Green Side Up

Green Side Up is a gardening program produced by University of Illinois Extension. It is hosted by Richard Hentschel, Extension Educator, Horticulture.

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About the author/host: Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel's expertise extends across several subject areas with specialties in lawn care, fruit tree production, woody ornamentals, and home and community gardening.
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Training your fruit trees

Richard Hentschel, host of GSU, changes gears from vegetables and seeds to fruit trees for 2021. Training your fruit trees has several benefits including easier spring pruning, quicker monitoring for insects and disease, encouraged fruit production, and overall easier management. This is the first...

Garden catalogs offer small fruit options

Host Richard Hentschel talks about all the gardening catalogs arriving – whether either by email or our mailboxes – after the holidays. Besides vegetable and flower seeds, catalogs now offer small fruits like strawberries, currants, gooseberries, and brambles. These catalogs also are filled with...

Buying Seeds for your 2021 Garden

University of Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel discusses buying seeds for your 2021 garden. Gardening demand in 2020 created seed shortages, with garden centers selling out as many new gardens were planted. Hentschel talks about using leftover seed from 2020, purchasing what you need...

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...

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