Wisconsin Horticulture - Extension

05/14/2026

Join the UW-Madison Extension Horticulture Program for Ask Your Gardening Question: LIVE, a free online program where you can connect directly with plant health experts from UW. The next session is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20 from 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, don’t miss this opportunity to connect with horticulture professionals and grow your knowledge.

Register for free at go.wisc.edu/aygq052026

Join Wisconsin Horticulture Extension for free online gardening programs — and watch from any device! Our topics are suitable for gardeners of any skill level.

05/12/2026

“When can I prune my hydrangea?”

“Why didn’t my fruit tree bloom this year?”

“Will my plants recover from spring floods?”

Every month, Wisconsin gardeners bring their questions to 'Ask Your Gardening Question: Live' to get timely advice from UW experts about problems happening in their gardens and landscapes. If you’re wondering whether other gardeners are dealing with the same issues as you, the answer is probably yes.

Take a look at our latest recap featuring audience questions, expert answers, and science-backed resources — then be sure to join us for the next live session on May 20! hort.extension.wisc.edu/ask-your-gardening-question-live/recap

05/07/2026

Join us Thursday, May 14, from 6–7 p.m. for a free webinar with Ann Kowenstrot, Diversified Vegetable Educator, exploring rhubarb history, production, and management. We will also cover what growers and gardeners need to know for successful rhubarb production and care. This session will provide practical, research-based information for both home gardeners and small scale producers.

Can't make it during the scheduled webinar? Don't fret. Register anyways, and we will email you the recorded webinar as soon as it's available! 🥬

Register for free at go.wisc.edu/RhubarbMay2026

05/06/2026

Attention backyard apple growers: Have you ever cut into one of your homegrown apples to find a brown, frass-filled core with tunnels? Or worse, an actual worm 🐛🍏

Codling moth is likely the culprit. Join us Friday, May 15 for Part 2 of the “Big 3 Apple Insect Webinar Series,” covering strategies to protect your apple crop from this common insect problem.

Can’t make it during the scheduled webinar? No problem. Register for free and have the recorded webinar sent to your inbox. Sign up now: hort.extension.wisc.edu/free-online-programs/

05/01/2026

When we say "No Mow May," THIS is what we mean! It’s not about the length of the lawn, it’s about providing vital pollen and nectar sources in early spring.

Pollinators begin foraging for food on blooming flowers as early as April. Low-growing, flowering “weeds” or even small bulbs planted in lawns are an excellent way to increase the amount of food sources available this time of year. But lawns are far from the only way to support pollinators in spring. This article offers helpful recommendations to make your entire yard a friendly haven for pollinators: hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/whats-the-deal-with-no-mow-may

04/30/2026

This April has been one of the wettest on record in Wisconsin, and all that extra rain can affect plants as they emerge from dormancy. Saturated soils and prolonged flooding can damage plant roots and contribute to overall plant decline (or even death!).

With heavy rain events becoming more common, it is important for Wisconsin gardeners and landscapers to know how to respond.

Learn what to do to manage the impacts of extreme precipitation and protect your plants and landscapes: hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/gardening-in-extreme-precipitation-and-flooding

04/29/2026

This Friday! Don’t miss our first session of the “Big Three Apple Insect Webinar series,” covering plum curculio, a common weevil species that harms fruits in the early growth stage. You’ll learn identification tips and timing for effective intervention.

Register for free: go.wisc.edu/Big3Webinar-PC

Can’t make it during the scheduled session? No problem. Register anyways, and you’ll get the recorded webinar sent right to your inbox.

04/27/2026

And just like that—lawns have greened up across Wisconsin. Are you thinking about hiring a lawn care service this year? First, you should determine what your lawn actually needs. If hiring a professional is your next move, make sure you’re asking the right questions and not opting for unnecessary treatments or costly add-ons.

Not every lawn needs a standard, multi-step chemical program. Read these tips for hiring a lawn care service before you make any major decisions this year: hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/hiring-a-lawn-care-service

04/24/2026

Raise your hand if you have an apple tree (or a few) in your yard. 🙋
Now raise your other hand if your apples always end up with pits or blemishes. 🙋🙋

That’s likely insect damage—it’s common, but it’s also manageable. If your goal is to have a better-looking apple harvest this year, join us for the “Big 3 Apple Insect Webinar Series,” hosted by statewide fruit outreach specialist Josie Dillon.

The first session on Friday, May 1, covers plum curculio, a widespread insect that harms fruits in the early growth stage. This session covers identification tips and timing for effective intervention. Register for free: hort.extension.wisc.edu/free-online-programs/

04/22/2026

Uvularia grandiflora, commonly known as great merrybells or large-flowered bellwort, is among the first woodland ephemeral wildflowers to bloom each spring in Wisconsin.

The delicate yellow pendant flowers are a welcome sight, serving as a vital early-spring pollen and nectar source for native bees and other beneficial insects.

Learn all about Uvularia grandiflora, including ways to incorporate it into your home landscape: hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/bellwort-uvularia-grandiflora

04/21/2026

With Earth Day and Arbor Day on the calendar this week, now is a perfect time for thinking about adding a native tree to your landscape. To help get you started, the latest Wisconsin Yard & Garden column offers a few examples of Wisconsin native species to consider that may not be as well-known as other common landscape trees.

Learn more: hort.extension.wisc.edu/consider-planting-native-trees-in-landscape 🌳