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Shrubs can provide a low-maintenance alternative in a garden that can rival perennials and annuals. Identify shrubs that provide multi-season interest and are appropriate to our northern climate. They can be used in place of ground covers or as small trees in addition to providing a dramatic backdrop for other plants. Learn the basics for selection, pruning, rejuvenation, and maintenance for most shrubs ..read more

Early spring is the time to check out catalogs, place seed orders and start seeds.  Learn about several seed starting techniques, how to decipher catalog and seed package jargon, and proper planting conditions in this program.  ..read more

The Spooner Agriculture Research Station Teaching and Display Gardens hosts the Monarch and Pollinator Sanctuary.  There are blooms throughout the growing season and the this garden highlights mostly native plants to feed hungry pollinators and host larva for monarchs.   To learn more about Monarch Waystations go to MonarchWatch.org Here are a few that are blooming in late August.  ​Left to right:  Culvers Root (Veroncastrum virginicum), Chelone Lyonii Turtlehead 'Hot Lips', and Showy Goldenrod Solidago speciana.  All three attract pollinators and ..read more

The Spooner Agriculture Research Station Teaching & Display Garden has some great ideas that you can use next year when ordering seeds for your 2024 garden.  Several that stood out as especially striking are shown below.  This combo is Black Magic Kale and Holi Scarlet Zinnia.  The Zinnia is a 2019 All-America Selections winner.  "AAS Judges deemed this an “excellent flower” because of the bright solid color, size, and the number of blooms as well as the disease resistance, which was superior to the comparisons."   The other combo that received raves from vi ..read more

The Spooner Agriculture Research Station Teaching & Display Garden holds a host of great gardening tips.  Plan a visit now to gather these tips and see the garden at its peak.  What's going on with this netting?  Answer: Physical pest prevention as an alternative to using chemicals.   Physical Pest Prevention:  ​Some insect pests can be controlled by putting up physical barriers that prevents the adults from reaching the plants to lay their eggs.  This floating row cover protects these cabbages from imported cabbage worms and cabbage loopers, two h ..read more

The Spooner Agriculture Research Station once again successfully hosted the Twilight Garden Tour on August 24.  The gardens were in full bloom and many vegetables ready for harvest.  The gardens were full of visitors as well as pollinators.  Speakers and topics covered this year are: Danette Hopke, UW-Madison Extension Behavioral Health Program Manager presented “The Connection Between Nature and Well-Being.”   UW-Madison Extension Emerging Crops Outreach Specialists - Jason Fischbach and Steffen Mirsky presented on hazelnuts & emerging crops ..read more

The University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison Spooner Agricultural Research Station, UW-Madison Extension and Master Gardener Volunteers will be holding their Annual Twilight Garden Tour on Thursday, August 24 from 4-7 p.m.   To be held at the Station’s Teaching and Display Garden, located at 780 Orchard Lane off Highway 70 just east of Spooner, this is one of the region’s premier summer gardening events and it includes displays, speakers, demonstrations, and guided tours of the garden plots.  Vegetable and home-made wine tastings will be available.   The staff from UW-Madison Spoon ..read more

Spooner, Wis. - June 2023 --  The University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison Spooner Agricultural Research Station, UW-Madison Extension and Master Gardener Volunteers will be recognizing Pollinator Week with a program on Thursday, June 22 at 6:00 pm at the Spooner Agricultural Research Station. ​ The first part of the program will be held at the Station Building, 1036 E Maple Street (State Highway 70), with a program “Helpful Insects and Pollinators”.  This presentation will focus on native plants along with other annuals and perennials that support pollinators. Also inc ..read more

This is a guest blog post from Melinda Myers Photo credit: Paul Skawinski Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an aquatic invasive species that can grow quickly, forming dense mats that restrict light to the underwater environment. In February, I asked for your help spreading the word about the impact aquatic invasive plants have on Wisconsin lakes and waterways.  Now that summer has arrived and we are spending more time outdoors, you may encounter gardens and natural spaces where these plants are growing. So once again, I am asking for your help.   Start by familiarizing yours ..read more