Now that temperatures are beginning to fall in Illinois, conditions are becoming favorable for spruce spider mite Spruce spider mites are typically active in spring and fall when temperatures are cool and become inactive during the hot summer months. Active mites will feed on various...

  PONTIAC, Ill. – Livingston County Master Gardeners will be demonstrating how to make yummy, spicy, garden fresh pesto at the Catherine V. Yost House Museum from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 18. In addition, Master Gardener, Cathy Montgomery will give an informal presentation on how to...

Add a little of Sarah's Garden to your backyard landscape with exclusive Propagation Workshop BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – On Saturday, July 28 from 9 a.m. to Noon, the University of Illinois Extension McLean County Master Gardeners will be conducting a Plant Propagation Workshop at the...

I often tell people that I have a Ph.D. in watering plants. As a young professional, I spent my days deciding if I should water and then checking to see if I made the right decision. Sometimes, I spent my days racing to water before plants wilted. I would like to say it is an art, but any gardener...

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Did you know that nearly 75% of the world's crops require pollination? Join University of Illinois Extension and the Illinois State University Horticulture Center as they celebrate the world of pollinators. The Pollinator Palooza: A Party for the Pollinators will be...

Many who have been seeking out the McLean County Master Gardener help desk have been complaining of brown patches in the lawn. Unfortunately, most lawn ailments present themselves as unsightly browning in a sea of lush green. The following are some of the potential culprits. If the grass is brown...

Are you looking for more fruit on your trees this year? Try pruning. BLOOMINGTON, Ill. –An essential strategy for producing tree fruits is yearly pruning during the dormant season. Proper pruning can increase fruit quality, reduce the occurrence of diseases, and improve the...

Get your tree pruning questions answered without even leaving the house BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Many tree owners are apprehensive about the pruning process, but pruning is an important practice to improve structure, safety, aesthetic value, and ultimately extend the life of a tree. A...

Boxwoods want intermediate sun or shade. In full shade, they may not be as vigorous and have a looser shape. In full sun, they may scorch in our hot summers or bronze in the wintertime. Do not prune until after the chance of frost has past unless you are trying to control previous year's pest...

If you are a planner, you have most likely jotted down the dishes that you plan to cook and present to your family on Thanksgiving Day. Perhaps you are sticking with traditional favorites or trying something new to shake things up. My role in the family dinner is to help procure the ingredients....

  EUREKA, Ill. – At the Eureka Public Library Woodford County Master Gardener information booth, there has been lots of talk about rejuvenating old dilapidated apple orchards and buzzwords such as Emerald Ash borer. Even though the Illinois Department of Agriculture detected Emerald Ash...

2018 Home, Lawn & Garden Day welcomes Gold Standard Perennials BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – McLean County Master Gardeners welcome Susan Martin, as their keynote speaker for their 2018 Home, Lawn, and Garden Day. Susan receives accolades as a freelance writer, with features in Garden Gate Magazine,...

Mohammed Babadoost, University of Illinois go to plant pathologist, says, "This year's processing pumpkin crop is the best it has been in the last two decades. " Babadoost attributes the success of the pumpkin crop to new varieties, more successful management of diseases like downy mildew and...

Originally published by Kelly Allsup on October 24, 2018. Are you an avid vegetable gardener or maybe you just want to know more about growing food? University of Illinois Extension has brought you this new resource that is sure to be a "garden changer" for the novice and the expert!...

Vegetable Swap at Heartline and Heart House in Eureka EUREKA, Ill. – It is officially go time and the season for tomatoes, eggplant, herbs, cucumbers, peppers, apples and more. Those who have chosen to grow these favorite vegetables are more than likely getting more produce then...

Join Master Gardeners. Teach gardening in your community. The Master Gardener program is a volunteer organization with the University of Illinois Extension that gives back to the community through gardening and horticulture education. The newest project came...

Blueberries don't like most of the soils in Central Illinois. It's some of the best soil in the world, but for blueberries we have to make amendments that you can easily manage in your backyard. Our soil may be alkaline, but don't call us basic. Blueberries require acidic soil. They prefer a pH of...

Many homes are being purposefully adorned with abnormally large, scary black spiders and their webs to hinge on the fact that a large percentage of the population may suffer from the fear of spiders, known as arachnophobia. In contrast to most of America, I suffer from arachnophilia, a love of...

  EUREKA, Ill – Bring your questions to the Eureka Library on Monday, September 10 anytime between 4:30 to 6 p.m. to get your gardening questions answered by University of Illinois Extension Woodford County Master Gardeners. So far this growing season we have answered...

Fall is coming, and that means it's a great time to bring home a new tree. But before they do,homeowners should repeat the mantra"right plant, right place," according to Kari Houle, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator. "If you have space for a tree that can only be 30 feet tall...