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

The 5 considerations of sustainable landscape design

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu A rain barrel surrounded by plants can make your landscape both environmentally sound and visually pleasing. Our home property has served as my outdoor laboratory for landscape projects, constructing features and growing all sorts of...

How can I identify the apples in my backyard?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Bulmers Norman, a European apple variety This time of year, UMN Extension receives a steady stream of questions about how to identify unknown apple trees. In most of these instances, the person calling has recently purchased or...

Collecting and storing seed

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Flowers, seeds and seed heads from Tithonia, anise hyssop and boneset (L-R). Fall is a good time for collecting seed in Minnesota from plants that are summer bloomers. Seed can be collected from a variety of different plants, even some...

Fall invasive species management in on-farm woody areas

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Most farmers are still busy harvesting, cleaning fields, and preparing for next year. However, as your workload begins to slow down, consider taking some time to monitor for invasive species on your farm. While this article is about...

Fall Yard Cleanup

Proper lawn clean up during the fall season can leave your yard thanking you when spring rolls around. Save time and energy while getting the most out of your yard next year by following these tips and tricks to learn everything you need to know about winter yard prep. Remove Debris can...

Planting spring bulbs is easy!

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu With autumn officially here, gardeners start planting spring-blooming bulbs like tulips, daffodils, crocus, grape hyacinth, snowdrops and more. These bulbs require the cold of winter to make them bloom next spring. Bulbs can be purchased...

Prepare your vegetable garden for winter

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Fall is an important time to lay the seeds of success for next year’s garden. By taking some time to clean up your garden and tools and make a plan for nutrient management, you can save yourself time and energy next spring. Sanitation...

100 years of University of Minnesota apple breeding

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Minnehaha apple with cross-section from the National Fruit Collection (1951-024) One hundred years ago, in 1920, the University of Minnesota introduced its first apple named Minnehaha. In 1921 came Wedge and Folwell. And in 1922, the...

Dogs, cats, deer, the neighbor's cows? Animals in the growing area during harvest and what to do about it

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu What are the risks with animals? Cats are often welcome farm pets, but should not be allowed to roam in the growing area Image: Produce Safety Alliance Fresh fruits and vegetables are grown in soil, under the sky and near both wild...

What to do to prepare your garden for winter

Gardens provide an idyllic escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In fact, many gardening enthusiasts typically cannot wait for the spring thaw so they can spend the next several months tending to their plants under the warm sun. But a gardener's work is never truly done, and the work...