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

6 ways to make your garden more successful

Homeowners enjoy gardening for many different reasons. In addition to adding beauty to a property, gardens can offset grocery costs by yielding tasty produce. They also offer important habitats and food sources for both insects and animals. While growing a vegetable or flower garden can turn into a...

Beneficial bugs

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Marissa Schuh, U of M Extension integrated pest management educator Marissa Schuh brings an appreciation for insects to her University of Minnesota Extension work with gardeners and farmers When Marissa Schuh appeared in the news last...

Weekly Fruit Update - May 18, 2022

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Capturing Zestar! bloom on 5/17/22. Apples Bloom status was checked in Minnetrista, MN on Tuesday, May 17. Multiple varieties including SweeTango, Zestar!, and Honeygold were between king bloom to full bloom. Honeycrisp was at...

Weekly vegetable update 5/18/2022

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu This was a rough week. Many of you sustained damage to your farms, including damage to high tunnels and other infrastructure, as well as damaged trees. Heavy rains delayed planting and bed prep yet again, and the cooler weather sustained...

First weekly fruit update of 2022: 5/12/22

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Welcome to the first weekly fruit update of the year! SweeTango at tight cluster in Hastings, MN on May 9, 2022 Apples Apple trees around the Twin Cities are primarily at tight cluster this week. They are progressing quickly due to...

Rusty patched bumble bee becomes a household name

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Many of the calls I receive during the growing season deal with insects. One you might not see, but should keep your eye out for, is the rusty patched bumble bee. Elaine Evans, University of Minnesota Extension educator specializing in...

First weekly vegetable update of 2022: 5/12/22

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu After a long and cold spring, summer is finally approaching. Everything is delayed this year due to cold weather, stunted seedlings, and wet fields. Starting this week, I'll be sharing weekly vegetable updates to inform growers about what...

Maggots on the Move

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu As we come out of a chilly few weeks, insects are warming up too. While the cold has slowed all insects, our cold-tolerant early-season pests are getting ready to emerge. Degree day models for seedcorn maggot and cabbage maggot indicate...

Telling signs 3 common insects are infesting a lawn

Well-maintained laws are a byproduct of hard work. That hard work is a point of pride for homeowners who spend countless hours throughout spring, summer and fall tending to their lawns. All that hard work can be compromised when uninvited guests, namely insects, show up in a lawn. Insect...

Gardening tips for a cold spring

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu April has been colder and wetter than usual, which has gardeners feeling restless. While it’s not too early to complete a few garden tasks despite the cold and dreary weather, others should be left for warmer days ahead. Keep pollinators...