University of Illinois Extension

Events (45)

Colors and Shapes and Forms, OH MY! Ann Tice Interviews the MSU Trial Plants Manager

Tue, 02/07/2023 - 12:00

Tea Party | Big & Small Gardening with Lee County Master Gardeners

Tue, 02/07/2023 - 12:00

Winfred Knox Memorial Library, Franklin Grove

gardening activities with kids and adults

Native Landscape Design: Part 2 (Feb 7 Coaching Session)

Tue, 02/07/2023 - 12:00

Online

Yellow sign, cook county native landscape design workshop

DIY Indoor Gardening Projects | Christian County

Thu, 02/09/2023 - 12:00

Christian County Extension or Online

Various garden tools on a dark colored background.

Potpourri Class | Carroll County Master Gardeners

Sat, 02/11/2023 - 12:00

Mt. Carroll Library

Houseplants | Christian County

Thu, 02/16/2023 - 12:00

Christian County Extension or Online

Small potted plants sitting on a window ledge being watered.

Native Landscape Design: Part 2 (Feb 21 Coaching Session)

Tue, 02/21/2023 - 12:00

Online

Yellow sign, cook county native landscape design workshop

Success with Seedlings | Macoupin County

Tue, 02/21/2023 - 12:00

Macoupin County Extension or Online

Seedlings popping through the soil on a seed tray

Grow Your Own Backyard Tree Fruit

Tue, 02/21/2023 - 12:00

Ida Public Library, Belvidere

apples growing on a tree

Joys of Gardening 2023

Sat, 02/25/2023 - 12:00

Highland Community College Student Conference Center

2023 In Person Weekend Gardener

Sat, 02/25/2023 - 12:00

Madison County Farm Bureau

A pink flower.

Gardening Insights 2023 | Macon County

Sat, 02/25/2023 - 12:00

St. Paul's Lutheran Church

Garden path with green grass background

Spring into Gardening 2023

Sat, 02/25/2023 - 12:00

Broadway Christian Church

gardeners trowel and rake in loose soil

Success with Indoor Plants | Four Seasons Gardening | Live Viewing DeWitt County

Tue, 02/28/2023 - 12:00

Vespasian Warner Library

Indoor plants

Success with Indoor Plants | Four Seasons Gardening (In Person Format)

Tue, 02/28/2023 - 12:00

McLean County Extension Office

Success with Indoor Plants | Four Seasons Gardening

Tue, 02/28/2023 - 12:00

Online

indoor plants in front of an office window

Where Will You Garden? | Growing Great Vegetables

Tue, 02/28/2023 - 12:00

Online

outdoor raised vegetable garden in a backyard

Pruning Apples and More | Christian County

Thu, 03/02/2023 - 12:00

Christian County Extension or Online

Pruning a fruit tree with a small pair of pruning shears.

2023 Virtual Weekend Gardener

Sat, 03/04/2023 - 12:00

A butterfly and two flowers.

Seed and Plant Choices | Growing Great Vegetables

Tue, 03/07/2023 - 12:00

Online

small plants emerging from soil

Basics of Home Composting | Four Seasons Gardening | Live Viewing DeWitt County

Tue, 03/07/2023 - 12:00

Vespasian Warner Library

garden rake with wooden background

Basics of Home Composting | Fours Seasons Gardening (In Person Format)

Tue, 03/07/2023 - 12:00

Livingston County Extension Office

Basics of Home Composting | Four Seasons Gardening

Tue, 03/07/2023 - 12:00

Online

half-eaten fruits and vegetables outside in a wooden bin

Vegetable Wars | Big & Small Gardening with Lee County Master Gardeners

Tue, 03/07/2023 - 12:00

Winfred Knox Memorial Library, Franklin Grove

gardening activities with kids and adults

All Walks of Leaf (Tree ID)

Fri, 03/10/2023 - 12:00

Ida Public Library, Belvidere

person standing under a tree

Home, Lawn, and Garden Day

Sat, 03/11/2023 - 12:00

Vermilion County Master Gardeners 2023 Garden Day Workshop

Sat, 03/11/2023 - 12:00

Photo of a butterfly on colorful flowers with "Garden Day 2023" in the middle.

Gardening for Food, Flowers & Fun - 2023 Rockford

Sat, 03/11/2023 - 12:00

NIU Rockford

Cool Season Vegetables | Growing Great Vegetables

Tue, 03/14/2023 - 12:00

Online

fresh-picked carrots in a wooden container

Ready...Set...Grow... Gardening Workshop | Dixon

8:30 AM- Noon

Sat, 03/18/2023 - 12:00

Loveland Community Building | Dixon

Warm Season Vegetables | Growing Great Vegetables

Tue, 03/21/2023 - 12:00

Online

cucumbers with yellow flowers on the vine in a garden

Container Gardening

Wed, 03/22/2023 - 12:00

Ida Public Library, Belvidere

soil in a shovel on a hard surface

4-H & Ag Lit Vegetable Kit | Montgomery County

Mon, 03/27/2023 - 12:00

Montgomery County Extension, 1 Industrial Park Dr., Hillsboro, IL 62049

Plants growing in pots.

Insects and Diseases | Growing Great Vegetables

Tue, 03/28/2023 - 12:00

Online

close-up of an invasive insect on a plant

Right Plant Right Place | Big & Small Gardening with Lee County Master Gardeners

Tue, 04/04/2023 - 12:00

Winfred Knox Memorial Library, Franklin Grove

gardening activities with kids and adults

Spring Series of Home Horticulture April 10 sessions

Mon, 04/10/2023 - 12:00

Holiday Inn

April in Paris Gardening Seminar 2023

Thu, 04/13/2023 - 12:00

Betty Jane's Kitchen

purple flowers

2023 McHenry County Gardenfest

7:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Sat, 04/15/2023 - 12:00

McHenry County College, 8900 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake, Illinois 60012

Flowers

Spring Series of Home Horticulture April 17 sessions

Mon, 04/17/2023 - 12:00

Holiday Inn

Spring Series of Home Horticulture April 24 sessions

Mon, 04/24/2023 - 12:00

Holiday Inn

2023 DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Master Gardener Training

Mon, 05/15/2023 - 12:00

Online

plants and garden supplies against a wooden fence

Lake County Master Gardener 2023 Plant Sale

9 AM - 2 PM

Sat, 05/20/2023 - 12:00

100 South Highway 45, Grayslake, IL 60030

Lake County Plant Sale 2023

2023 DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Master Gardener Training

Fri, 09/01/2023 - 12:00

Macon County Extension Office

plants and garden supplies against a wooden fence

2023 DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Master Gardener Training

Fri, 09/01/2023 - 12:00

Piatt County Extension Office

plants and garden supplies against a wooden fence

2023 DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Master Gardener Training

Fri, 09/01/2023 - 12:00

Online

plants and garden supplies against a wooden fence

Blog Posts (229)

Are my seeds still good? Testing seed germination

Are my seeds still good? Testing seed germination. White paper towel with small green seedlings emerging from black seeds

Discover new ways to garden with ease at the 21st Annual Home, Lawn, and Garden Day

Flat green mottled leaves of snake plant against a brown background

Expect a higher price with a "new" label

Brighten up dim interiors with low-light houseplants

Dark green and mottled leaves of snake plant

Plan to make garden resolutions for the new year | 2023

Garden resolutions for the new year | 2023. Garden with purple, red, pink, and white blooming plants and a wheelbarrow, shovel, and hose.

Anticipating the spring planting season

Paperwhites: A hint of spring in the darkest winter

Paperwhites in winter

Microclovers making a comeback as lawns become more diverse

Biodiversity

The ABC of seed saving

Seed in a glass

Make your plants part of your family: Indoor kitchen gardens

Plant inside listening to music

Start saving your seeds today!

Seedling in hand

Cover crops to the rescue

Crimson Clover

Give someone a green holiday season with the gift of plants

Close up of a red and green poinsetta

Make your Thanksgiving gathering special with the perfect herb additions

a mix of green herbs sit on a chopping block next to a large kitchen knife

Love the color and benefits of fallen leaves

Leaves piled up near a compost bin and a faded white fence

Providing winter hospitality to wildlife

Colorful fall trees and shrubs in the Central Illinois landscape

Orange and yellow maple tree in foreground of a line of colorful trees in fall

Bermudagrass: You either love it or hate it

Choose your garden tools to fit your needs

Methods for identifying plants is a great learning experience

Labeling is an Important feature of a plant collection

Use Mother Nature to break seed dormancy

What a no-till garden can do for you

tiller

Save money and save plants with a garden of overwintered favorites

A wood bin on a finished wood table filled white and purple hydrangea flowers and a small potted geranium.

Three simple techniques transform prized flowers into beautiful home decor

Bundles of white and pink flowers hang upside down to dry

Lawn care advice for people who don’t care about lawns

A half-mowed lawn

Manage brown rot of peaches and other stone fruit in the garden

Managing brown rot of peaches and other stone fruit in the garden. Peach fruit infected with brown rot. Fruit is covered in brown fuzzy mass.

Summer tip: Now is the time to prevent a fused garden hose in the Autumn

garden hose hanging on a spigot

Add spice to your garden (and life) with herbs

Green herbs in the background. Bright green leaves in front of a frog statue.

Blue flowers for your patriotic plantings

Blue flower on green leaves

Lunar Influence on Gardening

Champaign County Master Gardener's Plant Trial Program

Save money and space with container-grown fruits

black 20-inch container with berry plant

Use the whole garden and grow a salad in the shade

3 large vegetable leaves

Beyond hostas in your shade garden

Yellow flowers on green and purple leaves

Add rhubarb to your meals for a splash of color

Plant a rainbow of color on your porch or patio

Pot of flowers on a windowsill

Helpful tips for creating a successful container garden

Helpful tips for creating a successful container garden. Pots with yellow, purple and pink flowers.

Designing a garden for kids? Give it a theme!

Colored gloves on a fence and children's hands in mud

How to grow sunflowers at home - A great addition to any garden

How to grow sunflowers at home - A great addition to any garden. Yellow sunflower and blue sky with white clouds.

Prune properly, your forsythia and lilac shrubs will thank you

Yellow flowers on stems of forsythia, wood chip background

Early spring tasks before the growing season begins

Decrease your grocery list by planting onions

White onions with green tops growing in a raised bed.

Delay garden spring cleanup, encourage native insects

A plant stem is broke in half revealing the open cavity in the stem.

Planning your backyard garden together can create a lasting love of nature

hands digging in a pot of dirt

Garden worthy 'Plants of the Year'

Two photos side-by-side: Left, little bluestem in fall; right, purple and yellow violas

Garden with your kids this summer

A young girl sits in grass with a pile of harvested vegetables

Try growing potatoes this spring: Boost your storage pantry power

A pile of freshly harvest red potatoes on soil

Treat the itch to start gardening too early

When should I sow seeds for my vegetable garden?

Add Agroforestry Plants to Your Garden

A single ripening asian pear hangs among green leaves.

Gift a Flowering Houseplant this Valentine's Day

A row of cyclamens with red, white and pink flowers

Want continuous blooms in your yard?

Four things to consider when deciding what vegetables to grow

Four things to consider when deciding what vegetables to grow. raised beds with lettuce and beets growing in them.

Seed stratification: What seeds require cold treatment

seedlings

The winter garden needs planning too

2022 gardening trends and emotional resilience

pollinator on oregano flower

Do a little 2022 garden planning

Inspiring hope, building experience, making a difference in 2022

Winter scene

Eco-friendly uses for the Christmas tree

The origin of frankincense and myrrh add to their special meaning

bowl of myrrh resin

Order your seed catalogs now; plan better for next year

bush bean seeds in hand

Hazelnuts: A native plant is a new crop for Illinois

developing hazelnuts

Take care of hostas going into winter

Hosta in fall

Don't forget about these late fall yard chores

Fall garden clean up with pollinators and other wildlife in mind

Fall garden clean up with pollinators and other wildlife in mind. Gold finch feeding on purple coneflower seeds

Fall updates: gardening trends and jumping worms

jumping worm

Northern Illinois drought continues into fall

How can we better manage our nutrient applications?

Tractor pulling anhydrous toolbar

Coexisting with snakes: What kinds of gardening mesh are safe for snakes?

black racer snake entangled in plastic mesh

Anticipating the first fall frost in the garden

The best monster movies get their ideas from nature

chinese mantid

Gardening in comfort

A Strange Looking Insect - Wheel Bug

Wheel Bug

Make fall garden clean-up fun for the kids!

Fall is a good time to start composting

Why do my mums always die? How to grow and care for fall mums in your garden

Why do my mums always die? How to grow and care for fall mums in your garden. Yellow, white, orange and pink mum flowers.

Give your front porch containers a fall makeover

Fall garden with pumpkins

Armyworms move farther north and cause issues with lawns in Central Illinois

Fall armyworms in hand

Fall armyworm numbers highest in 30 years in Illinois

Fall armyworm feeding on ear of corn

Before squash harvest, you can cook with the blossoms

Cooking with Squash Blossoms; open blossom on squash plant on right side, three cut squash blossoms on wood background on right

How to divide and plant bearded iris

How to divide and plant bearded iris. person digging a bearded iris clump

Northern Illinois dry conditions and why watering matters

Enjoying the home landscape

How to use your heirloom tomatoes

A bunch of tomatoes of various shapes and colors in a wooden box. Text says 'How to use your heirloom tomatoes'

Plant stereotyping

Thank an ant for spreading your Dutchman's breeches

Winter bloomers add a spot of cheer

What could be killing my squash plants?

squash vine borer feeding on vine

Invasive jumping worm confirmed in west-central Illinois

Jumping worm

How to garden in rainy weather

Edible flowers can add unique color and spice to your dish

Chive flowers

The disadvantages of landscape fabric

landscape fabric fail

Celebrate National Pollinator Week!

Monarch on a flower

Garden tasks to help get your landscape through the summer

Garden tasks to help get your landscape through the summer. vegetable and flower garden with mulch path in-between.

Want pumpkins for Halloween? Start them now

pumpkins

Take control of your weed woes

How and when to water your garden

person watering plants with a purple watering wand

Be wise when watering

Herb of the Year: Parsley

Make the most of summer break with a family garden

family garden activities info graphic

Everything is coming up roses

Pruning tomatoes and peppers for healthier plants and a stronger harvest

Perennial plant of the year: Calamint

calamint and Echinacea

Sensory gardens invite interaction

Lavender photo by Verophoto Art, via Unsplash

Gardening and jumping worms in northern Illinois

jumping worm

Spring cover crops help start the season weed-free

Oats, Outi Mähönen, via Unsplash

Best Practices for Sharing Plants to Stop the Spread of Invasive Species

jumping worm

Stop the spread of jumping worms and other invasive species

jumping worm

Invasive Jumping Worms Confirmed in Peoria County

jumping worm

Heirloom flowers provide fragrance, beauty, pollinator support

field of pink cosmos

5 Tips for a successful second year gardener

garden with fruit and veggies

How to successfully grow asparagus in your garden

How to successfully grow asparagus in your garden. purple-green asparagus spears emerging from soil.

Use row cover to protect plants from more than just frost

Row cover protecting some lettuce

Have outdoor insects survived the cold and snow?

snow-covered plant debris

Garden fun for families on Spring Break

terrarium with roman soldier - photo by Brittnay Haag

What’s that Smell? Decomposing Radishes used as Cover Crops

cover crop starting to grow in corn field in February

How does winter help the garden?

winter loaded screen

Seed starting woes? Ask the pros

seedling under plastic lid. creative commons.

Benefits of training your apple and fruit trees

How plants survive freezing temperatures

Growing strawberries and blueberries

blueberries on the bush

What’s the best thing to feed the birds?

chickadee at a feeder

Do you know when to plant in Illinois?

Seedlings growing in paper eggshell cartons

Two garden tasks to do in January

Vermicomposting: A Composting Option for the Winter

worms feeding on food waste creating compost

Get a gardening fix this winter with houseplant care

Positive Change Can Make a Difference in Your Community

sunlight through ice covered trees

Ordering seeds from garden catalogs

New plants for a new year - try growing something new in 2021

2021 All-American Selections winners

Winter blooming hellebores

Get your seeds early in 2021

Give the gift of gardening

LEGO sculpture of adult and child gardening together

Gardening grew in 2020

Fall evokes the five basic senses

Evergreen leaves live longer lives

Bringing container plants in for the winter

Hairy crabweed is one bad weed!

Sticky seed dispersal and plants with eye-catching leaves

Editing aggressive plants in the garden

How to winterize outdoor plumbing - irrigation, hoses, spigots

frozen over fountain

Aquarium Aquaponics

pothos growing in aquarium

Late fall yard tasks - from mower to snowblower

Fall Gardening Tasks

planting spring bulbs amongst fall perennials

Overwintering your favorite garden plants

joseph's coat

A different fall-blooming beauty

aster, purple with yellow centers. credit: pixabay.

Why are some plants’ leaves white now?

Wildlife in the fall garden

fox squirrel in foreground of fall or winter tree limbs.

Divide and Conquer in Fall

brilliant red-orange oriental poppy pixabay

Landscaping Fiction (Part 2): Eggshells, railroad ties, and organics

tomado demonstrating blossom end rot

Landscaping Fiction (Part 1): Don't be fooled by garden add-ons

mole emerging from soil

Late summer questions to the Master Gardeners

Growing and Harvesting Okra

The okra plant produces cream colored flowers. Once pollinated, these will produce the okra pods to harvest and cook.

It's Time to Plant a Fall Garden

Bag of potting soil with planer next to it

Grow your own vegetables to benefit your health and the environment

women working in garden

Hostas

Hand pollination of last year’s hosta flowers produced the seeds used to grow this tray of hosta seedlings. However, it will take a few more years for these plants to mature and truly express the traits gained from hybridization. Photo credit: Barb and Rick Schroeder

Start your fall garden

cool season crops

Take your butterfly garden to the next level

Recommended Reading for Gardeners During a Pandemic

Summer Reading for Gardeners

Grow your own grass head!

wheat grass growing in a cup

Handling your fresh-picked produce

Freshly harvested cucumbers, eggplant, beans, potatoes, pumpkins, squash, beets, & turnips.

Advanced butterfly gardening

silvery checkerspot by kathy dumler

The big wasps of summer

cicada killer by deanna frautschi

Favorite Perennials For the Sun

plox from pixabay

How much water does your garden need?

6 Tips for Watering Container Gardens

Settling into a summer rhythm

Summer is prime time for growing sweet strawberries

Ripe and Unripe Strawberry Closeup. Photo Credit: Enoch Lau, Wikicommons

Garlic: So easy even I can grow it!

Growing Garlic

Home Horticultural Remedies

Home Horticultural Remedies

Garden Journal: A helpful gardening tool

Garden journal info graphic

Try pineberry: A delicious pineapple-flavored strawberry

Everbearing pineberrries are unique white berries with red seeds. Photo source: Emmbean, Wikimedia Commons.

How to Grow Sweet Corn

Sweet corn

How to Grow Popular Herbs

How to grow popular herbs

Growing Basil in Your Backyard

The New Victory Garden

Tomato and Basil plants growing in a homemade container. Be sure to allow for drainage from any container.

Welcome to My Jungle - May, 2020

The Many Different Types of Cucurbits

The Many Different Types of Cucurbits

How to Grow Cucurbits

bright yellow flower

Monarchs Next on the Endangered Species List?

monarch butterfly on mexican hat sunflower

Herbs Offering Culinary and Habitat Enhancement

black swallowtail caterpillar ascending parsley

Different Types of Tomatoes

different types, sizes, and colors of tomatoes

Welcome to My Jungle - April, 2020

Welcome to My Jungle - March, 2020

Welcome to My Jungle - February, 2020

Welcome to My Jungle - January, 2020

How to Grow Tomatoes

How to Grow Tomatoes

Planting the first-time vegetable garden

How to Grow Lettuce

three lettuce varieties

How to Grow Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potato harvest

Starting a Garden: Irrigation

Sprinkler head

Wildlife-friendly gardens add more enjoyment and interest

praying manthis in zinnia

Starting a Garden: Fertilization

corn seedlings with fertilizer

Starting a Garden: Pest Management

squash vine borer larva inside of the stem of a zucchini plant

Advantages of early vegetable gardening and other spring notes

Starting a Garden: Supporting Plants

cucumber plants growing up a trellis

Flowers-Kimmerle teaches webinar session on winter sowing of seeds

Start to Finish: Growing a Cut Flower Garden

Field of sunflowers

How to Prune Fruit Trees and Maximize your Home Orchard

Clipper cutting tree branch in winter

Starting a Garden: Season Extension

Cold frame with vegetables growing inside in the fall.

Starting a Garden: Hardening Off Indoor Seedlings

basil seedlings in seedling flat

A Beginners Guide To Worm Composting

Fruit and vegetable scraps for composting

Starting Seeds in Spring

kohlrabi at Garden of Giving

Designing Around Specific Colors and Plants

nodding onion

Starting a Garden: Soil Management

Spade in garden soil

Starting a Garden: Types of Gardens

lettuce and potatoes in an in-ground garden, vegetables in a raised bed, and herbs in pots

Easy Seeding at Home With Limited Materials

Start seeds with a clamshell of soil and a spraybottle.

Starting a Garden: Warm Season Vegetables

basket with tomatoes, peppers and summer squash

Starting a Garden: Cool-Season Vegetables | And my top 5 cool-season crops to grow

Kale

Starting a Garden: Supplemental Lighting for Indoor Seed Starting

Lighting

Starting a Garden: Begin with a Plan

Vegetable garden sketch

Starting a Garden: Seed Starting

blazing star seedlings under grow lights

Socially-distanced Garden Activities

Remember the Feeling of Spring

Image of spring

Don't grow distant from your garden!

beet greens and lettuce greens

Kick off spring in Pontiac with Livingston County Master Gardeners

Answers for Early Spring FAQs

More to a shovel than you may think

different types of shovels laying in the grass

Homegrown: DIY Hydroponics for All Gardeners

Green herbs growing out of plastic tub in home hydroponic system

How to overwinter house plants

Houseplants provide beauty as well as a plethora of human health benefits during winter although indoor plant care can often be challenging this time of year.

How to grow garlic

purple garlic heads hanging to dry

Fall planted bulbs welcome bees with early spring bloomers

Tomato hornworms and hummingbird moths are here

Spring Lawn Care - What Should You Really Be Doing

Spring Sweetness: Strawberrries

Beat summer heat with low-water xeriscape gardens

Xeriscape style garden

A Primer to Supplemental Lighting for Indoor Seed Starting

Vermiculture Composting: Worm Aversion Conversion

It's hard to beat a good beet

beet growing with title "it's hard to beat a good beet"

News Releases (217)

Spend Saturday with a Whiteside County Master Gardener

Put Ready…Set…Grow…on Your March Calendars

Winter sowing workshop helps gardeners stay on top of gardening in the offseason

One day horticulture workshop provides opportunity to plan and prepare for this year's gardens

Get the dirt on growing healthy plants

Winter sow seeds for a head start on your garden and a beautiful blooming season

Is it okay to save unused seeds for the following year?

Sow seeds of change, learn how to save garden seeds

Fruit trees need an annual trim to bear best fruit

Indoor gardening can brighten winter doldrums

Planning a new perennial garden? Plant for the whole garden ecosystem

Can insects protect my garden ecosystem better than chemicals?

Extension Master Gardeners give to the Morton Giving Garden so that the garden can give to others

Lee County Master Gardeners Start Gardening Series at Winfred Knox Memorial Library in Franklin Grove

To get in touch with nature, create a sensory garden

Find gourds absorbing? Try growing a loofah sponge

Give summer-blooming bulbs a second chance, store them over winter

Stretch out the growing season with fall planted salad greens

Extend the season with fall flowers for your beds, borders, and containers

Become a Master Gardener and help others grow

Fall gardening is your time to plan for beautiful spring

Gardening advice now available 'in the air'

Take care of a few details now to prepare for spring garden season

Autumn Joys of Gardening Series Offered

Time to plant Cool Season Vegetables

Falling Into Autumn Gardening Series

Protect the delicate balance of our natural world

Illinois Extension program teaches rainscaping practices

Taking time to select plants for difficult growing conditions helps long-term success

Leaves of three? Keep poison ivy out of the home landscape

Create backyard paradise with tropical plant garden

Tips to harvest garden vegetables at peak quality, flavor

Feed your community by safely donating homegrown fruits, vegetables

Microclovers making a comeback as lawns grow in biodiversity

To outsmart weeds in the garden, take multiple approaches

Support pollinators with cheerful viola flowers

Hands On Gardening Activities at Sterling Public Library

Gardens provide hands-on learning experience

Tour 10 amazing gardens on July 9 at Garden Walk 2022, hosted by the McHenry County Extension Master Gardeners and MCC

Have fresh herbs at your fingertips with herb container workshop

Visit the Master Gardener Help Desk to have all your garden questions answered

Tri-County Master Gardener Help Desks open for 2022 season

Illinois Extension Educator retires with three decades of service

Add beauty to your landscape with plants from the Plant Sale

Visit the Master Gardener Plant Sale for quality you can trust

Become an expert with Master Gardener online training

Beautify your landscape with plants from the annual Master Gardener Plant Sale

Rain Water Management in Your Home Landscape

Joys Spring Gardening Series

Spend Saturday April 9 with a Master Gardener

Learn how to extend the longevity of garden tools with proper care

Make your own herb garden at free 4-H event

Totally Tomatoes, Perfect Peppers

Slow stormwater, prevent floods with rain friendly landscaping

Magnolia blooms, beetles are nature’s spring flower odd couple

Grow curly willows for an artistic twist in the landscape, winter flower arrangements

Scale up your garden’s health with fish emulsion fertilizer

Flavor your meals with low-maintenance homegrown herbs

Pelleted seed gives gardeners a sown in advantage

Plant new fruit, vegetable, and flower varieties with confidence with 2022 All-America Selection Winners

Keep jumping worms from damaging lawns, gardens, natural areas

Pelleted seeds improve planting ease, germination rates

McHenry County Gardenfest Brings Spring on April 9

Gardening enthusiasts invited to attend Gardeners’ BIG Day

Be inspired for a great growing season at April in Paris gardening seminar

Prepare for gardening season with free Master Gardener seed sowing event

Put Ready…Set…Grow…Back on Your March Calendars for 2022

Saturdays With A Whiteside Master Gardener Kicks Off

Get ready for spring with 20th annual Home, Lawn and Garden Day

Join Master Gardeners for a seed swap and learn about seed saving

Joys of Gardening Returns this February

Plant seeds for success with beginner vegetable gardening workshop

Master Gardener program offers hybrid training

Webinar series encourages gardeners to start thinking about spring

Horticulture day-long program helps gardeners plan for the season

Horticulture Hotline Continues to Provide Valuable Information to Homeowners

Extension Master Gardeners team up with 4-H youth to grow a creative garden at Wildlife Prairie Park

Partnership boosts local horticulture education at ICC

Learn to grow with Master Gardener online training

Restore wildlife, prepare for spring with winter Gardening in the Air series

Trim trees, shrubs in the dormant season for stronger, healthier plants

Garden catalog season gives gardeners chance to explore, shop for next year's seeds

Give houseplants new life with DIY kokedama moss balls

Poinsettias add a rainbow of color options to holiday décor

Low-maintenance, winter blooming holiday cacti are gift that keep on giving

DIY bottle terrariums make great holiday gifts

Watering trees, shrubs in the fall and winter is a balancing act

Keep worms warm for winter vermicomposting

Keep plants, pollinators happy with fall Gardening in the Air series

Feed the bees next spring with bulbs from this year’s Fall Gardeners’ Gathering

Consider cover crops this fall

They thrash about and are here for your soil

Extension offers best gardening tips for fall season

Don't rake fall leaves, recycle them

Proper maintenance extends lifespan, saves money on garden tools

Healthy gardens start with sensible soil testing

Tips for planting balled-burlapped trees for long-term health, success

Small bees attracted to small flowers

Plant asters for unique display of fall color

Exchange your food scraps for compost: an easy way to help our environment

Enrich your knowledge and your soil at free composting event

Go back in time with free historical cottage garden tour

See garden ideas come to life with the Kane County Master Gardeners

Learn about heirloom gardening and native plants at free garden tour

Learn how to grow great tomatoes and tour community garden

Aphid pests on the move in backyard gardens, agricultural fields

Free event to tour Crossing Garden and learn about composting

Extension Master Gardeners team up with Tazewell County Health Department to grow food for local families

Learn how to make your landscape attractive to pollinators

Weeds or wildflowers? It's a matter of perspective

Irrigate gardens to beat summer heat

Tomato gardeners beware; blossom end rot can be prevented

Large yard not required to support pollinators

Love fresh salsa? Plant a salsa garden

School gardens offer numerous benefits beyond beautification

Invasive earthworm species a threat to Illinois’ natural resources

Livingston County Master Gardener Help Desk Open

Master gardeners to answer questions in-person at the farmer's market

Tour some of the best gardens with the McHenry County Extension Master Gardeners’ and MCC’s Garden Walk 2021 on July 10

Tour beautiful gardens during the Master Gardener Over the Gate Garden Walk

Learn how to grow fresh herbs and the ways to use them

Can foods safely this season with free test from Illinois Extension

McHenry County Extension Master Gardeners Grow Produce ‘for Good’

Garden smarter, not harder: Free online Four Seasons Gardening series open

Missing Arbor Day doesn't mean you can't plant a tree

Hybrid rainscaping program offers a closer look at stormwater management

McHenry County Extension Master Gardeners Launch Seed Library

Invasive jumping worms confirmed in Peoria County

Keep an eye out for invasive jumping worms in the garden

Whiteside County Master Gardeners Host Demonstration Shade Garden Tour

The gardening methods you need to tell goodbye

Log on to the McHenry County Virtual Gardenfest on April 10

Illinois Extension to Offer Get Growing Webinar Series

Extension is here to share in your gardening triumphs and woes

Lake County Extension Master Gardener Spring Plant Sale June 12

Environmental webinars explore owls, native shade gardens

Grow your green thumb this spring with free online gardening classes

Add interest by creating a moonlight garden

Planning, designing a native garden

Small-batch culinary herbs add flavor to gardening menu

Small-space containers big with new gardeners

Heirloom flowers provide fragrance, beauty, pollinator support

Refreshing raised bed soil generates exceptional results

Spruce, Callery pear have no home in Illinois landscapes

The time is right to plant cool season vegetables

Tips for starting your spring garden off strong

Gardening benefits body, mind, wallet

Birds, bees need growers' help to keep pollinating

Vermilion County Master Gardeners present 2021 Garden Day Workshop

Make way for new award-winning garden plants of 2021

Illinois Extension & Rock Island Public Library offer free online series: Vegetable Gardening Made Easy

Think Spring Gardening Series

2021 is the year of the gardener; get ready with Home, Lawn, Garden Day

Bi-State Garden Conference

Four Seasons Gardening webinars return in 2021

Get ready for spring with Gardening in the Air

Gardening interests bloom in 2020

Grow great vegetables with beginner gardening webinar series

Small, but mighty microgreens are easy to grow indoors

Winter pruning boosts blackberry and raspberry harvests

Use winter to plan for a fruit garden

Perennial plant of the year, calamint, a perfect pick for pollinators

Two local Master Gardeners earn state honor

Partnership connects urban youth to careers in ag and food innovation

Youth can learn to design creative mini gardens during virtual workshop

Save wetlands, use soilless potting mixtures

Learn to extend your gardening season at free Extension webinar

Four Seasons Gardening Program Offers Free Fall Series Webinars

Fall garden cleanup lays groundwork for a successful spring

Put fall leaves to work as compost

How to pick the perfect pumpkin

Bring houseplants indoors before the first frost

Select and plant spring-flowering bulbs now

Harvest abundant squash for food, decoration

Hold on to summer with home hydroponics

Plant native perennials in the fall for healthy spring growth

Harvest milkweed pods; plant Monarch butterfly garden

Benefit your health and environment by growing your own vegetables

Prolong shelf life of garden-fresh produce with good harvest habits

Do not plant seeds of unknown origins

Consistent watering needed during hot-weather gardening

Garden vegetables need water to survive extreme weather

Find beauty during 'dog days' of August

Illinois Master Gardeners announce new volunteer website

Flavor Your Summer with Backyard Basil

Color your garden with a rainbow of vegetables

Choose drought tolerant plants for homeowners

For showy blooms, pruning hydrangeas is all about the timing

Showy Annabelle hydrangea has historic roots in Illinois

Get out of the sun with 5 ideas for backyard shade

Growing irises: How to plant, grow and care for iris

Too much of a good thing, mulch volcanoes slowly kill trees

Create a caterpillar cafe out of your butterfly garden

Lawn rust and why your shoes are turning orange

Save wetlands, use soilless potting mixtures

6 tips for watering container gardens

Flavor summer with backyard basil

Homeowner’s guide to watering summer lawns

Have a garden question? The answer is only a click away

Campus rain garden certified as wildlife-friendly

Start herb seeds indoors

Pollinator support tips for gardeners and homeowners

Start your spring landscape clean up

Enjoy home-grown asparagus with backyard gardening webinar

Keep your garden producing all season

Advantages of Early Gardening

University of Illinois Extension McHenry County Master Gardeners Offer Virtual Gardening Advice for Spring

Tri-County Master Gardeners Host e-Help Desks this Spring

Get gardening with our beginning gardener webinar series

The Cook's Garden

Local Volunteers Plan Spring Fling Garden Day

Reserve Your Spot at the 2020 Ready Set Grow Gardening Workshop

Communities Join in Master Gardeners' Annual Seed Swap

Raspberry: The Herb of the Year Homeowners Learn All About Growing Raspberries at Information-Packed Workshop

University of Illinois and Purdue Extension Bi-State Group to Host Annual Garden Conference

Four Seasons Gardening Winter Webinar Series Underway

Winter Seed Sowing

Staff (9)

Picture of Navraaz Basati

Navraaz Basati

Horticulture Program Coordinator

Gemini Bhalsod

Gemini Bhalsod

Horticulture Educator

C. Eliana Brown

Carolyn Eliana Brown

Water Quality Specialist

Margaret Burns Westmeyer

Margaret Burns Westmeyer

Horticulture Program Coordinator

Christopher Enroth

Christopher Enroth

Horticulture Educator

Andrew Holsinger

Andrew Holsinger

Horticulture Educator

Ken Johnson Staff Photo

Ken Johnson

Horticulture Educator

Layne Knoche

Layne Knoche

Visiting Extension Outreach Associate

Tracy Jo Mulliken

Tracy Jo Mulliken

Program Coordinator, Horticulture and Agriculture