Gardening ideas & tips for the average gardener.
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               From the Ground Up
               C/O The Drummer
               PO Box 159
               Buffalo MN 55313

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From The Ground Up

Lawn watering and fertilizing techniques

A lush, green lawn is a sight to behold. Many variables are involved in growing and maintaining grass, and water and fertilizer are among the most important components. Knowing how much water and fertilizer to apply and when to apply it can make a big difference in the appearance and health of a...

Ask Extension: Where can I buy native plants?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Prairie smoke Native plants are a great addition to any landscape. They are adaptable, provide a wide diversity of color, bloom time, form and texture. And they benefit important pollinators and other insects and animals. As in all...

Prevent common garden insects before they cause problems

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Lifecycle of the diamondback moth. Illustrator: Martha Sudderth There are many common insects that show up each year in our vegetable gardens. While we have plenty of strategies to prevent these insects from eating our veggies, they are...

Use pesticides and fertilizers safely

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Let’s strive for no-pesticide landscapes in 2021! We always advise using the strategies of integrated pest management (IPM) such as: planting the right plant in the right place, scouting and identifying pests, determining if damage is...

Celebrate herbs during National Herb Week

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Plant herbs in groups: Nasturtium, Summerlong basil, rosemary, purple sage My first gardening book was Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs. With its broken spine and pages falling out, it is a well-used, well-loved tome of...

New Forecasting Model for Japanese Beetle in Minnesota

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Japanese beetle (JB) (Popillia japonica) is an invasive species first detected in 1916 in New Jersey, after an accidental introduction. Since this initial detection, JB continued to move south and west, reaching the Midwest region in the...

Wild edibles: Cattails

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Last year we introduced the idea of Nature In Place as a way to explore and deepen our connection to nature while keeping safe and staying home during the pandemic. More than a year later, we’re starting to see hopeful numbers:...

2021 Considerations: Probing Pepper Production

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Our biweekly crop by crop prep series wraps up with some sweet and spicy pepper information. Temperamental with temperatures Peppers are notoriously picky plants that need a specific set of temperatures to grow and produce fruit...

Adding plants to water features

Water features can make for relaxing and eye-catching additions to outdoor spaces. According to the online gardening resource Garden Know-How, a water feature is any landscape enhancement that uses water and other material to bring tranquility and beauty to a space. Thanks to their soothing sounds...

ETC podcast: Getting your yard and garden ready for spring

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Let's turn toward spring! In an new episode of the Explore, Teach, Conserve podcast, host Nate Meyer talked with Gary Wyatt from Extension's Forestry Team and Julie Weisenhorn from Extension's Horticulture Team about tips for your ...