Old But New

Plant breeders have given us some spectacular wonders for our gardens over the years.  We now have beebalm and phlox that are more resistant to powdery mildew. Coneflowers now come in bright bolder colors with sturdier stems.  We even have different Joe-Pye-Weeds that are shorter, more compact and even some like Eupatorium altissimum ‘Prairie Jewel’…

Container Gardens – For Flowers & Veggies

Container gardens have become wildly popular in recent years, and for good reasons. They’re colorful, adaptable, attractive, provide the opportunity to grow vegetables as well as flowers and are great for accommodating people with disabilities or just need a little greater ease in movement.

Spring Tree and Shrub Planting

On the Heels of Arbor Day – May is a great time to plant trees and shrubs.  Once the site has been analyzed for adequate room and the purpose of the tree has been identified (shade, fruit, screening, color), it’s time to focus on getting the roots in the ground. First Things First First, dig…

Don’t Wig Out Over Earwigs

The earwig is a curious pest. It is considered a wonderful mother, a creepy crawler, a natural enemy, and a pest of fruits.

Crawling up the walls: Brown marmorated stink bugs at it again

Yes, they’re back and they’re right on time. The brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB) have certainly made a name for themselves in eastern Nebraska for invading houses. Over the last few years, they’ve become known as a structural pest and indoor nuisance. Entomologists call them fall invaders or incidental invaders, due to the timing of…

Seed Saving Tips and Tricks

This article originally appeared on The Garden Professors blog in September 2020. As summer winds down and the summer crops and flowers start to slow down many gardeners start thinking about saving seeds. Who doesn’t love saving seeds from that favorite tomato or beautiful coneflower?  Not only do you have some for next year, but…

Virtual Learning Series: Pest Problems & Solutions

Join us for our next GROBigRed Virtual Learning Series Starting June 22nd! Nebraska Extension Experts will discuss common pest problems and their solutions throughout the summer. Sessions are 6:30pm CT on select Tuesday evenings through out the summer. Click here to register Schedule: Tuesday, June 22nd6:30-7:00pm: BagwormsPanelist: Kait Chapman 7:00-7:30pm: Japanese BeetlesPanelist: Scott Evans——————–Tuesday, July…

After Seeding Care of Lawns

The lawn seed is in the ground, tiny grass plants are growing, it’s being watered, now what? Good question.

The three biggest follow up actions to take to facilitate the development of a successful stand at this point are:
1. Keeping the soil moist, not soggy or dry.
2. Applying starter fertilizer to encourage rooting and eventual shoot growth
3. Weed control