Green Side Up
Latest Episode
Buying Seeds for your 2021 Garden
Wildlife activity this winter
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel discusses winter wildlife in the backyard. When you feed the birds throughout the winter, gardeners should expect to see other kinds of wildlife visiting, including the four-legged type from voles and ground squirrels up to...
Fall garden and weed clean up
This week, Richard Hentschel, host of GSU, discusses our extended fall garden and bed cleanup in 2020. Unusually good weather has provided gardeners yet another opportunity to get caught up on tasks. Besides the usual cutting back of perennials, those garden weeds also can be dealt with before...
Firewood tips and techniques
Richard Hentschel, host of GSU, tackles a hot topic – firewood. Differences in moisture content, wood density, and how firewood is stored, all make a big difference in how much enjoyment you get from the fireplace in the home, or even from an outdoor firepit. Another tip: never bring firewood...
Prepare houseplants to come inside for winter
GSU’s Richard Hentschel sends a strong reminder about getting our houseplants in long before frosty and freezing weather moves in. Houseplants need some inspection and care before being brought indoors. Disease is not nearly as important as checking for insects, both on the foliage and in the...
Weather and foliar diseases
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel talks about how weather influences fungal foliar disease outbreaks. Many foliar diseases infected our plants back in early to late spring and are now really obvious, having fully developed. Getting to know the lifecycle of...
Growing season changes
This week’s podcast addresses the changes naturally occurring as the growing season shifts toward fall. Tree and shrub foliage can move from that nice shiny green to a duller solid green, and fall colors can begin to show up. Perennials can see a color change, often times to just a yellow with...
Lawn maintenance and repair
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, talks about repairing lawns damaged by the summer weather and timing for seeding your lawn. Mid-August through the first week in September is a good window in northern Illinois. Richard also explains grass blends or combinations of species as a mix to...
Summer rains
GSU host Richard Hentschel gets into the expectations after rains return, and the good and bad that can happen in the yard and garden. All our plants, trees, shrubs, evergreens, flowers and vegetables really get a boost. Plants get that good green color back, and flowers happen more consistently...