Remain Calm, It’s just a Cicada Killer Wasp!

Cicada killing wasps are back for the summer of 2020! They are big and fast, but they’re not going to hurt you. Learn how to live comfortably with them or discourage them from taking up residence in your landscape.

Bagworms On the Loose

Bagworms have hatched in Douglas County! Know what to look for and how to safely and effectively treat your trees so they can remain evergreen not turn ever-brown.

Thinking Ahead: Annual and Perennial Flowers

Growing a vegetable garden versus growing a flower garden can be hotly debated. Vegetable gardeners ask, “What good is it if you can’t eat it?” Flower growers think if it is not pretty, what’s the point? For me, growing both vegetables and flowers are necessary—vegetables nourish my body while flowers feed my soul. As the…

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COVID-19 – Extend Poinsettia Life With Proper Care

The December glory of a poinsettia can fade to January/February paleness in a matter of weeks. Those bright red, white or pink leaves (bracts) can turn limp, curl up and drop, creating a desire to toss it out with the rest of the Christmas leftovers.

Hydroponics for the Holidays? Home Systems are a hot holiday gift list item

This article was originally published on the Garden Professors Blog on Nov 22, 2020. Check out that blog for more great articles from John Porter and extension colleagues from across the country. Systems to grow fresh produce in your home using hydroponics or other automatic processes have been popular for several years but seem to…

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Poinsettia Gifts May Include Whiteflies

My good friend Dave Robson who is a horticulturist in Illinois reminds me that while poinsettias are great for holiday gift giving (for your friends/family/neighbors and yourself!), sometimes pests tag along on the plants.

Christmas Tree Success

Okay, you’ve picked out the perfect tree and set it up in your favorite spot. All done, right? No, wait, there’s more. There are several more factors to consider:

Late Fall Color in the Landscape

As we ease into winter, late November keeps our attention focused on a few plants that exhibit great color even though a few hard freezes have been delivered.

Veggie Garden Cleanup in Late Fall

We’re nearing the end of the veggie harvesting season with the coldest of cold hardy plants possibly still hanging on. It’s time to move to the next phase in edible gardening – the cleanup and storage phase.

Watering in Late Fall

If you want to see healthy outdoor plants in the spring, it’s important to water them in late fall.

Dig and Store Cannas in Fall After Frost/Freeze

Cannas are big robust plants that add wonderful texture and color to the summer landscape. Once Mother Nature sends a couple of hard freezes our way, it’s time to put them to bed for the winter.