We'll remind you of the stories that appear on this page and offer gardening tips throughout the season. We send to your email once a month — and maybe twice when the season is in full swing!
Want to be alerted when new articles are published? Sign up for Yard & Garden News.
Be observant
It’s been a different sort of winter. As gardeners, we need to pay close attention to what is happening in our landscapes as spring arrives.
- Watch for insects (see Marissa Schuh’s article).
- Feel your soil and water it if it's dry, followed by mulching (leaf mulch works great).
- Prune off winter dieback.
- And keep good records on how your plants are performing.
![Branch with brown tip and green buds and turning greener closer to the plant.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/green-buds-yew.jpg?h=5224bc47&itok=3wyHfhip)
Dry soil and wide temperature swings, such as we had this past winter, can be hard on all plants. We may see more obvious damage on evergreens, particularly in the form of burning, browning and bleaching.
![Bright orange carrots with greens attached.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/carrot.jpg?h=e6763439&itok=sLUObd4O)
Master Gardeners conducted trials seeking the best varieties of mustard greens, sauce tomatoes, pink cleome, purple and red basil, small watermelons, green pole beans, red carrots and butter daisies.
![Budding twigs.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/bitternut-hickory.jpg?h=757e7cd9&itok=R9IXVeM9)
Are trees moved through assisted migration considered invasive species? Climate change has experts rethinking boundaries and definitions.
Plants coming out of dormancy too soon can experience cold damage. Learn what Extension educators expect this to mean for gardens, lawns, trees and shrubs.
![Adult, metallic green, emerald ash borer.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/EAB%20adult.jpg?h=3ceaf225&itok=Uv89CNyL)
Emerald ash borer (EAB) continues to cause problems for ash trees. As of this past year, it has been found in 48 Minnesota counties.
![Large green heart-shaped leaves with several yellow flowers floating in water.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/yellow-floating-heart.jpeg?h=0deb87a7&itok=p53nB5wM)
Yellow floating heart is an aquatic plant popular in water gardens. But this lovely plant is invasive and harms wild landscapes and bodies of water.
![Weeds in an area of thin grass.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/weedy-grass.jpg?h=ad7dae92&itok=nBy6ZjHH)
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has resources that include Best Management Practices (BMPs) and other guidance for using (or not using) pesticides and protecting water quality and pollinators.
![Robin on a buckthorn branch eating fruit.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/robineatingbuckthorn.jpeg?h=50b84a15&itok=theGqZDK)
The idea that buckthorn sickens (or even kills) birds is fairly widespread. So why do birds keep eating them?
![Bay laurel tree by a window.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Bayleaf-tree.jpg?h=fc7be851&itok=RGMULeZ5)
Treating scale insects on edible plants can be a challenge. Sometimes getting rid of the plant is easier than getting rid of the pest.
![A white EAB larva coming out of a tree with much bark damage.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/EAB-larvae-damage.jpg?h=5296eec5&itok=mxWgAvH2)
While subzero temperatures are not the most pleasant conditions for us, they can be a factor in helping to control pests. Warmer winter temperatures may mean more EAB larvae are likely to survive.
Get the Yard and Garden newsletter
Permission is granted to news media to republish our news articles with credit to University of Minnesota Extension. Images also may be republished; please check for specific photographer credits or limited use restrictions in the photo title.