Harvest milkweed pods; plant Monarch butterfly garden  
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois needs to plant milkweed, and a lot of it, over the next 18 years to ensure the state’s official insects, monarch butterflies, survive.   ...

Plant native perennials in the fall for healthy spring growth
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Four Seasons Gardening Program Offers Free Fall Series Webinars
The Fall series of the University of Illinois Extension’s Four Seasons Gardening Program, which focuses on environmental stewardship, home gardening, and backyard food production, gets underway the month of September. The public is invited to participate in this free webinar series. The first...

There’s Still Time to Register for the University of Illinois Master Gardener On-Line Training Program in Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam Counties!
For the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program, the last four decades can be measured by the millions of volunteer hours given to help bring horticultural help to communities across the state. This year...

Prolong shelf life of garden-fresh produce with good harvest habits
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Conservation virtual workshop provides best practices for landowners and managers
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4-H webinar aims to help children stay safe while home alone
PEKIN, Ill. - This year, the virtual and hybrid learning models adopted by many schools may cause some students to stay home alone while their parents go back to work. “Staying Safe at Home” is a new, virtual program offered by University...

Get the most from your energy budget
URBANA, Ill. – Understanding how electric utilities work and the services available can help residents and governments invest resources wisely and save money. In a series of energy policy webinars, University of Illinois...

Four Seasons webinars provide help for home gardeners and forest enthusiasts
URBANA, Ill. – With many fall activities canceled, gardening has enjoyed an increased enthusiasm. University of Illinois Extension provides reliable research-based information on gardening and landscaping. The popular Four Seasons...

Grow apple trees in your urban garden
URBANA, Ill. – Apple trees have been a common landscape feature throughout human history. As humans become more urban-dwelling, apple trees are finding new homes in cosmopolitan landscapes far from familiar orchards. “Urban apple trees are usually dwarf varieties or columnar apple trees...

Bureau County 4-H Members Shine During Virtual Fair
  With a commitment to the safety of 4-H members and volunteers, Bureau County 4-H shifted the traditional 4-H Fair format from in-person to virtual, this year.  This allowed 4-Hers to have the opportunity to display their project work and receive vital learning feedback from...

Controlling crab grass can be a summer-long task
URBANA, Ill. – Recent rains have caused a common spring-time foe, crabgrass, to reappear. Crabgrass is often thought of as a spring-emerging weed, but with enough moisture, crabgrass can germinate any time in the growing season, challenging homeowners. “Crabgrass is an abundant seed...

Census deadline looms; response impacts funding, relief assistance
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Is pond algae toxic?
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Keep ponds oxygen-rich for healthy fish
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Virtual and in-person tours available for annual pumpkin field day
URBANA, Ill. – From jack-o’-lanterns to gourds, University of Illinois Extension has research updates on all things pumpkin. Since 2014, Illinois Extension staff conduct agricultural field trials regularly to compare yields of different pumpkin varieties grown under realistic conditions...

Choose the right grass seed for a thriving lawn
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Emergence of downy mildew threatens Illinois basil crop
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Choose drought tolerant plants for homeowners
URBANA, Ill. - It can be a challenge to choose plants that will survive Illinois’ changing weather patterns. "While we can go inside and enjoy the air conditioning, our plants don’t have the same luxury," says Gemini Bhalsod...

Face your older years with health, happiness, confidence
URBANA, Ill. – Age may just be a number, but 2020 is putting that statement to the test. University of Illinois Extension educators offer suggestions for handling the physical and emotional challenges of aging, especially in light of the current health challenges.   “Now more than...