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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Break Up the Clean Up: End of Season Tasks

Garden cleanup is the topic this week from Richard Hentschel, Illinois Extension Educator. Given our weather pattern this season, consider at least the beginnings of a cleanup effort. Some vegetables are done for the season, annual beds have lost their attractiveness, and lots of perennials...

Freaky Fungi: When to be Concerned

Green Side Up host Richard Hentschel talks about the increased amounts of decay fungi present during this season due to the weather patterns. Cool, moist conditions really promote natural decay. Sometimes seeing those mushrooms in the landscape are telltale signs of hidden trouble like root,...

Late Season Vegetable Gardening

Host Richard Hentschel discusses vegetable gardening late into the season. Hardy crops will continue until a hard frost or light freeze, some crops like Swiss Chard will continue to grow even after that. Sowing greens like spinach and lettuces for a harvest of microgreens can easily be done....

How to End Blossom End Rot

Green Side Up host Richard Hentscel discusses a common fruit problem on tomatoes called Blossom End Rot. Blossom End Rot is not really a disease, but rather a nutrition issue for younger tomato plants in certain growing conditions. Tune in to learn more:

Is it Favorable for Fungi?

Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, tackles yet another challenge homeowners are dealing with in the home landscape. Mushrooms can appear anywhere, anytime soil conditions are favorable. But do you need to worry about them?

Challenges and Competition with the Veggie Garden

This time, host Richard Hentschel discusses our continued growing challenges with vegetable transplants and sowing from seed. Getting those seeds up and out of the ground is one challenge, another has been weed seedlings competing for space, sunlight, and nutrition.

Spring Conditions and Plant Condition

Host Richard Hentschel addresses the large amount of calls to Extension about growing conditions this spring. Lots of perennials are bigger than normal, plenty of woody plants are damaged or dead from the severe winter, and more.

How to Handle Swarming Insects

Host and Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel discusses the good, bad and ugly of swarming insects.

How to Spot Winter Damage this Spring

Host Richard Hentschel discusses plants in the home landscape damaged by this winter's severe conditions. Tree, shrub, perennial flowers and small fruits have all suffered some level of damage. Learn what this means for the future, and learn what to look for by mid-June. Hentschel also...

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel talks about our wet weather, how different types of soil handle the rain, and how it impacts planting and growing this spring. He also touches on what earthworms and ants are doing this season.

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