UW-Extension Walworth County

06/11/2026

🌱 This Week in the Garden: Your Questions Answered, Week of June 8

⛈️ Last week we were talking about how dry it was, now we’re talking about severe storms. This week we feature some resources to help you with gardening for these wacky weather extremes and what to do for trees that experience storm damage.

If you end up with water logged soil or flooded areas after the next round of storms, there are some practices you shouldn’t do:

🚫 Don’t till, work, walk on, or operate heavy machinery on the soil until it has dried out sufficiently.
🚫 Don’t consume produce that has been submerged in floodwaters.
🚫 Don’t fertilize until after wet conditions have abated and plants have recovered.

Check out our article linked below for more information and advice about what to do to help your plants/gardens before and after extreme precipitation or flooding events.

🔗 Learn more:

Gardening in extreme precipitation and flooding: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/gardening-in-extreme-precipitation-and-flooding/

🌳 Storms can bring strong winds and heavy rain that can impact the trees in your landscape. Trees that have been planted improperly, are over mulched, or are already stressed are extremely vulnerable. Make sure you prevent problems when you can through proper planting practices and after care. If your tree does experience some storm damage and limbs break off, you can consider calling a certified arborist to help you assess the tree’s health and deal with the damage.

🔗 Learn more:

5 steps to plant a tree:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/5-steps-to-plant-a-tree/

Proper mulching techniques:
https://www.treesaregood.org/Portals/0/TreesAreGood_Proper%20Mulch%20Tech_0321.pdf

Finding the right certified arborist for you:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/finding-the-right-certified-arborist/

💬 Have a question of your own?
Reach out—we may feature it in an upcoming post!
You can reach Julie, your local horticulture educator by calling 262-741-4958, Text 262-374-4191, email [email protected] or use our online form: go.wisc.edu/PlantQ

06/08/2026

Come learn with us this week at one of these free in-person events with our horticulture educator:

🪏 From Scraps to Soil: Composting Basics
June 10, 2:00 p.m.
Find out the do’s, the don’ts, and what happens to compost over winter so you can successfully recycle your lawn, garden and food scraps.
Location: Lake Geneva Public Library, 918 W Main St, Lake Geneva
(No registration required)

🦌Gardening with Nosey Neighbors (The Furry and Antlered Kind) June 11, 1:00 p.m.
Keep the peace with your wild neighbors, and enjoy a space that grows in step with nature.
Location: Janesville Senior Center, 69 South Water Street, Janesville
Please call to register: 608-755-3050

06/04/2026

🌱 This Week in the Garden: Your Questions Answered, Week of June 1

May was one of the driest months on record. Let’s hope June brings us some much needed rain.

❓ Question:
Are we in a drought and what can I do for my plants and gardens?

🌿 Answer:
The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is a map released every Thursday, showing where drought is and how bad it is across the U.S. and its territories. The map uses six classifications: normal conditions, abnormally dry (D0), showing areas that may be going into or are coming out of drought, and four levels of drought: moderate (D1), severe (D2), extreme (D3) and exceptional (D4).

Here, in southern Wisconsin, we are currently experiencing moderate drought conditions.

With more extreme heat and drought happening in Wisconsin, it’s important to understand how these conditions affect your plants and what you can do to help them. Applying organic sources of mulch around your plants can help conserve soil moisture and maintain soil temperatures. Use good watering practices to make efficient use of your water and keep your plants thriving, like watering in the morning when it is cooler and water deeply at a slower rate so the water absorbs and doesn’t run off. Many lawns are going dormant right now and that’s okay. You don’t need to keep mowing.

Check out our article linked below for more information and advice about what to do to help your plants through drought conditions, plus lists of plants that are adapted to extreme heat and drought.

🔗 Learn more:
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?WI

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/gardening-in-extreme-heat-and-drought/

❓ Question:
How can I remove poison ivy?

🌿 Answer:
I’ve received a few calls this past week about poison ivy, which is a perennial woody plant that can be a low shrub or a climbing vine. Even though it’s a native plant and common in Wisconsin, it can cause big problems because of the urushiol oil it produces that causes severe itching and inflammation when you come in contact with it.

Please, use extreme caution when trying to manage this plant at your site. Make sure that you correctly identified the plant, wear appropriate clothing, wash your clothes separately from the rest of the laundry, and use a management method for your specific site conditions. Smaller plants can be carefully pulled, bagged and disposed of. Depending on the area, careful and targeted use of chemical herbicides may be useful.

❗❗❗Whenever you are using any chemical pesticide, make sure you read and follow the entire label. You are legally required and responsible to use the product according to the label.

🔗 Learn more:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/poison-ivy/

💬 Have a question of your own?
Reach out—we may feature it in an upcoming post!
You can reach Julie, your local horticulture educator by calling 262-741-4958, Text 262-374-4191, email [email protected] or use our online form: go.wisc.edu/PlantQ

📷Drought Monitor Map, 6/4/2026

05/28/2026

🌱 This Week in the Garden: Your Questions Answered, Week of May 25

The birds are singing, the sun is shining, and we are back to the glorious spring weather Wisconsin has to offer. What’s been happening in your yard and gardens lately?

❓ Question:
Small caterpillars or worms have completely devoured all of the leaves on one of my bushes (see photo below). What can I do to stop them and should the bush be removed?

🌿 Answer:
Those are the larvae of viburnum leaf beetles (VLB for short). VLB larvae typically appear in early to mid May and can cause significant damage to viburnum shrubs. Then the larvae will move down into the soil to pupate before they emerge as adults in late June - early July. Any treatment methods are targeted towards the larvae and adults.
If your viburnum was a healthy plant, it’s possible that it could recover and isn't totally dead yet. However, if it's been suffering through multiple years of VLB infestation and/or other stressors, then it could be declining and it might be best to replace it.

What are your options?
Keep the shrub, see if it recovers, and treat VLB eggs and larvae as indicated by our fact sheet linked below. If you do keep the shrub, I wouldn't recommend digging up the soil (to try to find the pupae) around it as that can cause more stress or harm to the plant.
Replace the shrub with another viburnum but check out our fact sheet for varieties that are less susceptible to VLB damage.
Replace the shrub with something totally different.

🔗 Learn more:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/viburnum-leaf-beetle/

❓ Question:
What else can I do to support pollinators in my yard?

🌿 Answer:
Pollinators need three core habitat features: Food, Shelter, and Protection - especially from chemical insecticides. A healthy pollinator habitat provides a mix of flowering plant species that bloom at different times throughout the growing season. Therefore, planting native species that support insect pollinators is always a good thing to do! They also need safe places to nest, overwinter and find refuge. This can include stems and branches, leaf litter, bare ground, dead wood, brush piles, and rock piles. Did you know that most of our native bees are solitary bees (meaning they live alone) and 70% of them nest underground? And they need protection from habitat disturbances and chemical pesticides (especially insecticides) which can be directly and indirectly harmful to our insect pollinators. A new study suggests that reduced chemical use is MORE important for conservation efforts than just planting more flowers. Read more about this study in the link below.

Join Julie Hill, your local Horticulture Educator, to learn more about how you can support pollinators in your yard at “Planting for a Buzz: A Guide to Pollinator Friendly Gardening” on Wednesday, June 3rd at 1PM at Barrett Memorial Library in Williams Bay.

🔗 Learn more:
https://grow.cals.wisc.edu/priority-themes/food-systems-priority-theme/what-a-wild-bee-wants

https://www.williamsbay.lib.wi.us/site/events/

💬 Have a question of your own?
Reach out—we may feature it in an upcoming post!
You can reach Julie, your local horticulture educator by calling 262-741-4958, Text 262-374-4191, email [email protected] or use our online form: go.wisc.edu/PlantQ

📷Viburnum leaf beetle larvae

05/18/2026

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05/14/2026

🌱 This Week in the Garden: Your Questions Answered, Week of May 11

With the promise of warmer weather in our near future (and hopefully no more frost warnings), let’s get outside and dig in! Lots of information to share this week....

❓ Question:
I’m having a problem with perennial w**ds in my yard. No matter how many times I pull or cut them, they keep coming back!

🌿 Answer:
Ugh! Thistle, creeping bellflower and other perennial w**ds can be really challenging to get a handle on because of their underground structures that can store a large amount of energy. They can also reproduce from those perennial parts and seed. They can have extensive root systems that are hard to pull or dig all the way out. But you can get things under control with some persistence and an integrated approach of removal, thick layers of mulch, and where appropriate, careful and targeted herbicide use. See the video below for more recommendations!

NOTE: Herbicides (chemical plant killers) are not the “go to” option. They should only be used for judicious spot treatments and in ways that minimize risk to pollinators and other negative environmental impacts. You are legally required to follow the product label. Please contact us with questions.

🔗 Learn more:
https://youtu.be/pZqJDpbTDqY?si=22tuLBEY-RCMNmK6
https://renzw**dscience.cals.wisc.edu/

❓ Question:
I’m noticing that my tree’s roots are growing at the surface of my lawn. What should I do?

🌿 Answer:
Some tree species are more prone to doing this, but it can happen with almost any tree. It’s important to remember that the majority of the tree roots are within the top 8” of soil. As the tree grows, roots can be more visible at the surface as they get bigger, or if there is erosion of the surface soil, or if the soil is compacted and doesn’t drain well.

Do NOT prune these roots as that can cause serious damage to your tree. Instead, you can apply a shallow, 1 – 2 inch layer of good-quality soil mix and then replant the grass. However, it won’t be long before tree roots will reappear again. Even better, replant the affected surface area with a taller ground-cover type plant and other flowering plants that will not need mowing, being careful to avoid injury to the major tree roots at planting.

🔗 Learn more:
https://www.purdue.edu/hla/sites/yardandgarden/when-tree-roots-surface/

💬 Have a question of your own?
Reach out—we may feature it in an upcoming post!
You can reach Julie, your local horticulture educator by calling 262-741-4958, Text 262-374-4191, email [email protected] or use our online form: go.wisc.edu/PlantQ

Ask a Gardening Question Sponsored by the UW-Madison Division of Extension Horticulture Program Looking for expert advice on a lawn, landscape or gardening issue? Fill out the form below and attach photos showing your garden concern. A Wisconsin Extension Master Gardener or Extension staff will resp...

05/13/2026

Upcoming Program! Registration Required.

Gardening for Hummingbirds
Monday, May 18, 6:00 p.m.
Milton Public Library-Wisconsin

Join us to unravel the secrets of attracting the “jewels of the garden.” From territorial displays to fierce competition, we will dive into the hummingbird’s world to learn how your garden or yard can meet their needs. We will explore the challenges facing hummingbirds in our region and learn how to make your yard hummingbird friendly with flowers, perches, insects, and water. We will also get hands-on by creating a hummingbird perch for your yard.

For Adults.

Registration required: https://www.als.lib.wi.us/MPL/ #/events/JNN2CPbSDj/instances/DM5PfTiHrU/

04/30/2026

🌱 This Week in the Garden: Your Questions Answered, Week of April 27

❗❗❗Frost Advisory - Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1!
Cover your cold-sensitive plants TONIGHT! And probably tomorrow night too.

❓ Question:
When should I spray my apple trees for pests?

🌿 Answer:
For any fruit crop, it’s important to utilize an integrated pest management plan to help minimize damage from pests (like disease or insects) and maximize fruit production. In order to do this, it’s also important to know which diseases or insects you are trying to prevent or manage. Identification is a critical first step, then determining how bad the problem is, then figuring out which methods work for you and for your fruit crops. By understanding which pests you are trying to manage, you will be better equipped to apply products at the right time of year, based on the life cycle of the pest.
Our apple trees are in full bloom right now so we want to wait until petal fall to do any spraying. Diseases like scab and fire blight and possibly some early season insects like aphids and scale are the pests that are being addressed early in the season.

🔗 Learn more:
Check out these free online programs about apple insect pests: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/free-online-programs/

https://fruit.webhosting.cals.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2011/06/Apple-Pest-Management-for-Home-Gardeners.pdf

https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/spray-schedule-home-apple-trees

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/home-fruit-insecticides/

❓ Question:
I’m noticing a lot of w**ds in my lawn, what do I spray on them to kill them?

🌿 Answer:
Well….do you absolutely need to spray and kill them? A lawn that is maintained well through best practices like planting and maintenance like mowing and proper fertilization, will outcompete w**ds. A “w**d” just means that it’s a plant that you don’t want growing in that spot. Depending on your own goals for your lawn, plus the amount of money, time and overall effort you want to put into your lawn, maybe a few w**ds are okay. If you are looking for a w**d free lawn, then using an integrated pest management approach will give you the best success. Chemicals should always be a last resort and if you decide to treat specific w**ds with an herbicide (chemical plant killer), then make sure you are following the product label and using it in the most effective but least harmful way.

🔗 Learn more:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/wisconsin-lawn-care-calender/
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/lawn-maintenance/

💬 Have a question of your own?
Reach out—we may feature it in an upcoming post!
You can reach Julie, your local horticulture educator at 262-741-4958 or [email protected] or use our online form: go.wisc.edu/PlantQ

📷Apple flowers

04/29/2026

🌱 This Week in the Garden BONUS

✨BONUS
Last week we shared a picture of something unknown on a clematis branch. If you didn’t see it yet, check out the photo in this post.

Did you look? What do you think?

Those are katydid eggs. Katydids are more closely related to crickets than to any type of grasshopper. You may find some feeding on leaves and flowers in your garden or on your potted plants, especially in late summer, but they won’t cause your plants significant damage. In our area katydids overwinter as eggs. Females deposit eggs in soil, plant stems (like this clematis branch!) or tree bark in late summer or fall. The adults die off, and the following spring the eggs hatch.

🔗 Learn more:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/katydids/

04/23/2026

🌱 This Week in the Garden: Your Questions Answered, Week of April 20

✨BONUS
Look at the picture - What are these on this clematis branch?

🌿 Answer:
Put your guesses in the comments and the answer will be revealed next week!

❓ Question:
I’ve heard I shouldn’t prune my oak trees this time of year - why?

🌿 Answer:
Try to avoid pruning any oaks from now until at least July 15. The reason is that we are currently in a HIGH RISK period for OAK WILT, from April 15 to July 15. Oak wilt is a deadly disease that affects oak trees. Oak wilt is caused by a fungus which survives in infected living oaks and in oaks recently killed by the disease. The fungus can also survive in firewood harvested from an infected tree.
Sap beetles are attracted to mats of the oak wilt fungus in infected trees, pick up spores of the fungus on their bodies, then carry spores to healthy trees. These beetles are attracted to trees that have been recently wounded by wind or storm damage, or by pruning. And these beetles can find these wounded trees within minutes of the injury.

Pruning most woody trees and shrubs should be done during the winter when diseases and pests are less active. But understandably, you might have to deal with storm damage or unexpected pruning. While we don’t typically recommend applying any sort of pruning paint, IF you are pruning during this time of year, then you should immediately apply a pruning paint over the wound.

🔗 Learn more:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/oak-wilt/

❓ Question:
I’m getting my vegetable garden ready, can I add manure?

🌿 Answer:
Manure can be used as a soil amendment in the home garden, which helps improve soil structure and drainage, adds organic matter, and provides some nutrients. However, do not apply fresh manure in the spring. When applying fresh manure where you are growing edible crops, application should be made about 4 months in advance, meaning fall is a great time to apply fresh manure.

Composted or aged manure can be spread now. It is best to wait a least one month before planting crops so the microbial activity it stimulates won’t interfere with seed germination. Composted manure is defined as manure that has undergone the composting process, in which microorganisms decompose biodegradable organic matter under aerobic conditions (in the presence of oxygen).

🔗 Learn more:
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/using-manure-in-the-home-garden/

💬 Have a question of your own?
Reach out—we may feature it in an upcoming post!
You can reach Julie, your local horticulture educator at 262-741-4958 or [email protected] or use our online form: go.wisc.edu/PlantQ