Tank-mixing herbicides may not be enough to avoid herbicide resistance
URBANA, Ill. — Eight years ago, University of Illinois and USDA-ARS scientists turned weed control on its head. More and more herbicide resistant weeds were popping up, and the pest plants were getting harder to kill. It was clear farmers could no longer rely on the same chemicals year after...

Put down the bottle: Handling weeds and insects at home doesn't start with pesticides
URBANA, Ill. – It finally happened - your garden’s first tomato is ready. Bright red and plump, you can practically taste it, but on closer inspection someone already has. Do you dig out your trusty bottle of insecticide? Not so fast, says...

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...