Horticulture
Horticulture
New Gardener Resources
Gardening and learning to grow your own food provides many benefits, but we know it can be a bit intimidating when first starting out. Here’s some articles that’ll get you started as a new gardener or for you to share with someone you know that would like to get their hands a little dirty.
Wisconsin Lawn Care Calendar
Wisconsin lawn care calendars are indispensable tools for maintaining lush and healthy lawns throughout the year. These calendars provide essential guidelines and schedules tailored to Wisconsin’s specific climate and soil conditions. From springtime fertilization to fall aeration, they ensure that lawn enthusiasts stay on track, achieving a vibrant and verdant yard every season.
Insect Diagnostic Lab
The UW–Madison Insect Diagnostic Lab provides expert insect identification and guidance for gardeners, growers, and homeowners across Wisconsin. Whether you’re dealing with pests in the garden, curious about an unusual insect, or looking for science‑based management recommendations, the lab offers reliable support to help you protect your plants and make informed decisions. Their services are free for Wisconsin residents and are an excellent resource for anyone involved in horticulture.
Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic
The UW–Madison Plant Disease Diagnostics Clinic (PDDC) offers science‑based diagnosis and management recommendations for plant diseases affecting everything from home gardens to commercial crops. Their team helps growers, landscapers, and homeowners identify plant health issues and provides practical guidance to prevent and manage disease problems.
Soil and Forage Lab
The UW–Madison Soil & Forage Analysis Lab provides accurate, research‑based soil testing services to help gardeners, farmers, and land managers make informed decisions about soil health and fertility. Their analyses offer practical guidance on nutrient levels, pH, and soil amendments, ensuring plants have the conditions they need to thrive. Whether you’re maintaining a home garden or managing larger acreage, the lab’s reliable testing services are an essential tool for supporting healthy, productive soils.
Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab
The UW–Madison Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab (TDL) specializes in diagnosing turfgrass diseases, disorders, and management issues for homeowners, landscapers, golf courses, and athletic facilities. Their expert team provides accurate diagnostics and practical recommendations to help restore and maintain healthy, resilient turf. Whether you’re troubleshooting lawn problems or managing high‑performance turf, the TDL offers reliable, science‑based support to keep your grass looking its best.
To learn more about the Barron County Master Gardeners – Visit their Facebook Page!
Wisconsin Master Gardeners Program
WIMGA
FLOWERS AND GARDENS
What’s the deal with “No Mow May”?
Container Gardening Mulches for Home Gardens and PlantingsCover Crops for the Home GardenGrowing Perennials
Sampling Lawn and Garden Soils for Analysis
Making and Using Compost in the Garden
Evaluating and Judging Flowers and House Plants
How to Grow Tuberous-Rooted Begonias and Gloxinias
Biological Control and Insects and Mites
Biological Control of Insects and Other Pests of Greenhouse Crops
Gladiolus Disorder Virus Complex and Aster Yellows
Gladiolus Disorder Fusarium Yellows and Bulb Rot
Geranium Bacterial Stem Rot and Leaf Spot
Deciduous Tree and Shrub Disorder Skeletonizing by Rose Chafer
COMPOSTING
LAWNS
Sampling Lawn and Garden Soils for Analysis
The Basics of Micro Irrigation
Lawn Establishment and Renovation
Identifying Grasses in Wisconsin Turf
Organic and reduced-risk Lawn Care
Do It Yourself Alternative Lawn Care Lawn Fertilization
Calibrating and Using Lawn Fertilizer and Lime Spreaders
Turfgrass Nutrient Management Planning
Supina Bluegrass for Lawns, Golf Courses, and Athletic Fields
FRUITS – BERRIES
Growing Strawberries in Wisconsin
Growing Currants, Gooseberries, and Elderberries in Wisconsin
Growing Raspberries in Wisconsin
Cover Crops for the Home Garden
Raspberry Pest Management for Home Gardens
Raspberry Disorder Fire Blight Spotted Wing Drosophila Invasive Pest of Soft skinned Fruit
Home Fruit Cultivars for Northern Wisconsin
Fertilizing Small Fruits in the Home Garden
Strawberry Pest Management for Home Gardeners
Strawberry Disorder Black Root Rot
Strawberry Disorder Angular Leaf Spot
Evaluating Cold Hardy Wine Grape Maturity Cranberry Pest Management in Wisconsin
Cranberry Pest Management in Wisconsin
Grape Pest Management for Home Gardeners
Cranberry Disorders Fungal Leaf Spot Diseases of Cranberry in Wisconsin
Cranberry Disorders Cranberry Stem Gall
FRUITS – TREE FRUITS
Apple Disorder Sooty Blotch and Flyspeck
Apple Pest Management for Home Gardeners
Plant Growth Regulator Use in Apples
Planning and Establishing Commercial Apple Orchards in Wisconsin
Apple, Pear, and Related Trees Disorder Fire Blight
Determining the Optimal Apple Harvest Date
Growing Apricots Cherries, Peaches and Plums in Wisconsin
Training and Pruning Apple Trees
Rootstocks for Fruit Trees in Wisconsin
Orchard Floor Management for Fruit Trees
Home Fruit Cultivars for Northern Wisconsin
Spotted Wing Drosophila Invasive Pest of Soft-skinned Fruit
Apple, Flowering Crap, Hawthorn, Juniper Disorder Cedar Rust Complex
DECIDUOUS TREES AND SHRUBS
Planning and Designing Your Home Landscape
The Basics of Micro Irrigation
Selecting Woody Landscape Plants for Fall Color
Winter Salt Injury and Salt-Tolerant Landscape Plants
Shade Trees Disorder Decline Dieback and Early Senescence
Maple Decline Collar Rot and Basal Canker Complex
Woody Ornamentals Pest Management in Wisconsin
Scorch and Related Problems in Trees and Shrubs
Plant Injury Due to Turfgrass Broadleaf Weed Herbicides
Effects of Flooding on Woody Landscape Plants
Deciduous Trees Disorder Springtime Weather Injury to Foliage
Deciduous Trees Disorder Miscellaneous Causes of Decline
Preserving Trees During Construction Mountain Ash Disorder – Sunscald Fungal Canker Complex
Mountain Ash Disorder Fire Blight
Maple and Other Trees Disorder Cottony Maple Scale
Honeylocust Disorder Canker Diseases in Wisconsin
Gypsy Moth Identifying and Managing Gypsy Moth Egg Masses
Deciduous Tree and Shrub Disorder Skeletonizing by Rose Chafer
Honeysuckle Disorder Honeysuckle Leaffolding Aphid
Honeylocust Disorder Plantbugs and Leafhoppers
Gypsy Moth Selecting a Pesticide for Gypsy Moth Control
EVERGREEN TREES AND SHRUBS
The Basics of Micro Irrigation
Colorado Blue Sprue and Conifers Disorders Rhizosphaera Needle Cast
Woody Ornamentals Pest Management in Wisconsin
Pine Disorder European Pine Sawfly
Preserving Trees During Construction
Pine Needle Diseases Brown Spot and Lophodermium Needlecast
Colorado Blue Spruce and Conifers Disorder Cytospora Canker
Winter Salt Injury and Salt-Tolerant Landscape Plants
Effects of Flooding on Woody Landscape Plants
Pine Disorder Dothistroma Needle Blight
VEGETABLES
Mulches for Home Gardens and Landscapes
Cover Crops for the Home Garden
Sampling Lawn and Garden Soils for Analysis
The Basics of Micro Irrigation
Commercial Vegetable Production in Wisconsin
Homegrown Tomatoes for Wisconsin
Storing Fruits and Vegetables from the Home Garden
Harvesting Vegetables from the Home Garden
Storing Fruits and Vegetables from the Home Garden
Growing Carrots Beets Radishes and Other Root Crops in Wisconsin
Growing Vegetables at Home Questions and Answers
Growing Broccoli Cauliflower Cabbage and Cole Crops in Wisconsin
Growing Onions Garlic Leeks and Other Alliums in Wisconsin
Growing Salad Greens in Wisconsin
Growing Pumpkins and other Vine Crops in Wisconsin
Growing Beans and Peas in Wisconsin
Growing Tomatoes Peppers and Egg Plants in Wisconsin
Exhibiting and Judging Vegetables
Biological Control and Insects and Mites
Tomato and Pepper Disorder Bacterial Spot and Speck
Tomato Disorders Fusarium and Verticillium Wilts
Tomato Disorder Physiological Fruit Problems
Vine Crops Diseases Phytophthora Blight
Tomato Disorder Early Blight and Septoria Leaf Spot
Managing Insects in the Home Garden
Vine Crops Disorder Powdery Mildew
Vine Crops Disorder Bacterial Wilt
Vine Crops Disorder Anthracnose
Tomato Disorder Post Harvest Fruit Diseases
Potato Disorders Common Scab and Powdery Scab
Onion Disorders Botrytis Leaf Blight Leaf Fleck and Neck Rot
LANDSCAPING
Planning and Designing your Home Landscape
Mulches for Home Gardens and Plantings
Cover Crops for the Home Garden
Sampling Lawn and Garden Soils for Analysis
Making and Using Compost in the Garden
Evaluating and Judging Flowers and House Plants
How to Grow Tuberous-Rooted Begonias and Gloxinias
Biological Control and Insects and Mites
Biological Control of Insects and Other Pests of Greenhouse Crops
Gladiolus Disorder Virus Complex and Aster Yellows
Gladiolus Disorder Fusarium Yellows and Bulb Rot
Geranium Bacterial Stem Rot and Leaf Spot
Deciduous Tree and Shrub Disorder Skeletonizing by Rose Chafer
TOPICS OF INTEREST
- Avian Influenza Information
- Tree Care Following Storm Damage(1 page, 9 KB)
- Flowering Crabapple Selections (2 pages, 35 KB)
- Moss in Lawn (2 pages)
- Creeping Charlie Control (2 pages)
HORTICULTURAL LINKS OF INTEREST
- UW – Department of Entomology Insect Diagnostic Lab
- UW – Extension Horticultural Publications
- UW – Landscape Plants of the Upper Midwest
- UW – Plant Disease and Diagnostic Clinic
- UW – Soil and Plant Analysis Laboratory
- UW – The Wisconsin Gardener – Public TV
- UW – Urban Horticulture
- UW – Urban Horticulture Updates
- UWEX – Wisconsin Native Plant Sources
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Wisconsin Master Gardener Program
- University of Connecticut Plant Database
- Ohio State University PlantFacts
- USDA Plants Database
- Weed Science Society of America
- Wisconsin Phenological Society