Douglas County gardening news

A Three-pronged approach is necessary to manage Spotted Wing Drosophila.

If you go out to your garden and discover an insect invasion, the first thing you need to do is identify the invader in question.

Spotted wing drosophila flies resemble common fruit flies found near overripe fruit, but unlike the common fruit fly, female SWD have the potential to damage otherwise healthy, intact fruit.

You might think that fertilizing these stressed plants is the answer. However, this could be exactly the wrong thing to do!

If you’ve ever attempted to grow squash and had plants that suddenly collapsed, it may have been the work of squash vine borers.

When a plant lacks enough water to cool itself, or cannot move the water fast enough to cool its leaf surfaces, it starts taking drastic measures to survive.

Ground covers can cover an area of your yard or garden for one season, a few seasons, or many years. They reduce weed pressure and add beauty, and also enhance soil health, provide food and habitat for pollinators, and reduce soil erosion. 

Careful planning is essential to creating a successful pollinator garden. Follow these easy steps to make sure you have everything covered before you make your investment.

There are many common insects that show up each year in our vegetable gardens, plan ahead with some preventative management strategies now.

The last few years have brought a new appreciation for the wide diversity of bees in Minnesota. Wasps have a similar diversity, and arguably provide even more beneficial services than bees do.