cold

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...

Stunted seedlings: just the cold weather, or is there something more going on?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu A cold, cloudy April is bad news for seedlings, and slow growth under these conditions is to be expected. However, there may be more going on if your seedlings are looking yellow and stunted. It can be hard to pinpoint the cause of stunted...

It was our coldest January in eight years. Did the Japanese beetles die?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu While people may choose to start their year out with all kinds of new year’s resolutions, insects only have one resolution: live long enough to reproduce. Winter survival is one hurdle in a bug reaching its goal. Many people assume, after...

The good thing about cold weather for trees

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu The last few weeks in January are always some of the coldest in Minnesota. While we are hunkered inside staying warm, trees do not have the benefit of escaping the cold. Deciduous trees in Minnesota, such as maples and oaks, adapt to the...

New videos on pruning grapevines in cold climate vineyards

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Pruning 1-year old grapevines at Rustic Roots Winery in Scandia, MN Prune your grapevines between January and early April, while they are dormant and ideally before temperatures regularly exceed 35 degrees F. Hundreds of pruning...

Wintertime can be 'snow' much fun to discover

Winter storms are on the way. While many people are anxious to see landscapes covered in white, others already are counting down the days to spring blooms. Weather can be awe-inspiring and interesting, and learning the secrets about snow is no exception. Snow forms when water vapor in the...

Cold-weather workout tips

Workouts are a part of many people's daily routines. Some look forward to their exercise sessions, while others only commit after finding ways to make them as enjoyable as possible. For people who don't enjoy working out indoors, finding ways to exercise in the great outdoors can provide the...

How to protect outdoor gear before placing it in storage

The right gear makes all the difference when spending time in the great outdoors. Outdoorsmen spend billions of dollars every year on gear, and that spending reflects outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, fully engaged outdoors enthusiasts were...

Coping with fewer hours of daylight

Daylight saving time comes to an end each fall, at a time when the hours of available sunlight already are beginning to decline. Some people are more accustomed to darkness than others. Norwegians, Swedes and people living in Alaska and the upper reaches of Canada near or above the Arctic Circle...

Steps for hanging holiday lights outdoors

It begins to look a lot like Christmas when twinkling lights brighten up homes inside and out. Few things liven up the season more than holiday decorations, particularly clear and colored lights. Prior to taking out the lights, ladder and thermos of coffee to get you through the job, it's important...