be corrected before re-establishment. Because plugs require time to root and expand, spring planting may be more reliable than late fall. Overseeding or sod installation may also be effective alternatives depending on the size of the damaged area.

• Kentucky Bluegrass – msu.edu
• Lawns – wisc.edu

Establishing Sedges

Q-Can sedges be established from plugs in fall?
A-Sedges are commonly established using small plugs and can be very effective in appropriate habitats. However, because plugs are often quite small and require time to establish roots before winter, late-season planting can be risky. Given the timing of the question in late October, it is recommended waiting until spring for planting whenever possible to improve establishment success.

• Sedges – wisc.edu

Plant Diseases

Diseased Leaf Cleanup

Q-What leaves should NOT be left in the garden over winter?
A-While it is strongly supported to leave healthy leaves to provide wildlife habitat, removing leaves and plant material affected by significant diseases. Fruit crops with fire blight, apple scab, and other fungal diseases can benefit from cleanup to reduce inoculum for the following season. Similar sanitation practices may be useful in strawberries, grapes, and ornamental plantings experiencing serious disease pressure.

• Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic – wisc.edu
• Fire Blight – wisc.edu
• Apple Scab – wisc.edu

Trees & Shrubs

Overwintering Hydrangeas

Q-Can container-grown hydrangeas be planted temporarily for winter protection?
A-The recommendation is planting hydrangeas in the ground, even temporarily, rather than leaving them fully exposed in containers. Because the plant will soon enter dormancy, transplant stress is minimal. Protecting the root system from winter temperatures is the most important consideration. Mulch, straw, or leaves can provide additional insulation, and the plants can be moved again in spring if necessary.

• Hydrangeas: Know Them and Grow Them in Wisconsin (Video) – wisc.edu
• Preparing Landscape Plants for Winter – wisc.edu
• Mulches for Home Gardens – wisc.edu

Black Walnut Roots

Q-Should black walnut tree roots be a concern near buried pool pipes?
A-Tree roots generally exploit existing cracks or weaknesses in infrastructure rather than penetrating intact pipes. While black walnuts are not known for aggressively seeking water in the same manner as willows, periodic monitoring is prudent. Homeowners concerned about root encroachment or aging infrastructure may wish to inspect pipe condition and manage roots proactively

• Finding the Right Certified Arborist – wisc.edu
• Black Walnut – ndsu.edu

Overwintering Potted Figs

Q-How to overwinter a potted fig?
A-Because figs are not reliably winter hardy in Wisconsin, It is recommended moving container-grown figs into a cool, protected location where they remain dormant but do not freeze. The goal is to keep the plant alive through winter with occasional watering and minimal activity before returning it outdoors in spring.

• Figs – illinois.edu
• Bringing the Garden Inside (Video) – wisc.edu

Weeds & Invasive Species

Managing Broadleaf Weeds

Q-How to control broadleaf weeds while being environmentally responsible?
A-Building a healthy, dense lawn is the best long-term weed management strategy. Proper mowing height, fertilization, and soil improvement will improve turf competitiveness. For established dandelion infestations, targeted spot applications of broadleaf herbicides may be appropriate to reduce weed populations while minimizing chemical use. Once populations are reduced, sound turf management practices become the primary approach to preventing reinfestation.

• Managing Broadleaf Weeds in Lawns – wisc.edu

Wildlife

Groundhog Burrows & Oaks

Q-Should a groundhog burrow near a mature Bur Oak tree be a concern?
A-Healthy bur oaks are generally resilient, and a groundhog burrow does not automatically indicate a serious threat. However, extensive tunneling near valuable, mature trees could potentially raise concerns about soil stability or root impacts. For important landscape trees, the panel recommended consulting a certified arborist to evaluate root health, structural stability, and any additional factors contributing to risk.

• Groundhog – rutgers.edu
• Finding the Right Certified Arborist – wisc.edu
• Oak Trees 101 – wisc.edu

Protecting Daffodil Bulbs

Q-How to keep squirrels from digging up newly planted daffodil bulbs?
A-It was recommended covering newly planted bulb areas with hardware cloth secured firmly to the ground. The mesh prevents squirrels from digging and removing bulbs while still allowing bulb foliage to emerge normally in spring. This simple physical barrier is often highly effective.

• Planting Bulbs for Spring color – wisc.edu
• Squirrels – dnr.wi.gov

Wildlife Ecology Factsheets

• UW Wildlife Ecology factsheets – wisc.edu