Green Side Up: Recent Episodes
Richard Hentschel
Green Side Up is a gardening program produced by University of Illinois Extension. It is hosted by Richard Hentschel, Extension Educator, Horticulture.
About the author: Richard Hentschel’s expertise extends across several subject areas with specialties in lawn care, fruit tree production, woody ornamentals, and home and community gardening. During his 45-year career in horticulture and agriculture, Hentschel became a well-known and respected expert for commercial and homeowner audiences, industry organizations, and media. He retired from University of Illinois Extension in April 2022 with nearly 30 years of service as a Horticulture Specialist and Educator in northern Illinois.
Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel discusses keeping our houseplants as healthy as possible during the low light levels of winter. Which window you use? How far away they are from the window or other sources of light make a big difference. There are a variety of lighting options today that were not around even 10 years ago.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, discusses the history of our holiday tree and current good practices to keep the tree as fresh as possible once in the home. Fresh trees will have a good smell, needles, and stems will bend and won’t be losing a lot of needles. Families can cut their own, starting a great tradition, or selecting from a local organization’s tree lot. Initial watering of the tree is key to having a tree last several weeks indoors.
University of Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel shares how to winterize the home orchard. Two primary concerns are preventing damage from: 1) cold weather damage and 2) rodents. Whether it is rabbits or field mice, using protective wraps and wire fencing are still the best way to prevent feeding damage. Cold weather damage can also be prevented by wrapping the young tender trunk to prevent both frost cracks and sun scalding. This will need to be done for at least the first winter.
GSU Host Richard Hentschel discusses the last of the gardening season. November gardening gives us a chance to finish up routine projects and to catch up on overdue gardening tasks. Late season vegetable gardening can mean harvesting the last of the root crops and healing them in at the edge of the garden for easy retrieval throughout the winter. Final clean-up of the garden and the last of the leaf pick-up means utilizing the compost pile again. As the season ends, garden equipment needs to be cleaned and stored properly for the winter too.
University of Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel discusses the merits of composting and why late summer and fall are good times to start. It is easy since all the ingredients are readily available this time of year – lawn clippings for the greens, fallen leaves for the browns, a bit of garden soil, and water from the hose. The location can be an out of the way spot in the yard or behind the garage or garden shed, yet somewhere convenient.
Green Side Up Host Richard Hentschel discusses one of those gardening chores that catches us off guard, bringing in the houseplants that have been outside for the summer. With a little planning and inspection, that job can be a lot easier and timely. The main trigger is the weather forecast showing that first frosty night. Houseplants need to be in before those very cool nights, as most of our houseplants are tropical in origin. Learn how to bring them in without pests and how to decide which houseplants to save and which to send to the compost bin.
Families may tend to “let the garden go” once school starts or the fall sports season begins because we are too busy, yet the garden has lots of life left until we really get cold weather. All the root crops can stay right where they are until you need to use them. Learn more about your garden and how to use it in fall in this episode.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, talks about garden vegetable yields this season and how they have been impacted by the weather pattern we have had in northern Illinois. Early cool weather has given us plenty of leafy greens and early snap beans. The hot dry weather has set back our fruiting vegetables like peppers and tomatoes. However, another change in weather and they too are beginning to produce.
Enjoying the yard and keeping it looking great are connected. Great weather this spring allowed many plants to grow well and bloom longer. Now that the season has settled down, keeping the yard looking good only takes a bit of work, if done routinely. So what can you do? Between the rains we received, and watering done, weed seeds can sprout. Lightly working the surface takes care of that and is not too labor intensive. Edging back the lawn away from the shrub bed or keeping the tree ring open can be done in stages too. Educator Richard Hentschel talks summer to-do lists for your yard in this episode.
In the garden, no one likes to see holes in foliage, or fruits and vegetables being eaten, yet some feeding is expected if you rely on beneficial insects to help manage pest problems. Predatory insects will not show up unless the population of damaging insects is high enough to support them through their life cycle. In this episode, learn about some of the insects in your yard and garden, and how they can impact each other and your harvest.
Lawns are always a discussion over the fence with the neighbor. A green lawn can really look great, but it comes with added management. Learn more about making the decision to water or not water your lawn, and how to culturally help out a dormant lawn with University of Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel.
Watering in the home landscape can bring up a lot of questions – how often, how much, what time of day, and what is the best method? All great questions but there is not one simple answer. There are a variety of factors, from what you are watering to what the weather is like. Learn answers to these common, yet complex questions for lawns, gardens, and more with University of Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel.
This week, host Richard Hentschel covers some “best management practices” when it comes to our spring flowering bulbs. We enjoy them year in and year out, yet often neglect them once the bloom is gone. It is the simple things that keep them healthy and happy.
Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel talks about how our landscape plants faired this winter. We can always expect some damage on plants on the edge of their hardiness, but what was unexpected was the damage on our usually hardy plants.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, helps explain the mystical frost free date when it comes to planting the home vegetable garden. Warming-loving vegetables put out too early can be killed by frosts, while cold-loving vegetables may bolt and go to seed if planted too late. Local conditions often impact how early gardening can begin.
Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel discusses how to keep all the leaves on your ornamental flowering crabapples and fruiting apples in the home orchard. Apple scab is one of the most common diseases impacting these trees, and protection is the name of the game.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses what you can do about your lawn and lawn mower long before you can start to mow. Doing some spring maintenance gets the lawn mower ready to go before you have to mow, and a general lawn clean-up will make the lawn look better even though it has not begun to grow yet.
In this episode, University of Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel addresses how insects spend the winter. Despite our hopes of the winter taking out those insects for us, they have survived quite well. Richard talks about how and where overwintering insects can be found and the stage of the insect itself. No matter if spring is early or late, insects develop right on time to match plant development.
Host Richard Hentschel continues his discussion of fruit trees for the yard and garden. Covered in this show are common questions, such as: Why has my fruit tree not produced flowers yet?” and “Are flower buds being killed over the winter?” He also will explain the complex issue of pollination, especially for apples.
Richard Hentschel, host of GSU, changes gears from vegetables and seeds to fruit trees for 2021. Training your fruit trees has several benefits including easier spring pruning, quicker monitoring for insects and disease, encouraged fruit production, and overall easier management. This is the first in a series focused on fruit trees.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about all the gardening catalogs arriving – whether either by email or our mailboxes – after the holidays. Besides vegetable and flower seeds, catalogs now offer small fruits like strawberries, currants, gooseberries, and brambles. These catalogs also are filled with all kinds of supplies and garden gadgets to make our garden work more enjoyable. He discusses the offerings and what to keep in mind before purchasing.
University of Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel discusses buying seeds for your 2021 garden. Gardening demand in 2020 created seed shortages, with garden centers selling out as many new gardens were planted. Hentschel talks about using leftover seed from 2020, purchasing what you need for 2021, and how much seed is really needed. He also covers when to start seed indoors for vegetable garden transplants or planting dates for direct seeding outdoors.
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel discusses winter wildlife in the backyard. When you feed the birds throughout the winter, gardeners should expect to see other kinds of wildlife visiting, including the four-legged type from voles and ground squirrels up to racoons in size. Even if there is no obvious source of food, you can expect to see evidence of visitors to the yard. Late fall, squirrels will visit to uncover food they previously buried in garden beds and the lawn, and raccoons will routinely have a route they establish in search of food that may include your yard.
This week, Richard Hentschel, host of GSU, discusses our extended fall garden and bed cleanup in 2020. Unusually good weather has provided gardeners yet another opportunity to get caught up on tasks. Besides the usual cutting back of perennials, those garden weeds also can be dealt with before the cold weather arrives. A key to good weed management is separating the weed seeds from the vegetative plant parts so as not to generate a future seed bank from the compost pile or bin.
Richard Hentschel, host of GSU, tackles a hot topic – firewood. Differences in moisture content, wood density, and how firewood is stored, all make a big difference in how much enjoyment you get from the fireplace in the home, or even from an outdoor firepit. Another tip: never bring firewood indoors if you cannot burn it in less than a week so any insects hanging out on or in the firewood will not become an indoor nuisance.
GSU’s Richard Hentschel sends a strong reminder about getting our houseplants in long before frosty and freezing weather moves in. Houseplants need some inspection and care before being brought indoors. Disease is not nearly as important as checking for insects, both on the foliage and in the pots and containers. Timing also is critical for acclimation to indoor conditions.
University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel talks about how weather influences fungal foliar disease outbreaks. Many foliar diseases infected our plants back in early to late spring and are now really obvious, having fully developed. Getting to know the lifecycle of some of the more common diseases that impact our ornamental plants and lawns can give us a heads up on how to handle them in 2021.
This week’s podcast addresses the changes naturally occurring as the growing season shifts toward fall. Tree and shrub foliage can move from that nice shiny green to a duller solid green, and fall colors can begin to show up. Perennials can see a color change, often times to just a yellow with some reds. Our warm weather vegetables will really begin to slow without the heat. Cool and cold weather crops will continue to grow into very cool temps, or even a frost or light freeze. Plus, our insects are looking for a warm place to overwinter, which changes where you may see them.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, talks about repairing lawns damaged by the summer weather and timing for seeding your lawn. Mid-August through the first week in September is a good window in northern Illinois. Richard also explains grass blends or combinations of species as a mix to increase disease resistance or drought tolerance.
GSU host Richard Hentschel gets into the expectations after rains return, and the good and bad that can happen in the yard and garden. All our plants, trees, shrubs, evergreens, flowers and vegetables really get a boost. Plants get that good green color back, and flowers happen more consistently. On the flip side, weeds will germinate and disease may get started and or spread more easily.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses how the hot weather impacts garden productivity. Fruit development is affected as well as if they flower at all with the hot weather pressures. Consistent water, be it from rains or irrigation often from flowering through harvest is critical.
GSU Host and Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel discusses National Pollinator Week designated for a week each year in June. Since 2007 when Pollinator Week was created, most consider the situation getting worse and not any better. We would be without our fruits and vegetables if the pollinators were gone. He shares tips on creating flower beds with longer bloom show to help keep the pollinators happy all growing season.
This week, Richard Hentschel explores how our plants are settling in to a good summer rhythm on care and putting resources away for flowers, fruits, nuts or seeds for 2021. Weeds will need to be addressed as they move through their live cycles for the season. Lawns, which favor the cooler and moist weather of spring, will naturally slow down as the weather gets into a summer pattern. One major gardening effort that needs a good rhythm is watering the vegetable garden. Vegetable crops from the time they flower through a harvestable vegetable or fruit need a an even supply of water.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, addresses the difference between our tender and warm-loving vegetables. Tomatoes and peppers are often planted out in the garden at the same time, yet tomatoes are considered tender and peppers warm-loving, so we either miss out with the tomatoes or get the peppers out too early. He also talks about planting shorter rows and repeat sowing to give smaller, usable harvests more often.
Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel talks about proper distancing of our vegetable plants once the seedlings are up and out of the ground in the garden. Over-sowing seeds can be a hard habit to break. Properly thinned, our plants will give us a better mature plant which in turn produces better vegetables. Hentschel also provides ideas for how you can get more produce out of that same space throughout the year.
GSU host Richard Hentschel talks to those first-time vegetable gardeners and what they need to know when planning a garden for the first time. No need for all the fancy stuff to get a vegetable garden going, just some basic tools you may already have like a shovel, garden spade, rake and some string, since small vegetable gardens can be worked by hand. Later, using the garden hose with a water breaker will be needed as is the need to do some weeding using a hoe or tined digger, and also a couple of buckets or plastic pots, one for weeds, the other for harvested produce.
Richard Hentschel of University of Illinois Extension discusses the expected order of spring things showing up in the home landscape. It all starts with the lawn, and spring bulbs are next to show up, followed by perennials. Flowering shrubs and ornamental trees follow with the opportunity to see blooms in the home and again outside later.
University of Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel addresses the differences in getting a variety of vegetables sown or transplanted into the home vegetable garden. Timing can make all the difference for successful germination and transplant establishment. Learning about the average frost-free day is a great way to start your planning.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about our typical springtime delays that keep up us from doing those “green things” outside. Usually it is the cold weather or too much spring rain. There are a number of things we can do to get ready, such as making an inventory of where the water is puddling or of the kinds of weeds in the lawn and beds. We also can make sure the lawn mower is ready to go with a sharp mower blade.
Need a little spring this winter? GSU host Richard Hentschel shares how to “force” blooms indoors from your dormant pruning of the home orchard and flowering ornamental plants, such as lilacs. With a few simple stems, homeowners can enjoy spring bloom twice (once indoors and later outdoors). Before you prune, learn the visual difference between foliage buds and flower buds, and the steps to the “forcing” process.
Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel takes some time to discuss an invasive species that can impact our garden soils. Jumping worms were first found in Wisconsin in 2013 and then in Illinois in 2015. The concern is how much organic matter they can eat during the summer as they grow from an egg to about 6 to 8 inches long. Depending on where you live in the United States this worm goes by a few names. Learn about identifying them, where they’ve been found in Illinois, and more at https://go.illinois.edu/JumpingWormsUpdate2020
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, discusses home orchard set-up and concerns in this podcast. He covers topics including winter hardiness of different fruit trees, siting the home orchard, and pollination requirements.
Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel addresses how homeowners can recycle a real Christmas tree, outside of community programs. There are uses for the tree right in the backyard to help our feathered friends and the home landscape.
Richard Hentschel talks about cranberries this week. Cranberries have been around a long time and likely served up in the early 1860s. We often associate Cranberries with the holiday season, but given the good nutritional qualities, they should get to the dinner table a lot more often. There are quite a few states that produce cranberries in the United States. Other producers are in Canada and Chile. Listen in to learn more!
Green Side Up host Richard Hentschel covers some the more common holiday tree selection concerns when you are at the cut-your-own field or purchasing the from your favorite lot or garden center. The size, needle type, and how long you want the tree to last are just some of the considerations. And, don't forget to think about how you are going to handle the tree after the decorations and lights are back in their boxes.
It's the time of year when holiday gift plants are being given and received. Some basic care information will extend their beauty and use, well past the holiday season. Get tips on nighttime temperatures, proper light and watering.
Richard talks about what the future holds if flour products are not handled the right way this holiday baking season. Two most common pantry pests are the Indian meal moth and the stored grain beetles. Simple steps now will stop extensive cleanup later.
Illinois Extension's Richard Hentschel discusses fall color, late season tree insects and diseases, and what's going on in the home lawn with mushrooms and holes.
Illinois Extension Educator and GSU Host Richard Hentschel talks about timely summer bulb preparation and a reminder of when to plant those winter-hardy spring bulbs if you want to see those beautiful blooms in your home landscape next spring.
Garden cleanup is the topic this week from Richard Hentschel, Illinois Extension Educator. Given our weather pattern this season, consider at least the beginnings of a cleanup effort. Some vegetables are done for the season, annual beds have lost their attractiveness, and lots of perennials have finished for the year. With less hours of daylight, getting in one or two hours during the week is enough time to at least start and then you can avoid worrying so much about weekend weather too.
Green Side Up host Richard Hentschel talks about the increased amounts of decay fungi present during this season due to the weather patterns. Cool, moist conditions really promote natural decay. Sometimes seeing those mushrooms in the landscape are telltale signs of hidden trouble like root, crown and trunk decay. Some decay fungi are less concerning like slime molds in mulched landscape beds or mushroom in the lawn following the decaying roots left behind after tree removal.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses vegetable gardening late into the season. Hardy crops will continue until a hard frost or light freeze, some crops like Swiss Chard will continue to grow even after that. Sowing greens like spinach and lettuces for a harvest of microgreens can easily be done. Season extenders get those warm season vegetables like peppers and tomatoes a few more weeks of productive growth.
Green Side Up host Richard Hentscel discusses a common fruit problem on tomatoes called Blossom End Rot. Blossom End Rot is not really a disease, but rather a nutrition issue for younger tomato plants in certain growing conditions. Tune in to learn more:
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, tackles yet another challenge homeowners are dealing with in the home landscape. Mushrooms can appear anywhere, anytime soil conditions are favorable. But do you need to worry about them?
This time, host Richard Hentschel discusses our continued growing challenges with vegetable transplants and sowing from seed. Getting those seeds up and out of the ground is one challenge, another has been weed seedlings competing for space, sunlight, and nutrition.
Host Richard Hentschel addresses the large amount of calls to Extension about growing conditions this spring. Lots of perennials are bigger than normal, plenty of woody plants are damaged or dead from the severe winter, and more.
Host and Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel discusses the good, bad and ugly of swarming insects.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses plants in the home landscape damaged by this winter's severe conditions. Tree, shrub, perennial flowers and small fruits have all suffered some level of damage. Learn what this means for the future, and learn what to look for by mid-June. Hentschel also addresses our USDA hardiness zone map and why we may have brought on some this damage ourselves.
Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel talks about our wet weather, how different types of soil handle the rain, and how it impacts planting and growing this spring. He also touches on what earthworms and ants are doing this season.
GSU host Richard Hentschel covers a few popular annual questions, including crabgrass, fruit tree sprays and getting the vegetable garden started from seed.
Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel talks about doing some needed maintenance on the bird feeder for the rest of the 2019 feeding season, and ways to deal with the spent hulls underneath the feeder in the lawn and on the patio.
Host of Green Side Up Richard Hentschel discusses how very cold winter temperatures affect flower bud survival and what it takes to bring our plants out of dormancy.
Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel discusses several areas when it comes to the home orchard. Tree size, space needed, and pollination requirements are all key to enjoying the home orchard. Home orchards should consider using dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties to save space and allow for more trees. Disease resistance makes for easier disease management.
Green Side Up Host Richard Hentschel talks about gardening catalogs, and explains some of those elusive initials and numbers that follow variety names. All those characters mean good things when it comes to growing those vegetables and flowers, but it is important to know their meanings.
Nutrition & Wellness Educator Dru Banks continues to talk food safety with GSU host Richard Hentschel. This time they focus on food recalls and how to handle them.
Nutrition & Wellness Educator Dru Banks joins GSU's Richard Hentschel to discuss food safety tips. They cover preparing, serving and storing meals for large groups and more.
Richard Hentschel discusses winterizing garden equipment with gasoline engine, corded and battery run garden equipment, plus hand tools and even the lowly garden hose. Doing some preventative maintenance will allow these tools to last a long time and be easier to start next spring.
Richard Hentschel discusses a great winter activity for the whole family – feeding the birds. He stresses the need that once you start, don't stop feeding the birds until late spring when nature can once again provide our feathered friends. Specific kinds of seed, as well as feeders, can attract your favorite backyard birds. And, don't forget the water!
Green Side Up Host Richard Hentschel talks more about ways to use fallen leaves from your shade trees, besides composting. He explores the benefits to the soil and plants in the home landscape too.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses what we can be doing in the yard while the weather lets us in mid-October. Winterizing garden beds, groundcovers, doing some dormant pruning and keeping up with the lawn and fall leaves is a great start in putting the home landscape "to bed."
With temperatures dropping, the outdoor fire pit and indoor fireplaces are coming back in use. Whether you cut, split and dry your own firewood or buy it for the winter, good management will reward you with more heat and less smoke. Host Richard Hentschel provides firewood tips for the season.
Confused about spring and summer flowering bulbs? Host Richard Hentschel takes away some of the mystery on why we call them what we do and why we plant them when we do. It is all about winter hardiness. In addition, he explains why not everything we call a bulb is a bulb.
ILLINOIS Extension Educator Richard Hentschel talks about a very common foliage disease that can be seen on a wide variety of landscape plants and in the vegetable garden. Powdery Mildew is aptly named for the spores that create a distinct white appearance to plant leaves. Typical at the end of the growing season, it can be found on a number of plants, such as phlox, lilac, squash and cucumbers. Learn if you should treat this disease in this Green Side Up podcast.
Host Richard Hentschel promotes using the family vegetable garden well into the fall, even though the start of school often seems to signal the end of the season to many home gardeners. There is still time to grow, harvest and enjoy fresh vegetables for several more weeks.
Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel continues to discuss the now critical need to water valuable landscape ornamental and shade trees. Trees are the last of the plants to show wilting foliage as a symptom of a droughty condition. By the time that happens, watering is extremely important to survival. There are a variety of ways to water -- using a sprinkler, watering bags or an open-ended gardening hose in the drip line for established trees.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses watering in early August. Wilting is an obvious sign that plants need water and is easy to see on flowers, vegetables and in the lawn. Less obvious is what is going on with trees, shrubs, and evergreens. Proper watering and watering intervals during dry periods throughout the year will help ensure healthy plants.
Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel discusses the best strategies for keeping hanging pots and container gardens looking great for the rest of the summer. The best approach is never letting the plants wilt. Learn how watering times and monitoring water loss will ensure flowering plants continue to bloom and container vegetables produce the best they can.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, talks about the early summer weather pattern and what it means for lawns, garden beds and trees. He outlines the good parts of it and a few challenges now and those coming up a bit later in the season. Lots of plants have benefited from the rains with extra growth and the food reserves created.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses some early season vegetable concerns. Those early cool season vegetables may be going to seed by now and any leaves on our leafy greens can now be bitter tasting. Radishes also may go to seed and suffer the same fate. Richard talks about common tomato leaf diseases and blossom end rot and what you can do about it.
Richard Hentschel, Host of Green Side Up, talks about the many good, and not-so-good, effects of all the rain in the home landscape. Lawns continue to grow, mushrooms showing up in the lawn, some surprising insect activity and a quick reminder on mosquitos and ticks.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses using mulch in the home landscape. Used in the right amounts, there are many benefits to our plants with very few concerns. Richard also addresses some of the things we should do before putting the mulch down to make yard care easier later.
Host Richard Hentschel weighs in on a biting topic – mosquitos in the landscape. Learn what homeowners can do to lessen the potential of biting mosquitos in the yard.
Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel discusses weeds in the landscape, perennial and vegetable beds. While dandelion and plantains and other broadleaved weeds are well known, a new comer showing up more often are the thistles. Canadian thistle is particularly troublesome by the way the underground roots easily spread the weed around the beds. To slow the populations down, cultivate very shallowly, water the plants and not the whole bed and get those weed out while they are early.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, covers several smaller, but important topics this week. Managing spring flowering bulbs can be done as the bloom show fades. Dead-heading and leaving the foliage up until the leaves naturally die down is the best way to ensure good bloom for 2019. Vegetable gardens and perennial flower beds may need to be fenced to protect them from rabbit feeding. While chicken wire works, a better alternative is rabbit fencing. Find out why edging your landscape beds now makes that project easier and learn best practices for using spent container soils too.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about three of the grassy weeds in the lawn that can cause confusion this time of year. Quackgrass and tall fescue are both perennial cool season grasses while Nimblewill is a warm season perennial grass that is appearing in lawns as a tan or straw-colored stringy grass. Some of these grasses could be confused with crabgrass, which is an annual grassy weed that is yet to germinate. Management is different depending on what is in the lawn. Crabgrass you can prevent, quackgrass and tall fescue require a different control strategy. Nimblewill is a perennial and as a warm season grass, management will have to wait until it is actively growing. Tune in to learn more.
Richard Hentschel discusses when we plant the vegetable garden based on the long-standing average frost free date. Soil and air temperatures are additional indicators of when we should be planting those very hardy to warm-loving vegetable transplants and seeds. Soils warm at different rates. Sandy soils warm slower than dark soils. Microclimates in the home landscape also should factor in. We can use season extenders on both ends of the season to increase the days we get to garden.
Host Richard Hentschel does a phone interview with Dennis Bowman, a Commercial Agriculture Educator for U of I Extension located on campus. Dennis and Richard discussed the differences and similarities of agriculture and horticulture this time of year. They discuss soil temperatures and planting crops like corn and soybeans, as well as many vegetables.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses coping with our ever-changing spring weather in 2018. Average soil temperature this past week have only been in the mid-30s here in northern Illinois, while the past 5-year average has been hitting 50 degrees. Richard talks about the impact on early vegetable gardening and the needed delay in applying crabgrass preventer too. A bright spot is that there is ample soil moisture for all our plants.
Richard talks about how the weather is going to change when we can get outside and plant or sow vegetables in the garden. Spring bulbs are going to be ok as they are used to having some bad weather before the better temperatures. While we wait for spring to show up, forcing blooms indoors can give us a taste right now.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, talks about common questions coming into the Extension office - including early spring care of shade trees, pruning, dormant oils in our home orchards and the timing for crabgrass preventer. We are still in the window for dormant pruning of our maples, elms and oaks, but for different reasons. Spraying dormant oil on our fruit trees needs to happen when we begin to have nights above 32 degrees for at least 24 to 48 hours. Crabgrass control will need to wait until soils warm and remain consistent.
U of I Extension's Richard Hentschel discusses many of the early yard clean-up projects that can be done while we wait for the real spring weather. Early lawn clean-up with a leaf rake can take a while if you have a large yard. Uncovering spring bulbs and tender perennials is another activity that can be done, just do it slowly over a couple of weekends to allow plants to adjust. Also, don't forget about repairing any rabbit damaged shrubs while the landscape plants are dormant.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses late spring bird feeding for migrating and local birds. Homeowners should make sure there is some water available now that we have no snow, as it is really appreciated by our feathered friends. In addition, keeping the feeder clean and feeder openings clear of seed debris makes it easier for birds to find their seed of choice. Also, you may want to use up seed so you do not have to store any through the summer.
Did you know many of us likely use a "pesticide" almost every day, if not every day? The word pesticide, when broken down and back to its origin, means killing a pest. This could be in the garden or home, from fungicides and insecticides to kitchen sanitizers. Host Richard Hentschel breaks down pesticide options and reminds folks to be safe, and always read and folllow label instructions.
Richard Hentschel, host of GSU, addresses what should be done in the home orchard, starting with dormant pruning. First spray of the season is usually a dormant oil and moving on to the early cover sprays to protect emerging foliage and flowers from our windborne diseases like Cedar Apple Rust and Apple Scab. Finding your spray equipment early before you need it ensures you are ready. Take an inventory of your spray products and purchase any additional product. Allows read and follow label instructions.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about what is going on out in the home landscape right now. Things are pretty brown, except the colorful food and snack wrappers stuck among base of plants. Do a quick pick-up so you won't have to look at trash this spring. Rabbits may have caused some (or a lot of) damage. Check out how the bulbs are doing and protect them from rabbit feeding. While we enjoy and support our winter birds, the feed also will attract voles and rabbits. Be aware of the damage they can do elsewhere in the yard.
University of Illinois Extension Educator Richard Hentschel discusses saved flower and vegetable seeds, and how to check them this time of year. He also reminds us that seed packets can give us lots of good information on the best conditions for seed germination.
U of I Extension's Richard Hentschel discusses the need to do dormant pruning for our trees and shrubs. He provides the benefits of this strategy, including the ease of pruning while the plants are without leaves.
Horticulture Educator and podcast host Richard Hentschel talks about how to keep your brambles from becoming the preverbal bramble patch. Did you know pruning is straight forward, and needs to be done just twice a year? Listen to learn how fruiting canes work, when they die and when they can be removed. Plus, Hentschel provides tips on thinning new canes so you grow the biggest berries!
Click "download" to listen now Are those seed, plant and tree catalogs filling your mailbox? If fruit trees are on your to-buy list, host Richard Hentschel talks apples, peaches, cherries, pears and more. He also explains the catalog description terminology, such as "self-fruitful" and "self-unfruitful." Make an educated purchase and a plan that yields with these tips!
Click "download" to listen now Russ Higgins, commercial agriculture educator, calls-in to talk with host Richard Hentschel about how the record yields over the last three years will be used domestically and worldwide. Current prices have shifted from the demand side to a supply side, keeping prices stable. Exports can be the grain itself or a byproduct of domestic grain use, such as ethanol. Russ also talks about future uses for the grain itself and potential new products.
Click "download" to listen now Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, continues a 3-part phone interview with Russ Higgins, Commercial Agriculture Educator, and discusses how the winter wheat crop is fairing in all this cold weather. Russ and Richard also talk about how the 2017 harvest went and how much fall tillage and fertilizer applications happened. Russ noted the concerns in agriculture over this seasons use of Dicamba on herbicide tolerant soybeans.
Click "download" to listen now During a call-in interview, host Richard Hentschel and Commercial Agriculture Educator Russ Higgins discuss how the 2017 growing season went for farmers, especially with the strange weather pattern this summer. The pair also tackles how corn and soybean yields faired, and Russ touches on livestock management during this very cold weather.
Click "download" to listen now Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, talks about making some gardening resolutions for 2018 and how easy some of them can be to check off the list. Don't just say "I am going to make the landscape better in 2018." Put down some specific things you would like to improve. Maybe it's how the lawn looks, putting in a cutting garden, starting the vegetable garden early or gardening late into the season? Perhaps you want to take a class or visit a conservatory this winter? Make those resolutions and put them were you can see them often!
Click "download" to listen now Host Richard Hentschel discusses winter care of our houseplants long after the holiday gift plants are gone. Houseplants that need a lot of light will get loose and leggy while stretching towards the light during the cloudy short days of winter. Watering can be a challenge as many of our houseplants are not actively growing. Good drainage and using the same soil mix can help us manage the water easier
Click "download" to listen now Horticulture Educator and GSU Host Richard Hentschel provides some quick reviews and reminders on bird feeding, firewood management, mulching tender perennials, protecting thinned bark trees and more.
Click "download" to listen now Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel talks gifts for the gardener in the family. Tools are always welcome, especially those that have multiple uses. Other kinds of supplies also make good gifts, perhaps bags of soil amendment, fertilizers, or a new, larger diameter garden hose to replace an older cracked or leaking hose.
Click "download" to listen now Host Richard Hentschel discussed some interesting facts regarding the impacts of our Christmas Tree industry across the country. Christmas trees are very much sustainable and add to the environment in a many ways.
Click "download" to listen now Horticulture Educator Richard Hentschel talks about those late November outdoor gardening activities like the last mowing and leaf cleanup. He gives tips on getting the lawn mower put to bed and the snow blower ready for service. Predictions are for more snow and volatile winter temperatures so being ready is a good thing.
Click "download" to listen now Picking the not so perfect holiday tree may not be so bad. GSU Host Richard Hentschel shares tips for picking the family holiday tree and for handling it. Plus, he shares how to help it last once it is indoors.
Click "download" to listen now U of I Extension's Richard Hentschel discusses two different topics this week: Fireplace safety and Houseplants. The indoor fireplace means following some simple guidelines before enjoying the wood as it burns. Getting the fireplace and chimney inspected and cleaned to avoid chimney fires this season is important. Also, by now, you may be noticing changes to the houseplants you have brought in from outdoors. Signs are clear, like a loss of foliage or a slowdown of growth, and may require a modified watering program. Using the same kind of media and containers can help manage how much and how often you water.
Green Side Up's Richard Hentschel covers common storage of root crops right in the garden and places to store hard rind, or winter, squashes in the home until you can prepare them for the family. Carrots and other root crops do just fine if left in the garden and harvested as needed. Winter squashes prefer storage temperatures between 50 and 55 degrees. They do just fine even 10 degrees warmer, but they may not last as long that way. Cooler, they can last for 4 or more months.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about getting those garden chores done with our recent heavy rains. Lawns have turned green again and mowing should continue. Planting spring flowering bulbs, building or using your compost pile and bins should be ongoing and if needed late season watering of our needle evergreens and established trees is still important
Host Richard Hentschel talks about birds, winter bird feeding and keeping the birds watered. He also explores good management when purchasing and storing firewood for the winter. Both activities benefit from a little planning. Bird feeding means dedicating time and resources, and starting soon and continuing all winter long into late spring when Mother Nature can supply the food. For firewood, the best heat means proper moisture content, find of wood and storage.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, talks about our very recent rains and the gardening and yard activities that will be easier now that our soils are moist again. Find out about lawn work, garden bed clean-up and the plant parts suitable for the compost pile.
Many home gardeners are beginning to clean up vegetable beds and others are preparing to deal with all those falling leaves. Host Richard Hentschel outlines what can be added to compost from the yard and garden, including what to avoid and how to maintain pH. In addition, he explains the green-brown rule for composting success.
In northern Illinois, we currently are in an extended droughty period. This means homeowners need to pay attention to those trees and plants that seem to take care of themselves. When the hose is out, water established trees, shrubs and perennials, as well as new additions and vegetables. Believe it or not, some trees are still recovering from the 2012 drought, five years later, and without extra help now, this period could cause more. Learn about drought, stress signs, and the impact on various types of plants with Richard Hentschel.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, talks about watering seeded and sodded yards and what to do with summer bulbs from the yard. Watering seeded lawns is a lot different than watering sod. Summer bulbs are those bulbs that are not winter hardy and need to dug up and protected until planting time again next year.
Fall is a good time to test soils. Host Richard Hentschel discusses the importance of taking a soil test of your garden beds to improve plant growth and yields. Soil testing does not need to be done every year, but should be done periodically to be sure the soils are not holding back your plants. Soil pH plays a really big part in the health and productivity of vegetable plants, perennials and trees, shrubs and lawn.
Northern Illinois has experienced a cool weather pattern, but we haven't had the rain we'd expect. You may not miss it, but our lawns, gardens and plants do. This drought potential should be a concern for homeowners, as well as farmers or horticulturalists. Learn more about this dry fall effect in the latest Green Side Up podcast.
Richard Hentschel, Green Side Up Host and U of I Extension Educator, reviews his list of the worst lawn pests of 2017 and what it may mean for your 2018 yard. Tune in to see what weeds and insects made the cut.
Green Side Up host Richard Hentschel discusses what is to do in the vegetable garden until the snow flies. Late summer and early fall lawn care including fertilization, weed control and lawn repair. Hentschel concludes with what is going on with trees and shrubs in the home landscape this time of year.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about the Japanese and Masked Chafer beetles and the potential need to manage these insects in the home lawn. While the numbers are up, egg laying and grub feeding is widely distributed so actual damage may be low to the home lawn. Richard talks about the threshold levels that will cause damage.
Do you have crabgrass where you always do? Do you have crabgrass where you have never seen it before? You are not alone this year. Chalk this up to our weather patterns this season. Host Richard Hentschel talks crabgrass, goosegrass and how they impact your lawn.
Nutrition & Wellness Educator Laura Barr talks with Green Side Up Host Richard Hentschel about evidenced based diets, or eating plans, and Americans' health. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer in America. You can promote body health from the inside out with proper food choices, including 8 to 12 servings a day of vegetables and fruits.
U of I Extension Educators Richard Hentschel and Laura Barr continue to talk about using the best garden produce to preserve as you prepare to water bath, pressure can or freeze your excess fresh vegetables and fruits. Barr talks about blanching before freezing, how not all fruits are created equal when it comes to blanching, and that freezers should be from zero to minus 10 degress.
Nutrition & Wellness Educator Laura Barr once again joins Host Richard Hentschel as they discuss extra produce out of the garden and how best to preserve what cannot be quickly eaten. Barr talks about freezing, water bath and pressure canning methods and the reasons we treat high- and low-acid foods differently.
Richard Hentschel talks with U of I Extension's Laura Barr about basic summer food safety and concerns with youth, immune compromised and older adults. Often talked about "danger zones" are storage temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees, where pathogens can grow very quickly. Extra care should be given to milk and meats. Barr also shares information about "charred" food and potential risks.
Host Richard Hentschel talks with U of I Extension Nutrition & Wellness Educator Laura Barr about why we grow our own food. Folks that grow that garden are much more likely to eat and try vegetables. Once that garden starts producing, how to use all that fresh produce and preserving for later use are common questions coming to Extension. They pair discusses eating fresh out of the garden and how to safely store them as well. If pesticides are a concern, gardeners know what they used or did not use, something not always known from produce from other sources.
Extension Educator Richard Hentschel covers information about leafhoppers on a wide range of trees in the landscape and natural areas, and how they distort and damage annual growth. Also covered is yellow nutsedge, which is appearing in the lawn flower beds and vegetable beds due to the higher moisture levels in the soil this year.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, discusses some pretty common diseases in the landscape and home orchard. Black spot of roses has been very evident and everywhere with our weather pattern this year. Peach leaf curl on peaches looks like blisters on the leaves and gets started at the very earliest stage of bud break.
Host Richard Hentschel discussed several "out in the garden" chores that could be done starting with the removal of spent bulb foliage and continued spraying of fruit trees in the home orchard. Other points covered include lawns, and differences between foliage diseases and chewing insect feeding in the landscape.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about the impacts of our above normal collection of Growing Degree Days on insect development and uses the Viburnum Leaf Beetle as a typical example. Viburnum Leaf Beetle arrived from Europe some years back and has been a pest in Northeast for several years. More recently, the beetle has been found in Chicagoland. Both larvae and adults of the Viburnum Leaf Beetle cause damage by their feeding and egg laying habits.
HostRichard Hentschel discusses several updates to spring disease spread and insects that are ahead of schedule. Cedar Apple Rust is done putting spores into the air. Pine sawfly and other sawfly larvae are out and have been feeding. Another newer insect is the Viburnum Leaf Beetle. Also noted has been the thinner foliage on certain maples.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about just a few things we might be able to do outdoors while the weather remains so cool and wet. Vegetables and flowers may develop differently during this time of year with such a different weather pattern. You never want to work in the flower or vegetable garden when the foliage is wet, and keeping foliage off the ground and separated by mulches will aid with disease management.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about foliar diseases, especially those that affect our ornamental flowering crabapples and our apple trees in the home orchard. Cedar Apple Rust requires both an evergreen and a deciduous host. Right now, the evergreen side is obvious to spot with jelly-like orange fingers on a gall, which is sending out spores to our apples and crabapples. The second disease is that of Apple Scab, which can be more damaging to the apple crop and visually on the crabapple.
HostRichard Hentschel discusses a recent national and Midwest weather pattern report from a number of weather-related organizations and its impacts on crop farming, livestock and horticultural crops, such as fruit tree and vegetable crops. We could be in for another couple of weeks of below normal weather. The report talks about potential snowfalls and excessive rains.
Sometimes it is easy to avoid some of our garden pests just by planting the right thing or at the right time. The squash vine borer is a good example. The vine borer prefers certain varieties, so planting other varieties is the easy way to go. Vining types have a better chance to live on after an attack versus bush types. This is because they root along the vine. In addition, growing your own early sweet corn will avoid the corn earworm, which shows up later. Host Richard Hentschel shares these and other tips for avoiding pests.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, talks about problems with fruit trees not bearing fruit. There are some good reasons why fruit trees will not flower or will not bear fruit, even if they bloomed and produced the first year you planted them. It can take three to five years before flowers return as the tree recovers from transplanting shock. Proper training also will promote fruits sooner. Apples, for example, will need to be cross-pollinated, so even if they flower they may produce no fruit.
Host Richard Hentschel notes recent changes in gypsy moth monitoring and treatments for northern Illinois in 2017. A recent news release from the Illinois Department of Agriculture has added Kane, Kendall, Will and LaSalle counties to a gypsy moth quarantine, which already included DuPage, Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. Trap monitoring in 2016 has indicated the need to treat gypsy moth and the quarantine places additional restrictions on commercial horticulture, as well as homeowners. Homeowners are being asked to closely inspect any recreational vehicles that remain in backyards or outdoors before heading off to a location outside of these eight counties. Something to think about with vacation time approaching. The other, and perhaps more urgent, news release is about Boxwood blight. This disease has been upgraded to the nuisance status with more restrictions on the importation of Boxwoods into Illinois.
Host Richard Hentschel talks with Russ Higgins, Ag Educator for the University of Illinois. Soil health is becoming much more important more research has been going on in recent years. Keeping micro flora and soil insect populations high is helping keep yields high and nutrient movement slow in the soil profile. No-till has been increasing based on this research. Nutrient load in the farm fields is also very critical for good yields. Farmers balance fertilizer applications when the plants can best utilize them. When the land receives excessive rainfall, a portion of nutrient load can end up in field tiles and potential lost. Over 10 million Dollars has been used to research how to keep that nutrient load in the fields. Cover crops, buffer strips and other perennials crops are very effective in managing this potential loss.
Richard Hentschel discusses planting dates for our major farm crops with Russ Higgins, Agriculture Educator for University of Illinois Extension. One of the biggest factors farmers follow is related to the dates crop insurance takes effect. For Corn that date is April 10th and April 15 for Soybeans. Culturally stable oil temperatures 2 or more inches down need to be reached for corn. Soybeans go in after that.
One of our worst summer weeds coming on is Palmer Amaranth, one of the pigweeds. Palmer amaranth can produce more than 400,000 seeds per plant with crop competition and is easily spread by geese and equipment.
Russ Higgins, Ag Educator talks with Host Richard Hentschel about corn and soybean yields in 2016 2016 averages were 197 Bushels and 59 bushels for soybeans. Good weather and moisture levels were strong factors in getting these high yields. Right now pricing is supply based rather than demand driven. US is competing with world markets now. Corn and Soybeans are being grown in places well outside the typical corn belt.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses spring farming with Russ Higgins, Agriculture Educator. Farmers are dealing with weather just like the homeowner. While corn and beans are not impacted by late winter and spring weather, but winter wheat clearly is with our early warm temperatures. Hopefully our recent cold weather has not damaged or killed the winter wheat crop. Winter weeds are not normally not a problem but can be vectors for certain diseases and pest insects. Soil moisture around the state have been quite variable in parts of the state, very wet to droughty.
Richard concludes the pruning shrubs in the home landscape with discussion on the third technique called heading back cuts. Often heading back cuts are used with renewal pruning. Heading back cuts help the plant return to its natural shape. Heading back cuts also allows you to redirect the direction of future growth. Where those cuts occur in the canopy will also provide a fuller shrub.
Richard Hentschel continues the pruning series by discussing renewal pruning of shrubs in the home landscape. Renewal pruning allows a portion of the existing branch structure to remain. Start by removing any dead branches and then move on to branches causing structural problems. A portion of the older wood is removed each year over a 3 year period. Older wood is often the taller branches and may contain insect or disease problems too.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses the first of 3 pruning techniques. This week covers rejuvenation pruning. This technique works well on fine textured plants and some others. This is the easiest method since a total removal of the above ground parts! Using hand pruners and small loppers to prune work best usually. Plants will regrow into a brand new fresh looking shrub nearly the same size in a single season.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side up begins a 4 part series on pruning shrubs in the home landscape. Early spring before growth starts is a great time for pruning since it is a lot easier to the branching pattern. Certain kinds of branches can always be removed like dead branches, rubbing or crossing branches. There are always exceptions to dormant pruning because some plants will bleed sap excessively or because of that attract insects that could in their feeding spread diseases.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses fruit thinning in the home orchard. While emotionally difficult to remove fruits after working so hard to get the fruit trees to produce them, the results are well worth the effort. Thinning improves the quality of the fruits harvested later in the season. By limiting the number of fruits the tree is able to direct more energy into each fruit. An added benefit of thinning means the scaffold branches can support the fruit load without having to prop up the branches.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up concludes a several week series on the home orchard. The last show covers differences of care between young non-bearing fruit trees and mature bearing trees providing us with fruits. That proper creation of scaffold branches allows sun and air to penetrate the entire canopy, allowing flowers and fruits to be produced throughout the tree. Mature trees bearing fruits need pruning to manage annual growth, create a new scaffold branch in the event of a loss, ease of management for any sprays and inspection during the season.
Host Richard Hentschel covers care of young fruit trees through mature trees. Besides the training of scaffold branches, protection from insects and diseases that that impacts the foliage s also very important to maintain a healthy fruit tree. The leaves are the food factory for the tree. Other protection includes rodent, rabbit and deer feeding. Using a mulch ring on the soil around the trunk also protects the tree from lawn mower and string trimmer damage.
Host Richard Hentschel continues the series on home orchards this week. Previous shows have covered siting the orchard to benefit from the best sunlight, air and soil drainage. This week the show covers fruit tree training. Proper scaffold training allows the tree to support the fruit load without breaking or bending down to the ground or worse. Fruit trees for the home orchard should be semi dwarfs usually for apples. Proper training allows for easy inspection, spraying and additional maintenance
Host Richard Hentschel continues the series of growing fruit trees in home orchard. this week Richard discusses proper siting of fruit trees in the yard and other consideations that will favor growing and management of the home orchard. Good soil drainage along with air drainage is very important for the health of the fruit trees. sunlight is another critical need for trees for good growth, the creation of flowers and the production of fruits.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up begins a series of shows on home orchards starting with a discussion on pollentaion. Most apples will need to be cross pollentaion as do pears and some plums. Other fruit trees are considered partially self fruitful. those tres prefer to be cross pollentated, yet will accept thier own pollen. The third type will be self fruitful. Those trees will be able to use their own pollen to create fruits.
Dru Banks talks with host Richard Hentschel, discusses food safety during the upcoming Super Bowl season and other sports tournaments. some general rules at these kinds of parties are just like our holiday meals, hot food hot, cold food cold, and limit foods to 2 hours out on the table. Foods placed on ice, using a crock pot or cooker to keep those other foods warm. Serve large amounts of food in small amounts over time. Foods with lots of acid or vinegar are going to be safer of the same amount of time. Frequent hand washing and using sanitizer and rinse well and use a fresh clean hand towel.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about how to pick and by a fresh poinsettia and the general care to provide longest lasting blooms possible. You should expect 6-8 weeks of a great show. Keeping them evenly water is critical to keeping leaves and colorful bracts on the plant. Water without the foil on to be sure the plant drains out well and them replace the foil. 6 or more hours of indirect light will help them remain healthy longer. Keep them healthy and grow them outdoors for the summer for an entirely different look.
Richard and Dru discuss the latest in food trends. Interest in fermented foods are increasing for the pro-biotics they contain. Pickled vegetables are things like kimchee, sauerkraut, and pickles. Some food trends get started in the restaurants. Increased usage of herbs and spices. This is reducing our salt and butter. Other foods trending is wood fire cooking and putting bacon on everything.
Host Richard Hentschel talks more with Dru Banks, Nutrition and Wellness educator on the Dietary Guidelines and our coffee drinking habits. Americans drink lots of coffee. Moderate coffee consumption is ok for healthy adults. That is about 400 milligrams of caffeine in total during the day. Think 3 8 oz cups a day if that is the only source of caffeine. Too much caffeine can mean upset stomachs, nerviness and insomnia. Your heartbeat can be elevated as well. Caffeine may have some positive impact too. Some teas can provide caffeine depending on how long they are brewed.
Richard Hentschel talks with Dru Banks on eating during the holidays, food safety is key. Improperly handled foods by leaving out too long and general sanitation like a lack of hand washing.
Keeping foods chilled (crushed ice below) or hot (140 degrees) and serving the dish in small amounts and replenishing later. Foods can be left out for 2 hours before needing attention. Fresh vegetables need refrigeration after cutting and then the 2 our rule applies. Keep leftovers 3-5 days on average for the home kitchen.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses the Dietary Guidelines for Americans with Dru Banks, Nutrition and Wellness Educator. The focus is now reducing sugars, sodium intake, saturated fat and eating nutrient dense foods. Soft drinks and eating out can be a real source of those added sugars. We are now eating out more than cooking meals. Improving our overall heath routine with whole foods, nutrient dense, colorful fruits and vegetables.
Last of the garden chores are covered by Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up. Late season vegetable gardens should be about done right now so go ahead and clean up the debris. Adding composts to the soil is a good thing to do this time of year. Lawns should also be about done by now so after the last mowing, be sure to clean the underside of the deck, add fuel conditioner and run the mower for long enough to warm the engine and get conditioner through the carburetor. Store used pesticides safely. Remember to remove the garden hose from the frost free spigot or it won't be frost free and could freeze and burst.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up discusses fall tree planting. Tree selection is key to a tree being able to grow to maturity and last our lifetime. Considerations should be mature size, the kind of shade the tree will provide and now consider diversity. The more diversity we have, the lessening the catch of a future outbreak like what happened with our Ash trees. Planting is another part of helping the year establish. The planting hole and depth of planting is critical. Another area is that of girdling roots which can be a problem for both balled and burlapped and container grown plants.
Host Richard Hentschel catches us up on what is going on out in the home landscape. Lawns have enjoyed the rains and cooler weather and are vigorously growing and will need to be mowed for some weeks yet. Broad leaf weeds may need to treated if populations are high. Gardens should be regular harvested, especially the cooler season vegetables that will tolerate cold temperatures. Mulching the leaves into the lawn and mow and bag and apply the chopped up leaves into the garden or flower beds to increase organic matter content. Don't forget the need to bring the houseplants indoors before frosty temperatures
Host Richard Hentschel discusses the 2016 farm crops with Russ Higgins. Richard talks with Russ about this year's harvest season. Crop yields are certainly hitting earlier expectations. Record yields along with record weed growth means harvest is taking a bit longer. There is more grain to move, more of the corn plant and weeds need to move through the combine and that typically means travel speeds across the fields has to be reduced. Following harvest, depending on the crop management system, fields will be left covered with crop residue. Other fields will be tilled leaving some residue on the surface.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses the 2016 farm crops with Russ Higgins. Russ details more on how and when pollination occurs with field corn. Corn has both male and female flowers, but not together. The tassels (male flowers) appear on the top of the corn plant with the female flowers in the ear and pollination takes place by a pollen grain traveling down the silk into the ear. Corn is wind pollinated
Host Richard Hentschel discusses the 2016 farm crops with Russ Higgins. The weather this year has been really good and are expecting some record yields. We had lots of water the week before and after corn pollination to ensure good yields, soybeans have also enjoyed good pod fill. Corn is about 90% finished filling out the ear. Secondary crops have also done well this season with harvest starting early this year.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses the fungal activity associated with all the rainfall, especially in the lawns. Hentschel cautions about not working in the vegetable garden so disease is not spread. The rains do have the benefit of keeping our over-seeding efforts in the lawn going strongly. Fall is also a good time for a needed broadleaved weed control effort.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses pollination possibilities in the vegetable garden. We can be very surprised if you grow seeds saved from fruits last summer. Cross pollination is very necessary yet can give us something unexpected if those crosses were hybrids to begin with.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses insects, what is happening in the vegetable garden, especially those vine crops giving us cucumbers, squashes, gourds and pumpkins. We really need to keep up with harvest especially the summer squashes and cucumbers. Recent activity by what we know as a Cicada Killer can really surprise us, yet stinging us is not part of their nature. These are beneficial insects and whenever you can leave them be. Another insect that will be visible in the next few weeks is the bald faced hornet and that giant paper nest they build
Host Richard Hentschel discusses several garden and landscape topics with our recent rains. Even though we have had a lot of rain, as soon as it dries out, some plants may wilt. In the Vegetable garden, be sure to harvest mature and ripe fruit before it rains, especially tomatoes. Cucumber, summer squash will be ready in 3-4 days after pollination occurs for best size. Crabgrass in the lawn is also growing very quickly. Remove it if you can while it is small.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses more on the recent rains and impacts on root systems with our annuals and newly planted perennials. Fruit development in the garden is also changing quickly with all the moisture. Vine crops produce their fruits in just a few days. These rains are also pushing our lawns along and can be longer than we want before we can get it mowed. Crabgrass has been a problem with the water as well.
Host Richard Hentschel discuses recent events related to recent rains. Damage to tree canopies and broken branches in shrubs. Proper pruning of those damaged branches will aid in proper recovery. Making proper cuts to minimize the open cut area. Removing the broken branches on smaller ornamental trees should be done now and making additional cuts at a later time or early next spring. With the recent rains, comes weed seed germination in our landscape beds.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses Japanese beetles this season and potential grub control. Mushroom in the lawn can be from decaying ash tree roots after EAB has killed the tree and has been removed. Mushrooms are also being found in landscaped mulched beds. Slime molds are also around. Austrian pines are in severe decline this year as a result of damage from the drought of 2012
Host Richard Hentschel dissuses the potential need for grub control in home lawns this year. We have had adequate soil moisture and green lawns, yet popultions of the adult beetles have been down since the drought of 2012. Fewer grubs will mean no management practices will will be needed. Treatments may be warranted if there are more than 1-12 grubs per square foot in the lawn.
Richard Hentschel talks about recent rains. Rains or watering is needed at critical times in the vegetable garden. Good moisture is needed for pod fill, fruit development and corn silking and tasseling.
Suckers and water spouts are also showing up in the home landscape, especially on ornamental flowering crabapples. Pruning back certain perennial flowers and veggies should be avoided until foliage dies down naturally.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses several areas in the home landscape. Lots of our annuals and newly planted perennials have not established the expected root systems with all the rain earlier and are looking a bit lackluster. Lawns have had mushrooms growing in them. This can be a natural event as the thatch layer decays. What also has been showing up are the mushrooms from decaying roots of the ash trees. Bagworms are active right now and while small, can be handpicked.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up discusses the severe decline of Austrian Pines due to the kind of weather we have had this spring. Diplodia tip blight favors stressed and older plants. The disease has gotten a lot stronger as trees have remained stressed since the drought of 2012. Treatments are available, yet trees will need 3 sprays each spring and good sanitation to help the pines recover.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses several insects currently in the home landscape. scale insects are active right now on several kinds of plants. The black sooty mold seen as a reslut of the sticky sap dripping down from the scale feeding. gall forming insects are also showing up as those galls have enlarged in size or a change in color is happening. Black Knot of plum is also been reported. Large swollen growth along the stems and branches has been apparent recently too.
Home Orchards can be very rewarding but take a lot of work, including a very routine schedule of sprays to protect the young developing fruits and leaves against both foliar and fruit diseases and insects that can damage our fruits and eat the leaves. Cedar Apple Rust and Apple scab are the two main diseases and insects like the Apple Maggot and Codling Moth. Most home orchardists with use a combination product containing control material for diseases and insects. Other tasks include doing any needed fruit thinning to allow fewer apples to mature. This also will promote annual flowering and bearing.
Dealing with our spring blooming bulbs the right way an be rewarding with better or more blooms in 2017. Foliage should be leaf intact until the bulb has naturally died down. If you are going to cut some foliage off, limit that to about 1/3 of the levels. Spring is also a great to time to feed your bulbs with mulches of organic matter. We should never tie or braid the leaves together. Bed layout will also help us to hide the fading leaves with plantings in front of the bulbs.
Mowing and lawn care can be a real challenge with our cooler, wetter weather. Lawns are growing very strong right now. Mowing more frequently is easy to say than do when we are having lots of rain. Mowing and removing no more than 1/3 of the grass blade is the goal. Mowing more often also lets us leave the clippings on the lawn. Moving the mower deck a notch or two can help us maintain the 1/3 rule if the lawn gets away from us. Sharp blades is just another easy why to keep the lawn look a lot better
How your trees are bought at the retail nurseries and Garden Centers can make a difference on how they are planted and cared for. Smaller trees can often be found as a potted plant where the plants entire root system is in that pot. Larger trees are often hand dug or machine dug and called balled and burlaped. The last two have a portion of their root system is left behind when dug. The planting hole can be as important as the condition of the tree itself. Planting holes should be not deeper the soil in a pot or the fair roots of a balled and burlaped tree.
May is a great month to be planting trees. Replacing trees lost from the Emerald Ash borer or from the drought of 2012. Placement in the home landscape is a good place to begin, soil types, soil drainage and the sun shade pattern provided by the tree itself as well as the sun shade pattern from the sun and buildings should be taken into account. Tree canopy shape is another consideration for both summer and winter interest.
Lawn mowing is a real struggle this time of year. Changing the height of the cut is one way to help catch up. Longer grass is often wetter as well, making it difficult for the mower to function and cut the grass up fine enough not to leave any clumps. Timing on fruit tree sprays are critical for good fruit quality and to protect leaves from disease and insect feeding. Weeds in the landscape beds are out there quickly growing. Winter annuals like chickweed is a prolific seed producing weed that can be found growing quite happily right now. Some are shallow rooted and come out easily, others will have a tap root. Weed control also includes mulching. Continue to plant vegetable transplants that can be planted, they may need to be protected if we get frosty weather.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up, discusses those very early and early vegetables that can be planted in early April thru late April. To get the most from our gardens, we need to start early and continue to garden late into the fall season. Lots of vegetables can be harvest once school starts through our hard frost and freezes. Richard provides lots of examples of those early vegetables and encourages successive planting to take advantage of any open garden space throughout the season.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about early gardening and what that means for our 4 groups of temperature sensitive vegetables. Our typical average frost free date for our area is about May 5th. Gardeners then base those plantings for the very hardy and Frost tolerant vegetable plants. Those vegetables considered tender and warm loving are planted after the average frost free dates. Tender vegetables will need to be protected from frosts and light freezes. Warm loving vegetable cannot tolerate any kind of cold weather.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up discusses early spring lawn care. Hand raking to remove left over winter debris and dead grass. It is good time to see what kind of perennial weeds are in the lawn and decide what kind of treatment might be needed. A light lawn rolling might be in order if you find the lawn uneven to press the crowns back down into the soil. Getting the lawn mower ready is also a good thing to do. Sharpen the blade if that did not happen last fall as you put the mower away. Consider a new spark plug and fill the mower with fresh gas. Mow the lawn a few times before applying any lawn fertilizers.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about dormant pruning . Dormant pruning can be down anytime now before spring growth begins. This is good for most trees and shrubs, hard maples being an exception. It is much easier to plant structure for proper pruning. You can always remove dead wood at any time of the year, spring being one of them. Hentschel talked about the three common methods of pruning, rejuvenation, renewal and heading back cuts. Rejuvenation is great for the smaller fine textured plants. Renewal pruning gives us a new plant over a 3-4 year period and gets rid of established insects and diseases.
Gardening season will be with us soon enough. Getting those vegetable seeds sown for growing your own transplants. Other considerations as you plan the garden include when to harden of your transplants for the garden and when you can begin to plant outdoors, whether from seed or your transplants. Seed packets will tell you all you need to know.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior study with Laura Barr, Nutrition and Wellness Educator. Studies are showing that if children become involved a variety of aspects of growing vegetables, the interest in eating fruits and vegetables increases and becomes part of their good eating practices. Extension, through a grant from the Illinois State Board of Education, will be involved with better eating habits and choices in the school lunch programs.
Richard Hentschel talks with Laura Barr, Nutrition and Wellness Educator about March being National Nutrition Month and how best to use the 'MyPlate' message. Laura covers the vegetables and fruits, lean meats and healthy grains.
Reducing sodium and sugar should also be part the plan.
Richard Hentschel host of Green Side Up continues to talk with Laura Barr on the revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans for 2016. It is more about learning a healthy eating pattern that can be a long term positive change. Limiting sugars, bad saturated fats and salt in all our meals is helpful. Start at home; later make better choices when eating out. The guidelines are promoting nutrient dense foods over energy dense foods.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses National Heart Month with Laura Barr, Extension Nutrition and Wellness Educator. Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer worldwide. Cooking and eating healthy foods flavored with herbs for seasonings along with root vegetables and using less salt is great way to start. Laura says to start with a good check up to find your base levels of blood pressure and cholesterol as you begin any changes in exercise. Laura also talks about managing stress, alcohol and smoking and their impacts on our health.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about the differences in what we call the average frost free date and absolute frost free date and what that means to a gardener. Some plantings can start as early as 4-6 weeks ahead or our average frost free date and others have to wait until 2-3 weeks after.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up discussed the importance of knowing and understanding all those initials seen in the vegetable and fruit catalogue behind the name of our favorite vegetable or fruit. These initials are indicators of specific to diseases we cannot control in our gardens and home fruit orchards. Other initials like F1 refer to how many breeding generations away from the parental cross.
Richard Hentschel concludes his home orchard series this week discussing general care and protection for the young fruit trees in the backyard home orchard. Richard reviewed the points from the previous shows. Young fruit trees should be protected from Insects and diseases from the very start. Winter protection is also important for survival the first few years. Wildlife protection from rabbits, mice and deer will need to be managed as well. Other points discussed include grass and weeds, lawn mowing and using a string trimmer around the trunks of your fruit trees.
Richard Hentschel host of Green Side Up continues with part 3 of a series on growing a home fruit Orchard. This week covers Pollination and bees. Most apples are considered self un-fruitful meaning those trees will need to be pollinated by another variety. Those two varieties will need to be blooming at the same time with active bees.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up with a second week of information on beginning the home orchard. This week covers training the young fruit tree and why it is so important to start the year the fruit tree is planted. Proper structure is important for good air movement and the trees ability to hold a good fruit load without additional support. Proper structure and training can get a fruit tree into production in the shortest amount of time. Proper training keeps the fruit tree small enough to work on standing on the ground.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up begins a 4 part series on growing fruit trees in the home orchard. Site selection is a good starting point. Soil and air drainage are important considerations. Root rots and foliage diseases are lessened with good site selection. Sunlight and hardiness are two other big considerations.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about several ways to re purpose the Holiday tree. The tree works very well as a feeding station or weather protection for the birds. Other uses are using the branches for weather protection for tender perennials and those plants that have a tendency to heave out of the soil. The bare trunk can be use for 2016 gardening. Use it for support for peas or perhaps morning glories.
Host Richard Hentschel and Dru Banks, Nutrition and Wellness Educator talk about holiday eating tips. Avoiding holiday weight gain should be the goal for all of use. Typically we gain anywhere between 1-3 pounds during the holiday season. Over time that added weight can add to health concerns. Suggestions include using a small plate, eat as snack before the party so we do not arrive really hungry, put lightly cooked or raw vegies on the plate first. Walking away from the food table is also a good idea.
Host Richard Hentschel continues discussions with Dru Banks, Nutrition and Wellness Educator on a variety topics; this week being food trends for 2016. Dru talked about recent and expected changes in menu choices including locally grown fruits and vegetables, more choices in fish, hotter seasonings and spices used in and on our menu choices, being able to bring home high quality, high end meals as a carryout or delivery options and lastly the menus offering all kinds of meals all day long.
Host Richard Hentschel continues discussions with Dru Banks, Nutrition and Wellness Educator on a variety topics; this week being food trends for 2016. Dru talked about recent and expected changes in menu choices including locally grown fruits and vegetables, more choices in fish, hotter seasonings and spices used in and on our menu choices, being able to bring home high quality, high end meals as a carryout or delivery options and lastly the menus offering all kinds of meals all day long.
Host Richard Hentschel talks with Nutrition and Wellness Educator Dru Banks about Refrigerator Safety. About 80 percent of refrigerators studied in a research project were found to be too warm to hold a variety of foods safe. Using a refrigerator thermometer to ensure the temperatures remain at least 41 degrees with a setting of 38 degrees to ensure all foods remain cold to ensure safety. Other practices include labeling items in the freezer so they are consumed before quality deteriorates.
Host Richard Hentschel talks with Nutrition and Wellness Educator Dru Banks about Refrigerator Safety. About 80 percent of refrigerators studied in a research project were found to be too warm to hold a variety of foods safe. Using a refrigerator thermometer to ensure the temperatures remain at least 41 degrees with a setting of 38 degrees to ensure all foods remain cold to ensure safety. Other practices include labeling items in the freezer so they are consumed before quality deteriorates.
Host Richard Hentschel talks with Nutrition and Wellness Educator Dru Banks about Refrigerator Safety. About 80 percent of refrigerators studied in a research project were found to be too warm to hold a variety of foods safe. Using a refrigerator thermometer to ensure the temperatures remain at least 41 degrees with a setting of 38 degrees to ensure all foods remain cold to ensure safety. Other practices include labeling items in the freezer so they are consumed before quality deteriorates.
Dru Banks, Nutrition and Wellness Educator is interviewed by host Richard Hentschel about Food Safety for the Holidays. Dru discusses handling food safely including making sure foods are served at appropriate temperatures to prevent food spoilage that could create food borne illness. Using a good food thermometer is essential to determine the doneness of the dish. Dru also addresses preparing the turkey in a safe manner. If there are concerns on preparing the turkey, most turkey producers offer a hot line as well as a USDA hotline.
Host Richard Hentschel discussed the recent World health organization release on the potential risks of eating red meat and other processed meats with Dru Banks, Health and Nutrition Educator. Cured and smoked meats are a concern as are the many choices of red meats. Poultry is not included in this release. While no official guidelines on consumption was supplied, it is clear that the more red meats and processed meats are consumed the greater the risk of certain cancers.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about November gardening activities that still can be done yet this year. Planting spring bulbs is still a project to be done. Repairing lawn damage with sod is another activity yet this fall. Lawns should be mowed until they finally stop for the season and any leaves should also be removed from the lawn. It is a great time to add composts to the vegetable and perennial beds. Watering the new transplants and any evergreens and broadleaved evergreens is also a good idea.
Richard Hentschel talks about tools, cleaning, maintenance, the last of the actual ongoing gardeing activities like late planting of the spring bulbs, continuing to mow the lawn as long it is growing. End of season mower maintenance includes cleaning the mower deck, sharpening the blades, adding gasolin storage additives. garden hoses need to be drained and removed from the home
Host Richard Hentschel disusses late fall watering and winter protection for trees, shrubs and evergreens, especailly those are newly planted. Watering is also important for our lawns yet this fall. Protection from winter sun and wiind is key for our needle evergreens and broadleaved plants.
Richard Hentschel host of Green Side Up discusses October as a good month for planting trees, shrubs and evergreens. Proper planting ensures a good healthy plant by making the transplanting transition as easy as possible. Finding the root flair before you dig the hole so the plant is planted at the correct depth.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about the uses of mulches in the home landscape. Mulches benefit the plants and the microbial like within the soil. Organic matter provides the very needed carbon component for the microbes in the soil profile. this time of year mulches serve to protecty new root systems of transplanted trees, shrubs, evergreens and perennials. Mulches as they break down release many nutirents into the soil that are not available through a synthetic fertilizer
Host Richard Hentschel discusses the benefits of core aeration for the home lawn and other benefits of a sharp mower blade, mowing heights and topdressing.
Russ Higgins, Commercial Agriculture Educator located at the Northern Illinois Agriculture Research Center near DeKalb talks with program host Richard Hentschel. Harvest is starting any day, depending on crop maturity. Farmers will likely start with corn and move into soybean later. Equipment preparation includes the combine tuneup, making sure grain drying equipment is ready to dry down the corn to about 15% or below. Listen in to hear additional details.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up continues to talk with Russ Higgins, Commercial Agriculture Educator located at the Northern Illinois Agriculture Research Center near DeKalb. Topic for the show this week is cover crops, research on cover crops, what is working the best right now in these research plots. There is a real benefit to having cover crops to help manage and hold nutrients for next year's crop.
Host Richard Hentschel interviews Russ Higgins, Commercial Agriculture Educator located at the Northern Illinois Agriculture Research Center near DeKalb. Russ recently returned from a trip to Berlin Germany on an exchange Education Program. Richard and Russ also discussed current crop conditions in N. Illinois. Uneven stands and varying rates of maturity go back to the excessive water in fields. Russ also talked about pasture and baling hay this season.
Host Richard Hentschel discussed Magnolia Scale, an insect that has soared in numbers this season, causing concern and clean up problems for homeowners that have a Magnolia in the landscape. Richard talks about the typical life cycle of scales and potential control options if needed.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses 2 insects that will continue to be with us the rest of the summer. Japanese beetles while their numbers are down for the last two years are still around. There are approved pesticides that can be used , just be sure they are labeled for the plants to be sprayed. The second insect is the Squash bug. Squash bugs have nymph stages of growth so all the young feed the same way as the adult and can do a lot of damage by sucking plant juices from leaves and fruit. Trapping them under flat boards or a shingle is a simple way to control them.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about 2 insects that homeowners know quite well. Grubs in the lawn and the Emerald Ash Borer. August is the time grubs begin to show up feeding on the grass roots and depending on the number of grubs present, a control management practice may need to be done. The other insect is the Emerald Ash Borer, but now it has chosen another host to feed on when no ash trees are available.
Richard Hentschel discusses the vegetable garden out in the yard. To be sure the garden continues to produce by harvesting regularly to encourage more flowers and fruit production. Even if a fruit is unusable, remove and compost so the vegetable plant knows to continue production. Once fruit set has happened, consider side dresseing or using a compost to give the plants a bit of a boost. Lots of vegetables will produce well into the fall, long after school starts, the time homeowners think the gardening season is done.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses composting in 2015 with all the weather and what is available in the yard to compost. Lawn grass clippings are good source of nitrogen for the composting operation. Weed plants are also good without seed heads. If you pull those weeds, leave the dirt on the roots as a source of microflora that will help decay the compost material. Remember to turn the pile or move the material from one bin to another. Be sure to use that compost once it is ready in the landscape and garden beds. Applying compost as a topdress for the lawn which feeds the soil which will feed the lawn.
Richard Hentschel discusses growing degree days when in comes to growing vegetables and insect development. Plant development is slower than normal without the warmer, sunny days. The recent wet soils can cause disease problems. Tomato foliage diseases are running high right now. Air circulation, sunlight into the plants helps and grow disease resistant hybrids really helps.
Richard Hentschel continues to discuss how the weather has been impacting our lawn care. Mowing has been a real challenge. Taller grass means a wetter lawn that can easily clump up leaving the lawn covered to mold below. Try raising the mower deck to accommodate the taller, wetter grass. Clippings will need to be removed when too wet and laying on the cut surface. Composting is a good way to recycle the nutrition. Thinning and yellowing is also common right now.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about how to deal with all the yard work with all the rain we have been having. Keep the weeds in the garden and landacape beds from going to seed. Do not compost those weed seed heads removed. Mushrooms have shown up in many lawns, landscape beds The water has allowed decay organisms to quickly grow and develop
Host Richard Hentschel talks about weeds in the home landscape and why they seem to be worse. Managing the weeds while they are very is much simpler and easier than when they are mature. Removing seed heads if the weeds get ahead of us is the one best practice you can do.
Richard Hentschel host of Green Side Up, talks this week about taking care of the home fruit orchard. Cover sprays are applied to protect the developing fruit during the growing season and those sprays are more frequent in the spring and lessen as the season progresses. Home orchardists would typically use a combination product containing insecticides and fungicides.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up addresses what to do with our spring flowering bulbs once the bloom show fades. Bulb foliage should be left alone to yellow; brown and collapse on its own to ensure the leaves have re supplied the bulb with energy so we have another great show in 2016. Deadheading any flowers that are forming seeds is another way to conserve nutrition for the bulb.
Richard Hentschel host of Green Side Up, talks this week about selecting landscape plants for replacements for plants that have not survived since the drought of 2012 and harsh winters of 2013 and 2014 or insect infestations like the Emerald Ash Borer. Homeowners should recognize there are now differences in the home landscape than when first planted and selection choices change as well.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about vegetable gardening and dealing with the varied spring weather this year. Better to plant or sow seeds based on current weather conditions rather than some of our more traditional dates. Richard covered what happens when you plant out the warm loving vegetables when it is still too cold. Richard took a few minutes to discuss vine crops and their flowering habits.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about Crabgrass management, covering how preventer works and what you can do if you see young crabgrass plants in the lawn. Other ideas shared on how to improve the health and appearance of the lawn. Making sure the mower deck is level and checking the mowing height. Higher cuts allow for deeper roots and provide more drought tolerance. Also included is information on mower blade sharpness.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about early season gardening. Northern Illinois has about 160 to 170 days of growing days. Southern Illinois has for example about 200 days or nearly another month. In our area we can easily get two gardens a year. Our second garden needs to be planted about mid-summer to there are enough weather to get our fall gardens harvested. Vegetables should be planted based on our average frost free date of May 5th. This date is a guide to allow for starting seeds indoors according to the seed packet or setting out the transplants. Richard also talks about alternative ways to grow vegetables around the home.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about very early season gardening. Very hardy plants can be transplants or seeds can be put out 4-6 weeks ahead of our average frost free date. Frost tolerant veggies get out in the garden 2-3 weeks before that average frost free date. Tender veggies are planted on or about that average frost free date and the last group known as warm loving go out 1-2 weeks after the average frost free date.
Host Richard Hentschel talks about early lawn care. Removal of winter debris by hand is a good activity to start out our lawn program for the year. Perhaps a light rolling will be needed to press the grass plant crowns down for good soil contact. Taking a weed inventory can be helpful to plan any weed management strategies for the year. Find the lawn mower and clean the air cleaner and mower deck. Pull the spark plug wire and remove and sharpen the blade. Prepare to mow the lawn as soon as it needs it.
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up talks with Nutrition and Wellness Educator about pre and pro biotics. We feed our probiotics with pre-biotics. Keefer and yogurt along with sauerkraut and kimchee.
Oats, barley, wheat, and apples all contain pre-biotics. Dairy can give us the probiotics. Laura notes that the USDA 'MyPlate" helps the consumer figure out a good diet. Richard also encouraged gardeners to expand the kinds of vegetables they grow.
Host Richard Hentschel discusses the need to prune fruit trees to balance pruning and fruiting. Home Orchardists will need to prune each year to manage annual vegetative growth to control fruit tree size and how that relates to fruit size later.
Richard Hentschel host of Green Side Up continues talking about the home orchard and other aspects of managing the orchard. Training the fruit trees early promotes early fruit production. Training involves creating scaffolds that allow lots of light and air movement through the canopy.
Host Richard Hentschel begins to discuss the home fruit orchard. Apples are the hardiest of our fruit trees for Norhern Ilinois. Dwarf fruit trees should be perhaps the number one decision in the process. Dwarfness can be created in a number of ways
Richard Hentschel, host of Green Side Up talks with Dru Banks, Extension Educator about Gluten-free foods. Clearly there is a need for those who have sensitivity to gluten or Siiliacts disease. There can be gluten in many unexpected dishes and why food labeling has changed. You can become allergic at any point in your life.
Richard Hentschel and Dru Banks talk Holiday and Party Food Safety. Dru covers the safer temperatures food should be held at to ensure food safety. Hot foods hot and cold foods cold is a good rule to follow. Dru also talks about why poultry and meat products are now longer being rinsed once you have those products at home.
Host Richard Hentschel talks with Dru Banks, Nutrition and Wellness Educator about food trends in 2015. Restaurant Food trends that the public are looking for and wanting is locally sourced vegetables and fruits and even meat and fish products. Consumers are more aware of where their food is coming from. Children menus are also changing to include more nutritious food. Also on menus are a wider selection of vegetarian.
Host Richard Hentschel ends the 4 part series of shows with retired Extension Plant Pathologist on diseases that have impacted our Spruce evergreen trees. Many of these diseases show up on the needles or twigs. The spruce that is most susceptible to many of these diseases is the variations of Colorado blue spruce
Richard Hentschel Host of Green Side Up talks with Jim Schuster, retired Extension Plant Pathologist about the many needle diseases impacting our evergreen pine trees. There is a normal needle loss each year and should not be confused with real needle diseases. Jim discusses the various life cycles of these needle diseases and that can help the homeowner know how to treat or have the evergreen trees treated.
Host Richard Hentschel continues the discussion of diseases that have plagued northern Illinois during 2014. Richard asked guest Jim Schuster to talk about Oak Wilt and Bacterial Leaf Scorch. Oak wilt can cause the death of certain oaks within one season and streaking appears in the sapwood. Bacterial leaf scorch shows up in the canopy attacking individual branches.
Host Richard Hentschel talks with Jim Schuster about the past year and all the diseases that homeowners have had to deal with. Many of these diseases really got a good start as a result of the drought of 2012 and severe winter 2013. Richard and Jim talked about the 3 common Rust diseases.