URBANA, Ill. — While plants are waking up in backyards, parks, and gardens this spring, check in on the Four Seasons Gardening series webinars as another way to dig deeper, consider more plant options, strengthen management, and keep growing.
Register for the new spring sessions of the popular webinar series beginning Apr. 29. Two new webinars explore the growing impact of invasive plants and how to get rid of them properly, and all about squash, pumpkin, and cucumber pests as garden visitors.
University of Illinois Extension horticulture experts will present tips, how-to’s, and answer questions about each monthly topic. The series focuses on home gardening, environmental stewardship, and backyard food production. Sessions are free and presented live online beginning at 1:30 p.m. on select Tuesdays. Registration is required.
Spring Session Schedule
Nature’s Uninvited Guests: The Impact of Invasive Plants | Apr. 29
Sometimes, plants pop up in the yard that weren’t planted. Many gardeners don’t even notice at first or think the flower is cute, so they leave it. But in no time, it’s everywhere. Learn what makes a plant invasive versus aggressive, some common-to-Illinois invasives, and what to do about them.
Managing Common Squash and Pumpkin Pests | May 20
Pumpkins and squash are popular garden plants. However, many gardeners struggle with pests attacking their plants. Learn about common pests that affect squash, pumpkin, cucumber, and melon plants, as well as how to manage them.
Extension educators Jamie Viebach and Ken Johnson will lead the winter series. Find more information and sign up for each session at go.illinois.edu/FourSeasons.
Can’t make a session? Every program is recorded and available on the Illinois Extension Horticulture YouTube channel. Videos are available about two weeks after the live program.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact series coordinators by session: April Invasive Plants - Nancy Kreith, at kreith@illinois.edu, and May Common Pests - Gemini Bhalsod, at gbhalsod@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time for meeting access needs.
SOURCES: Gemini Bhalsod, Nancy Kreith, and Andrew Holsinger, horticulture educators, Illinois Extension
WRITER: Jenna Braasch, media communications coordinator, Illinois Extension
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.