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Greetings gardeners,
As the days grow longer and the temperatures rise, our gardens are bursting with life. June features National Pollinator Week (June 17-23, 2024), which raises awareness about pollinators and ways to protect them. Explore Extension's pollinator resource page  to learn about native pollinators in Wisconsin, how to turn your yard into a pollinator-friendly habitat, and other gardening strategies to reduce or eliminate pesticide use. Aside from Pollinator Week, a lot is happening in horticulture this June! Read on for upcoming events, timely articles, and news features from Extension. 

Insect pollinator on Geranium maculatum

Insect pollinator on Asclepias tuberosa

Some of the earliest maps of periodical cicadas in Wisconsin date back over a century. While historic maps are helpful, they don’t paint a complete picture of cicada distribution across the state. By sharing sightings of periodical cicadas in your area, you can help UW entomologists better understand these insects. Share your sighting...

Some of the many beneficial insects that visit flowers include lady beetles, green lacewings, syrphid flies, tachinid flies, sphecid wasps and various parasitic wasps. By providing nectar and pollen, flowers can attract the natural enemies of many pests in the home landscape, enhancing natural or biological control. Read more...

Those big, beautiful shade trees in our yards often come with the problem of surface roots—roots that are visible on the lawn surface. These surface roots not only affect the appearance of the lawn, but they can make mowing difficult and create tripping hazards. Read more...

While 2023 was excessively hot and dry, spring 2024 has been particularly wet, with regular rounds of severe weather across the state. Learn about three diseases the UW Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic expects to increase in over the summer in the aftermath of May’s severe weather. Read more...

Registration opens July 15

Foundations in Gardening covers a wide range of topics for gardeners of all skill levels and backgrounds. It also serves as an approved learning opportunity for individuals interested in the Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener Program. 

Course dates: Sept. 8–Dec. 7, 2024 
100% Online | Self-Paced

UW-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program

Find articles, resources, educational events and more at hort.extension.wisc.edu

An EEO/AA employer, UW-Madison Division of Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and American with Disabilities (ADA) requirements.