Gardening ideas & tips for the average gardener.
Please submit photos, tips and ideas to:
Email submissions: business@thedrummer.com   in subject line: From the Ground Up
Mail submissions:
               From the Ground Up
               C/O The Drummer
               PO Box 159
               Buffalo MN 55313

*All photos & Submissions become the property of The WCJP & The Drummer.

Your submission gives us the right to publish your information/photos.

From The Ground Up

Low-maintenance lawn alternatives

A traditional lawn may not be right for every property nor desired by every homeowner. There is no denying that lawns take time and effort to establish and daily or weekly maintenance to thrive. Homeowners who find that a traditional lawn is not practical can explore some low-maintenance...

Sharing land: Giving access to your yard or garden

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Katie’s garden in her neighbor’s yard After gardening on balconies and in some small raised beds in a city lot for the past decade or so, I moved to a new place this year with abundant gardening space. In fact, I ended up with a bit...

2021 Considerations: Sweet Corn

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Our biweekly crop by crop growing season prep series continues. This week we are biting into some juicy sweet corn tips. When to plant? Consistent sweet corn emergence is more likely when seeds are planted when the soil is warm...

Include cover crops in your garden this year

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Red clover cover crop As you finalize your garden plans for 2021, take some time to schedule planting windows for cover crops. We've just released a new guide to cover crops that are well suited to various windows of time during a...

How to garden from a wheelchair

Gardening is a wonderful activity that people from all walks of life enjoy. A garden full of fresh fruits and vegetables and/or beautiful blooms can instill a sense of pride in gardeners and turn their backyards into colorful, peaceful respites. Anyone with the will to do so can plant their own...

Compost and soil organic matter: The more, the merrier?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Organic materials, such as compost, plant residues or manure, do wonders for garden soil and plant health. If you’ve been adding organic materials to your garden, then congratulations! You’ve been doing great work to build soil organic...

Catmints and catnip: Which is “purrfect” for your garden?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu The Bugeja family’s cat, Frodo, lover of both catmint and catnip This past week, I managed to spy subtle hints of spring. Wild ramps just started to poke out in the woods and robins wandered on the ground, hunting for worms. As I moved...

Weed Control in Pumpkins and Winter Squash

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu With their long season and spreading growth habit, pumpkins often present a weed control challenge. Here are some important factors and considerations when working to manage weeds in pumpkins and winter squash. Waterhemp in a pumpkin...

Gardening in small spaces

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Gardening in small spaces requires you to maximize the space you have and keep potential problems under control. Here we review the top things to consider when gardening small. Choose your plants wisely Compact pepper plants and...

Ask Extension: What to do about knotweed?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu We recently purchased a new house and discovered we have a plant called knotweed taking over the backyard. We have tried digging it out, but are still unable to get rid of it. What should we do? We understand that it is an invasive plant...