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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.
![Northern long-eared bat with white-nose syndrome. Image courtesy USFWS.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Northern%20long%20eared%20bat%20with%20WNS%20-%20USFWS.jpg?h=77739042&itok=5czQP2Ne)
Woodland owners can help reduce pressures on northern long-eared bat populations as the species faces a rapid population decline from white-nose syndrome.
![A glossy, rubbery, green indoor plant sits next to a snowy window.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/ZZ%20Plant.jpg?h=d522ba69&itok=3NEPQYG2)
Also called Zanzibar gem or Zee Zee plant, the ZZ plant it is easy to find in garden stores and even easier to care for.
![Green plants in terracotta pots in a large window.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Amaryllis_in_window_0.jpg?h=123abd78&itok=tpYGVXrw)
Sometimes TLC (tender loving care) can turn into TMC (too much care) especially when it comes to watering houseplants.
![Young tree with a tree guard around the lower trunk in the snow.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/fruit-pear-tree-guard-LauraStenseth.jpg?h=5e1c5ff7&itok=u33UdB6D)
Animal browsing and other damage can lead to plant stress. Here's how to make sure your plants are protected this winter and emerge healthy in spring.
![Ripe red strawberries in a field.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Day%20neutral%20strawberries%20ripening%20on%20the%20plants.jpg?h=bea9a871&itok=TISBBpAH)
Most people grow day-neutral strawberries as annuals, removing the plants after one growing season. But some gardeners and farmers successfully keep them growing for two or more seasons.
![Lawn area with tree leaves scattered.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/fall-lawn-leaves.jpg?h=b261386a&itok=37_gebdc)
How short should you mow? Should you leave the leaves? And what about dormant seeding? We have some advice.
![Dark purple petunias growing in a flower bed with other flowers.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Petunia%20Supertunia%20Mini%20Vista%20Midnight%20PW.jpg?h=f1ebc569&itok=lunE2dHf)
It’s never too early to think about your next garden.
![A young grafted Honeycrisp apple tree growing in a pot.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/honeycrisp-apple-rootstock.jpg?h=d182b2d4&itok=t22TgLLX)
Yes, but it probably will not produce the fruit that you want or expect. Most apple trees are “grafted.” This means that most of the tree has different genetics than the root system.
![Streaks of dark colored soil coat the top of a smooth snow drift on a farm field.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/snow-dirt-drift-snirt.jpg?h=872729fd&itok=kfD0NVub)
Before we know it, we will be in “snirt” season. Despite its cute name, snirt is a mix of snow and soil and a sign of wind erosion, a severe problem for gardeners and farmers.
![Two red, ripe apples on a tree.](/sites/extension.umn.edu/files/styles/crop_featured_image_crop/public/Foxwhelp-apple-2020.jpg?h=780e3573&itok=WX_iC5Gi)
Most apple varieties available to home gardeners in Minnesota are harvested after mid-September and before Halloween.
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