Refreshing raised bed soil generates exceptional results
URBANA, Ill. – Gardeners facing the aftermath of a hard winter often find themselves staring at problematic raised beds with significantly reduced soil levels.
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Get rid of weeds and insects at home without pesticides
URBANA, Ill. – It finally happened; your garden’s first tomato is ready to harvest. Bright red and plump, you can practically taste it, but on closer inspection someone already has. Do you dig out the trusty bottle of insecticide?
Not so fast, says...
Bring office plants neglected during pandemic back to life
URBANA, Ill. – When people walked out of their workplaces last March, most did not think it would be months or even a year before they would come back.
As employees continue to return to in-person work, they might find themselves facing...
Spruce, Callery pear have no home in Illinois landscapes
URBANA, Ill. – They are beautiful, tempting, and frequently for sale in Illinois garden centers, but many nonnative trees are less than ideal for land of Lincoln landscapes.
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Warmer temperatures rouse reptiles for spring migration
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois is world famous for its snakes. Every spring starting in March, Snake Road in the far southern reaches of the state closes to vehicles so migrating reptiles and...
Gardening benefits body, mind, wallet
URBANA, Ill. — A continuously connected lifestyle can drain internal batteries quickly, but digging into the world outside may be the best way to rejuvenate, revitalize and recharge.
“The gadgets of gardening aren’t flashy: a shovel, pruners, hoses and bags of seeds,” says...
The time is right to plant cool season vegetables
URBANA, Ill. – Across Illinois, experienced gardeners are blocking dates on their calendars based on expected thaw dates and anticipated harvest times.
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Assortment of cool-season grasses add beauty to spring
URBANA, Ill. – In spring, cool-season grasses grasses play an important role in providing habitat and food sources as they emerge, grow, and flower. Learn to identify the wide variety of grasses in a free online webinar by University of Illinois Extension.
"Grass identification...
Environmental webinars explore owls, native shade gardens
URBANA, Ill. – Peer into the natural world during two University of Illinois Extension webinars. The free, online webinars explore ways humans can have positive impacts on the environment.
The first webinar begins at 1 p.m. CDT on April 8. Extension Educator ...
Volunteers help youth feel welcomed, empowered in 4-H programming
URBANA, Ill. – Illinois 4-H Shooting Sports relies heavily on adult volunteers taking the lead in the various disciplines, ultimately making the county program successful. Registration is open for two statewide Shooting Sports Leader Certification sessions on June 5 and July 24.
The...