COLUMBIA, Mo. – Some gardeners take a hands-off approach to leaves. But leaves left on lawns can pack down into a tight mat, preventing sunlight from reaching the grass, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Leaves also trap and hold moisture, which increases the…
Landscaping : article
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If you have the sniffles or a bad infection, a visit to your doctor can usually put things right. Plants can get sick too and the University of Missouri Plant Diagnostic Clinic is where you can turn for help.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – While you’re familiar with onions, garlic, leeks and shallots, which are all members of the genus Allium, there’s a whole group in that genus that are known for their looks rather than their taste. They’re called ornamental onions or alliums.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – April is National Gardening Month and a good time to plant a garden, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. For those who lacked the motivation in the past to garden, consider these benefits:
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Ashes produced by wood-burning fireplaces or stoves are an excellent example of the idiom “don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – Patience and a bucket of soapy water are your best friends when fending off Japanese beetles in the garden, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tamra Reall.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– The long, harsh winter coupled with last fall’
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — An ideal soil is half solid and half pore space by volume, and that pore space should be equal parts air and water. Gardening practices greatly influence pore space in cultivated soils.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Some perennials can suffer from too much of a good thing.As it grows year after year, the perennial’s growth clump, or crown, gets so big the plant begins to compete with itself for light, water and nutrients. Eventually this self-competition will mean fewer and less-showy flowers.
Learn how to assess and care for snow‑damaged trees safely: when to prune, wait, or call a pro to protect tree health.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – If you gobble until you wobble at Thanksgiving dinner, take your flock of family and friends for a trek across a tallgrass prairie for a memorable Thanksgiving holiday outing, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Michele Warmund.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The invasive emerald ash borer may eliminate the ash tree from North America. In Missouri, EAB is present in 89 counties and the city of St. Louis.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Salt does more than melt the ice on your sidewalks and driveways.It can harm your lawn and shrubs, says University of Missouri Extension turf management specialist Brad Fresenburg.Too much salt can leave dead strips along sidewalks and driveways. It can kill shrubs and flowers.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — When buying plants you sometimes need to read between the lines. When the label says the plant “fills in quickly,” that may be a code word for “invasive.”
COLUMBIA, Mo. –Landscape plants have flourished over an ideal spring. Azaleas and hydrangeas have never looked better, but many of the lush leaves that developed during the mild weather will scorch, turn brown or even fall off when the summer heat returns, said a University of Missouri Extension…
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Don’t add fertilizer to your garden unless you
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo.–Curbside leaf and brush removal dates will be here before we know it. If you dread filling sacks with fallen leaves, a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist suggests a less agonizing and more rewarding alternative.
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Fermented or "sour" mulch from large batches hit with too much rain can damage the leaves and stems of annuals, perennials and small woody plants, said a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.
STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. – Few things thaw feelings of winter’s cold more than spring flowering bulbs, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Katie Kammler.
Spring bulbs are Nature’s way of rewarding gardeners for their work in fall, providing early color and blooms before most…
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Home gardeners may want to plant flowers for their fragrance as well as their appearance, said a University of Missouri horticulturist.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – If a little is good, a lot must be better.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mulches benefit gardens throughout the year, but they are particularly helpful during the heat of summer, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
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COLUMBIA, Mo. – Quality landscapes begin with quality topsoil.Topsoil is the top 3-10 inches of the soil. Most surface soils have higher organic matter content than subsoil, but not all surface soil is ideal for gardens or lawns, says Manjula Nathan, director of the University of Missouri Extension…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Many landscapes have problem spots where nothing grows well or looks attractive, such as the area below a large tree with a dense leaf canopy.
Enhance your garden's health by improving soil structure with organic matter like compost, manure, and peat moss for better plant growth and water retention.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Some Missouri gardeners are finding a new type of flatworm in landscape soils.The hammerhead worm is a “voracious, top-level predator,” says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Kelly McGowan. “It will eat anything in its path,” she says. It primarily feeds on native…
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Perhaps no plant brightens a shady area more than hosta, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. The hardy perennial that thrives in shade is low-maintenance and easy to grow.
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COLUMBIA, Mo.- Homeowners should be careful when using ice melters close to trees this winter, said a University of Missouri Extension forester.
"Nearly all ice melters are salts," said Hank Stelzer. They work by lowering the freezing point of water to well below 32 degrees.
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Includes sidebar, “Tips for gardening with children.”
ST. LOUIS – A Master Gardener nurtures little minds and mouths at Sacred Heart Villa, a preschool in St. Louis.
HILLSBORO, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension in Jefferson County will hold Master Gardener classes Monday evenings at Jefferson College’s Hillsboro campus.
Weekly classes will be 6:30-9:30 p.m., Feb. 26 to May 7, said MU Extension horticulturist Debi Kelly.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – St. Louis area Master Gardeners may be as well known for their community spirit as for the beautiful and bountiful gardens they tend.
COLUMBIA, Mo. -Over time, a sunny garden may become a shady one as surrounding trees and shrubs mature.
"Landscapes change their degree of shade, making it a challenge to grow garden plants," said Chris Starbuck, University of Missouri Extension horticulturalist.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Some gardeners take a hands-off approach to leaves in the fall. But leaves allowed to remain on lawns can pack down to form a tight mat that prevents sunlight from reaching the grass, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Nativars, superhero plants that possess the virtues of native plants but in a more attractive package, make good choices for landscaped areas.
Use nativars as part of your gardening “green movement,” said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Homeowners eager to apply aggressive first aid to storm-damaged trees could be removing trees that might have survived.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Be mellow until the forsythia turns yellow.
That’s the advice from University of Missouri Extension plant pathologist Lee Miller for applying crabgrass pre-emergent herbicides to lawns.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Just like surgeons and dentists, gardeners sho
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COLUMBIA, Mo. - Homeowners should put a lot of thought in selecting the right lawn-care service, said a University of Missouri turf grass scientist."You should always follow some basic guidelines in choosing a lawn-care company," said Brad Fresenburg.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Plan now to use basic design principals to create a patriotic garden this summer, says University of Missouri Extension field horticulturist Gwen Funk.
Gardening enhances physical and mental well-being by providing exercise, time in nature and healthy food. Follow safety guidelines to maximize these benefits.
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Just like surgeons and dentists, gardeners sho
COLUMBIA, Mo.– Many garden and home-improvement stores offer a seemingly endless selection of fertilizers.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Winter is finally releasing its grip, so lawns will be greening up and growing. It will soon be time for one of the most basic homeowner rituals: mowing the lawn.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – How does your garden grow? No grow or slow grow? It could be your H2O.
How and when you water your garden often makes the difference between healthy or diseased plants, says University of Missouri Extension horticulturist Tom Fowler.
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. – During her 23 years as a University of Missouri Extension agronomy specialist, Pat Miller has answered a lot of questions and looked at a lot of plants. Here are her top 10 horticulture tips.
Master Gardeners continue to care for Truman Gardens, preserving its historical beauty with vibrant blooms that enhance the visitor experience.
Get expert gardening tips in short, engaging videos covering topics like plant care, pest control, and seasonal advice for gardeners at every level
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo.–Good fences make for good neighbors, especially if the fence provides fresh, homegrown fruit every year.
“If there is one crop that gardeners have difficulty finding room for in the landscape, it is grapes,” says Marlin Bates, a University of Missouri Extension horticulturist.
Volunteer Master Gardeners share gardening knowledge through workshops and projects, creating more than $5 million in annual economic value.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fuligo septica, also known as “dog vomit slime mold,” is the latest slimy woodland thing to slither into 2020’s wet spring and summer.
During drought, water plants deeply and wisely to help them survive dry spells. Follow expert tips for effective watering.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Follow the food.That is the mantra of moles as they follow their favorite food, earthworms, and tunnel throughout your yard.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Pest control is an important part of establishing an attractive garden. Insects, diseases and weeds are formidable foes, but the damage they inflict often pales compared to the destruction perpetrated by some of our four-legged “friends,” said University of Missouri Extension…
BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. - The growing season has ended and many gardeners are heading out to clean up what the frost has left behind. But some gardeners don't bother with fall cleanup.