Are there any apples on our tree this year?” my older daughter recently asked. “There are lots of ripe apples high in the tree,” my husband responded. I thought about past autumns when she and our other two kids used an apple picker to harvest apples from our Haralson tree. Our ...

When I was in high school, I used to work at a greenhouse and nursery. During my time there, I was introduced to so many different plants, but one plant that always stuck out to me was the Tiger Eyes® sumac, or referred to by its common name, the cutleaf staghorn sumac. It is one of my ...

When I work in the garden, I keep my eyes open for any fun visitors I might find. Notable visitors have been garden spiders and centipedes, not my children’s favorite. This year, I had my sights set on something they weren’t afraid to help me track down. The visitor was a swallowtail ...

“Do you know which is the most popular handout on the NDSU Extension website?” someone asked me. I was surprised by the answer: “Your handout about how to make a pizza!” Of all the handouts I have written, I did not think that “7 Steps to Making Your Own Pizza” would be the most ...

“What’s the best way to clean fresh produce?” someone asked. “I’ve heard that strawberries are especially a problem.” “We recommend using plenty of running water and a vegetable brush on firmer-skinned produce. Also, avoid cross-contamination,” I replied. “I just read ...

Do you want to have a great lawn? If yes, it is time to get busy. Now is the best time of the year to fertilize your lawn. The secret to a great lawn is a strong root system, and lawns develop most of their roots in the fall. Nitrogen is most important for turf growth. Look for a ...