Gardening ideas & tips for the average gardener.
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From The Ground Up

Crop planning deep dive: Raising Root Vegetables Right

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu This week we dig deeper into root vegetables. By planning ahead and anticipating challenges, you can get ahead of common problems that limit yields. Get your stew mix ready, let’s talk carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips. Image...

Humane ways to address uninvited garden guests

A beautiful garden is a wonder to behold. After a homeowner toils in the yard amending the soil and planting, it's imperative that a garden be given the best chance to thrive. However, the natural wildlife that shares the space might see that newly cultivated land as the perfect place to enjoy an...

Native plants support wildlife and sustainability in Minnesota gardens

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Echinacea may reseed and produce young plants that usually wait to bloom till their second year. Native plants have naturally evolved in a specific region over thousands of years. They are well-adapted to the local climate and soil...

April garden checklist

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Mystery of the month How do you identify which animal browsed on your shrubs over the winter? Find the solution to our mystery at the end of this article. Pests and diseases Do not prune oaks from April through October. The fungus...

Crop planning deep dive: Brassica bonanza

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu We are reviving and revising a series of crop-specific deep-dive articles we published in 2021. This week we are focusing on crops in the Brassica family, and tips for growing them successfully. By planning ahead and anticipating...

Tips for securing grapevine canes this spring

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Introduction Whether you’re working on a new vineyard block, elongating cordons for further established vines, or replacing winter-injured or declining cordons, tying down canes to fruiting wire is something all vineyards end up doing...

Tips for the gardening beginner

Gardening is a popular hobby all over the world. Ruby Home Luxury Real Estate estimates there are 71.5 million gardening households in the United States alone. That translates to around 185.9 million people engaged in some form of gardening, which places the U.S. among other countries where...

Escaping spring frost in the Upper Midwest

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu It's never too early to begin thinking about spring frost protection for the fruit crops you grow. Cold stress and frost damage have the potential to impact perennial fruit crops during different times of the year, and springtime in the...

Can I safely use animal-based compost in my field or high tunnel this spring?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Animal-based soil amendments such as composted manure and poultry litter can build the health, tilth, fertility and water hold capacity of your soil. They can also be a great way to use resources you might have on the farm such as manure...

A spring lawn revitalization strategy

New growth is a hallmark of spring, whether it plays out in the birth of birds and bunnies or with the returned buds on trees and plant stalks. While most greenery rebounds naturally, lawns may need a little extra TLC in order to return to their once lush, green glory. Revitalizing a lawn in spring...