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a group of children stand at a table full of potted plants in a classroom

Plant positivity, learn how to grow a school or community garden

URBANA, Ill. — When green spaces fill schoolyards and neighborhoods with flowers and fresh produce, children and communities thrive. But the journey from the idea of starting a community or school-based garden to planting one that is built to last is long. What funding sources are available?…

Recent quarter-sized holes in the soil made by periodical cicadas

Enjoy the silence. Cicadas are coming

If you haven't heard the buzz, you will soon. Billions of periodical cicadas are coming, and University of Illinois Extension is sharing information to help track their moves before emergence.

“Historically speaking, 2024 is a big year for periodical cicadas in Illinois,” says Ken…

Erin Garret standing next to little bluestem in a garden

Grasses at a Glance blog earns award from national Extension organization

URBANA, Ill. — Grasses are a small and often subtle backbone of many ecosystems, making up nearly 30% of the planet’s land cover. They prevent soil erosion, regulate water flow, and provide food and habitat for wildlife and livestock. But ask someone to identify one grass from another, and you…

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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...
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...
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 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 ever,...
Livestock producers invited to USDA outbreak preparedness scenario
URBANA, Ill. – Are you prepared for a disease outbreak that threatens U.S. livestock? The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine will host a U.S. Department of Agriculture backed online exercise to bring together a broad spectrum...
Color your garden with a rainbow of vegetables
URBANA, Ill. - Color is one of the aspects of design that leads to the beautiful garden, but sometimes vegetable gardens lack a variety of hues. "Thumbing through garden catalogs, you can now find a variety of colorful cultivars," says...
seed packet
Do not plant seeds of unknown origins
URBANA, Ill. – Mystery packages with unidentified seeds have shown up in mailboxes across the U.S. over the past week. University of Illinois Extension horticulture experts urge people to never plant unidentified seeds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is...

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