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

Winter food safety planning - 5 tips to prepare for next season

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Winter is a good time for planning, reflection and thinking about the systems behind your farm's operation. What worked, what didn't, and what can be improved for next season? What did your employees suggest for improvements? That review...

Must-haves to achieve a holiday wonderland

The end of the year marks a period of heightened festivity. Come the holiday season, homes and businesses are decorated and everyone seems to have an extra spring in their step. The sight of snowflakes, candy canes, evergreen wreaths, and Christmas trees can elicit nostalgia for happy holidays of...

Tip: Check over houseplants for pests.

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu By now your houseplants have been indoors for a while. Insect pests like our warm, dry homes. Take time this week to look closely at your houseplants for signs of pests like mealybugs, scale, and spidermites. Look for white cottony stuff,...

Are poinsettias poisonous?

Christmas trees, Santa Claus, menorahs, and glittering lighting displays are just a few of the many prominent symbols of the holiday season. And while mistletoe might garner more attention and inspire more displays of affection, poinsettias are another prominent sign that the holiday season has...

Ask Extension: Do I need to protect my yew this winter?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Planted in the right conditions, yews can tolerate winter weather and provide winter interest in our landscapes. I planted an upright yew evergreen shrub this summer. Do I need to wrap it in burlap for winter or protect it in some...

Use deicing salts with care

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Evergreens are particularly susceptible to deicing salt damage especially when planted close to streets. Winter weather inevitably brings slippery conditions on streets, driveways, sidewalks and parking lots. Deicing salts are used to...

Fruit gardening: What can I prune right now?

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Wait until January or February to prune grapevines. As we clean up our gardens for winter, many gardeners have been asking when they can start pruning their fruit trees and shrubs. There is something satisfying about having everything...

NEW! "Growing Asparagus in Minnesota" guidebook

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu A new asparagus spear emerges in spring. Photo: Annie Klodd We are excited to announce the release of a new production guide, Growing Asparagus in Minnesota. This publication is the culmination of a 2-year collaboration between...

How to prepare your trees for winter

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Trees can experience many stresses during the winter months including lack of water, sunscald, wildlife damage and winter injury. Young trees (one to five years old) should be watered throughout the year, until the soil freezes. ...

Hunters and foragers can help reduce invasive species

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION - www.extension.umn.edu Barberry Your favorite season in Minnesota may depend on what you like to hunt or forage. If you forage for morel mushrooms and ramps, spring might be your favorite season. If you are a deer or game bird hunter, then fall is important...