University of Minnesota Extension research helps Minnesotans maintain sustainable, environmentally responsible urban, suburban, and rural lawns and landscapes.
Sustainable landscaping emphasizes plant health and longevity. It creates functional outdoor spaces that:
Use less water, time, and pesticides.
Support the natural environment and crucial species, such as pollinators.
Promote good plant performance and functionality, making them self-perpetuating over time.
The Minnesota lawn care calendar is a handy schedule of activities that will help you keep your lawn healthy throughout the year.
Learn more about the environmental benefits of healthy lawns.
Caring for shoreland lawns and gardens – Turfgrasses and other perennial grasses can act as buffers to minimize nutrient pollution in waterways.
Creating a sustainable landscape involves:
Landscaping can be exciting, fun and rewarding. But deciding how to start a project can be overwhelming. The five considerations of design and the following videos explain the process.
Good plant selection reduces plant stress. Choosing plants with growing needs that match site conditions results in better plant resilience and recovery from damage caused by climate, weather, pests and diseases.
How your landscape functions for you will affect the plants you select.
Watch the 5 Considerations of Sustainable Landscape Design videos to help you understand your landscape’s necessary functions and how to improve maintenance so that it has a positive impact on the environment, is cost-effective, and is visually pleasing.
This information will help you develop a list of “plant criteria” or attributes based on the site conditions in your landscape and the specific plant features you prefer.
The “Right plant, right place” 3-part video series shows you how to:
Poor plant choices cause landscapes to fail. For a healthy and long-lived landscape, choose plants with growing requirements that match your site conditions, such as the amount of light, soil type and spacing.
Plant Elements of Design is a plant selection tool for upper Midwest yards and gardens.
The Plant Elements of Design plant selection tool uses 18 attribute groups to help you build a plant search. Each attribute group has a list of options that can help you define your site conditions and your plant interests.
Whether you’re a seasoned landscaper, just starting to garden, or need help with an established plot, we have guidelines and best practices for growing healthy plants in your yard and garden.
Identify and find solutions to the weed, insect, disease, or nonliving factors causing problems in your garden.
Find advice on selecting and caring for trees and shrubs for your home landscape.
Resources and information for people working in lawn care, landscaping, and nursery and greenhouse management.
Commercial, noncommercial and structural pesticide applicators — Education for those who apply pesticides on their employer's or customer's land or sites.
— The University of Minnesota's Turfgrass Science Program conducts field-based research and offers education and consultation to both commercial turfgrass managers and homeowners caring for their yards.
— The lab serves University students, staff, and faculty; professional arborists; garden center employees; nursery growers; private citizens; and urban foresters.
Read our monthly newsletter of turfgrass research, events, and best practices for homeowners and lawncare professionals.
Need help? Ask a Master Gardener about plant diseases, insects, and other yard and garden issues.
The University of Minnesota Extension yard and garden team educates the public on landscape design and plant selection, integrated pest management, and gardening best practices for beautiful, bountiful, environmentally sustainable gardens.
© 2026 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. This work is supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.