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Tomato leaf with small brown spots caused by septoria leaf spot

Common tomato diseases in the garden and how to manage them

Tomatoes are one of the most commonly grown vegetables in home gardens. While tomatoes are relatively easy to grow, there are a few diseases you should keep your eye out for. Three of the most common diseases people encounter are early blight, Septoria leaf spot, and anthracnose. All of these...
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white flowers of elderberry cluster in an umbel spent flower head is in the background

The wild and wonderful elderberry

Most of the time, I work hard to achieve a desirable outcome in my landscape but, from time to time, a plant comes along that is easy to establish and care for without being too aggressive, is beautiful, and produces food for wildlife and my family…black elderberry is one of those plants....
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a thermometer resting against an apple branch with blossoms

Growing Degree Days: A Tool for Smarter Gardening

This past week, right around mid-June, I received my first question about Japanese beetles. Throughout a growing season, plants, insects, diseases, and many other natural processes emerge, develop, and complete their life cycles. How do we know when to expect Japanese beetles to emerge? Or squash...
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wool sower gall on an oak tree

Fuzzy growth on oak trees: Wool sower galls

If you spend enough time looking at and working with plants, you'll inevitably come across galls. Galls are abnormal growths and can be caused by a variety of different organisms, including insects (like aphids, flies, wasps) and mites, and occasionally nematodes, fungi, and bacteria. Galls can be...
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Garden slug on rock by green plant leaf

Silent, slimy pests of the shade: Slugs

If you have noticed ragged, irregular holes in your hostas or other broad-leaf garden plants, you may be dealing with garden slugs.   These soft-bodied pests can be found in shady, moist gardens, and although small, they can cause significant damage.Identifying SlugsSlugs are members of the...
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A drip tape irrigating lettuce

Drip irrigation in the home garden

As demand for water resources and concern for water conservation increase across the U.S., drip irrigation is becoming a popular method to reduce water bills and safeguard water resources. Implementing drip irrigation in a garden or landscape is also a way to streamline watering your plants. With...
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Soak it up: rain garden and bioswale curb cut with water flowing into a vegetative swale

Soak it up: rain gardens and bioswales

Homeowners looking to enhance their landscape this year while managing stormwater have options available. Green infrastructure options include permeable pavement, rain barrels, large trees, green roofs, raingardens, bioswales, and more. Each of these systems is designed to utilize technologies or...
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A hand placing mulch at the base of a plant

Are you falling for these gardening myths?

During my time as an Illinois Extension educator, I have run across many garden myths. Too many to keep track of. But some myths keep on coming up in teaching and talking with Illinoisians. Some myths are more localized, while others are widespread and often touted as garden “hacks” online. ...
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