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

Springtime insects in homes

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Multicolored Asian ladybeetles seeking warm sunlight and trying to get outside Spring is here and soon the temperatures will begin to rise and stay warm. With the springtime increase in temperature you may begin to notice insects in...

Winter damage: Sunscald and winter dieback on deciduous shrubs

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Forsythia flower buds above the snowline did not survive winter temperatures. The buds that are blooming were covered with snow and protected from dieback. You have to be tough to be a plant in Minnesota. Our plants endure cold, heat,...

Plants to prune in March

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Prune oaks like this Majestic Skies™ northern pin oak in the winter to avoid oak wilt, a fatal disease that affects both red and white oaks. Trees and shrubs are long-lived, important landscape plants and are a good investment for any...

Figuring out nutrients for your lawn and garden

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Spring is when our thoughts turn to green lawns, emerging flowers and sprouting veggies. So, it's a good time to sort out how to best feed all those plants to make sure we have lush yards and gardens this summer. Extension as a few new...

How rising food demand is affecting farming

The population is growing and so is its demand for food to fuel those extra bodies. Harvard Business Review reports the global population has quadrupled over the last century. It's predicted that, by 2050, the population will exceed nine billion people. The world is not able to feed all of its...

Prepping for syrup season

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu In Minnesota, sap usually runs from about March 15 to April 20. Sap begins running when the temperature is mild during the day and freezing at night, but it’s a small window—too cold and the sap won’t have started running, and too warm (...

Free soil testing for 100 vegetable farms

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Extension is offering soil testing in high tunnels and fields at 100 vegetable farms across the state. Participants will receive complimentary soil tests that include a basic soil series (texture, organic matter, pH, phosphorus, potassium...

Upcoming Webinar for Farmers Looking to Sell to Schools

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Farmers, food hubs, distributors, and other interested partners are invited to attend an informational webinar on March 29th from 2:30 - 3:30 to learn more about the Farm to School Grant Program and how to work with schools. This webinar...

The basics of regenerative agriculture

Climate change poses a threat to various industries, not the least of which is the agricultural sector. Agricultural industry insiders recognize that the changing climate has been forcing farmers and agricultural organizations to adapt and adjust for decades, and that need to be flexible won't...

Winter is a good time to prune trees and shrubs

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu February and March are good months for pruning some of our woody landscape plants. By now, trees and shrubs are dormant. The ground is also solidly frozen, making it easier to reach branches and remove them. And with the exception of...