Come Grown With Us!
Illinois Extension connects people and their local horticulture and environmental concerns with the tools they need to pursue meaningful change. Whether it’s landscape aesthetics, sustainable practices, food production, pollinators, or a myriad of other topics, Illinois Extension has the resources people need.
Get Notified About Master Gardener Training!
Love gardening? Become a Master Gardener – Join the Interest List! Take your passion for plants to the next level. We'll let you know when the next training opens in Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, and Stark Counties.
Good Growing Blog
Seasonal gardening tips and great advice from University of Illinois Extension horticulture educators, including Emily Swihart.
The Outsider Newsletter
Check out this new newsletter highlighting seasonal plants, gardening, planting, or growing tasks and outside activities you can do to learn and get inspired!
Dig Deeper into Illinois Extension's Horticulture Resources
Lawn Care
There’s more to lawns than mowing. Lawns are an important part of our landscape. This website is designed to provide best management practices and current research on lawn care to help you make the decisions for your lawn. Let University of Illinois Extension help you get the lawn you desire.
Growing Vegetables
Growing your own food can be an incredibly rewarding experience. But there’s more to it than tossing some seeds in the ground. Illinois Extension has done the research for you and presents these easy-to-understand steps for planting, harvesting, cooking, and preserving your garden's harvest.
Illinois Pollinators
Pollinators are a group of amazing insects that are vital to both plant life and human life on earth. In recent years, pollinator populations have been declining dramatically which has prompted an immediate need for their protection and perpetuation on the landscape. Explore our website to learn more about the fascinating relationship between these important insects and the plant life we all depend on.
Extension Gardens
The website showcases gardens in Mercer and Rock Island counties that are supported by Extension Master Gardener and Naturalist volunteers, and Extension educators. These gardens demonstrate gardening practices, educate the public, grow food for donation, provide restorative spaces, and offer environmental benefits.
Plants Website
Help for whatever horticulture project you're growing! Plants add beauty, food, medicines, fiber, and foundational building blocks for our everyday needs. Choose the topic you need today, or explore our range of website as you dream big dreams for tomorrow.
Home Composting
To gardeners, compost is considered "black gold" because of its many benefits in the garden. Compost is a great material for garden soil. Illinois Extension has the resources you need to get started with home composting.
Horticulture Staff
Emily Swihart
