Horticulture
The Horticulture Program provides unbiased, university research based information to the general public focusing on horticultural and natural resource education about environmentally and socially responsible practices through leadership and innovate programming.
Margaret Murphy is our Regional Horticulture Educator. She covers Chippewa, Dunn, and Eau Claire Counties.
You can email questions to Margaret at margaret.murphy@wisc.edu or call her at 715-382-3253 (cell).
Resources
- Extension Specialists
- UW – Extension Horticultural Publications – Publications and other online resources for free or purchase from the UW-Extension
- Extension Horticulture – Find Horticulture articles, resources, educational events, and the latest news
- Extension Horticulture Facebook Page – Find the latest garden news and upcoming events
- Landscape Plants of the Upper Midwest – A comprehensive guide and plant search engine for plants found in the Midwest
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – WI DNR homepage, access to license and regulations, business resources, education, and more
- USDA Plants Database – Plant topics, downloadable plant lists, and other tools available for the US
Latest Horticulture News
- Ornamental grasses have surged in popularity among gardeners, as has using native plants in gardens and landscapes. Ornamental grasses that are native prairie species fit both criteria, and there are several species for Wisconsin gardeners to choose from.
- Limestone is often discussed in caring for yards and gardens, but oftentimes there is confusion on exactly what it does and how to best use it. Discussion of using these types of soil amendments should start with understanding soil pH, which measures how acidic or alkaline soils are.
- Soils are the foundation of gardens and landscapes, featuring characteristics that vary among locations in Wisconsin. Success when growing plants is very closely related to soil conditions.
