Identify, avoid, and manage troublesome wild parsnip
URBANA, Ill. — I love parsnips. Often parsnips, large white carrot-like root vegetables, are substituted for celery in my soups and stews. The cultivated parsnip that we eat heralds from the appropriately named wild parsnip, Pastinaca sativa. However, wild parsnip is a plant to avoid. The wild...

Grassy weeds becoming more common in lawns
URBANA, Ill. – When confronted with lawn weeds, typically we think of dandelion, creeping Charlie, and violet. These plants and many others are classified as broadleaved weeds, or dicots, and are easily distinguished from grasses which are monocots. Scientists have engineered herbicides that...

Four Seasons Gardening Series will answer homeowners' common questions
Homeowners often struggle with invading weeds and choosing from the vast array of landscape plants. They may also be curious about lesser-known late summer and fall-blooming plants. Illinois Extension is offering three online workshops as part of the...

Leaves of three? Keep poison ivy out of the home landscape
URBANA, Ill. – Experienced gardeners know where poison ivy is likely to be in the home landscape and newer gardeners will likely learn fast. Without knowing poison ivy is in the yard, it is all too easy to get the oils on your hands and clothing while clearing beds of otherwise harmless weeds...

To outsmart weeds in the garden, take multiple approaches
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