WCCO's Smart Gardens

A lot of questions from listeners, specifically today on winterizing your garden as many decide on if it is too late to tackle that garden project or wait until the spring thaw - we discuss that, pocket gopher issues, soil troubleshooting, mulching on roots as we wind down the growing and garden for many with these colder temperatures. Julie shares the details of the upcoming Tonka Brew Fest!. Learn more from horticulturist Julie Weisenhorn by visiting extension.umn.edu.

Why its so important to keep watering plants even in the middle of Fall. Moving dahlias. Burning pollinator gardens. When to tip roses. Is it still okay to spray for creeping Charlie? Fertilizing house plants. When to plant pollinator seeds? When to start cutting branches and how much should be trimmed? Preventing squirrels from digging up bulbs. What to know when watering tomatoes. Learn more from Master Gardener Teresa Rooney at extension.umn.edu.

What to do before bringing your outside plants inside. When to start watering perennials. Getting rid of Lily of the Valley. Why it is not recommended to use bat guano on a vegetable garden. Bringing a tree back to life. When to plant allium bulbs. Protecting shrubs from critters. Managing bugs that can be found on plants. When to dig out a lilac bush. Making sure hostas survive the winter. Learn more from horticulturalist Julie Weisenhorn at extension.umn.edu.

Maintaining asparagus plants. Plants recommended to attract cedar waxwings. When to aerate and dethatch your lawn. Tips to dormant seeding. When to trim birch trees. Should crabgrass be removed before fertilizing a lawn? Solving moss problems. Keeping slugs away from hostas. Preserving squash for the season. The edible puffball mushroom. How long can potatoes be left in the ground? Tree replacement process. Learn more from horticulturalist Mary Meyer at extension.umn.edu.

More heat on the way which means more time for your lawn care and growing project - we discuss the end days ahead this summery Fall weather season with Jon and Julie, and tackle various questions with your lawn and garden inquiries from rose bushes, grow bags with tomatoes, seeding questions, Japanese maple growth, lawncare without harming bunny populations, jumping worms and can we still seed? Also Julie shares details on Apple Fest taking place over at the Arboretum. Learn more from horticulturalist Julie Weisenhorn and Lawn and Turf expert Jon Trappe at extension.umn.edu.

When is the best time to fertilize the lawn and how often should it be done? Is it time to plant apple tree seeds? Causes behind brown spots in the yard. What is causing lilacs to have so many issues in Minnesota? What is the lifespan of a lilac bush? Why are there so many acorns this year? How long should the lawn be aerated? What are the best hostas to plant in Minnesota? What to do after laying sod. What is the best apple for apple pie? Should clover be added to the lawn? Adjusting the height of your lawn mower. Learn more from horticulturalist Julie Weisenhorn and Lawn and Turf expert Jon Trappe at extension.umn.edu.

What it takes to become a Master Gardener. The best grass for a shady area. Killing Creeping Charlie. Continuing issues with lilacs. Using Google Lens to identify plants. Methods to killing moss. Growing grass on bare patches. The basics of tree planting. When tress should be trimmed. Can grass seed get too old to use? Learn more from Master Gardener Teresa Rooney at extension.umn.edu.

What to do in our lawns and gardens now that September is here. What to do with plants as we hit a cold snap. When to move ferns. Peach tree problems. Lemon tree growing basics. Becoming a master gardener. Now is the time to plant grass seed. Black spots on peonies. The best time to plant and move hydrangeas. How to keep lilacs alive. The best time for fall fertilizing. Getting rid of a Hosta virus. Dividing and replanting Hostas. Learn more from horticulturalist Mary Meyer at extension.umn.edu.\

Why different types of turf could take longer to grow. When it's time to prune hydrangeas. Stopping unwanted chives from spreading. An increase in perennials dying across Minnesota. Planting around roots. Cleaning up crabapple trees. Using milk to water plants? Where to grow weigela in Minnesota? The best method to kill creeping Charlie. How to identify crab grass. The rule of 3 for mulching trees. The best time to cut back peonies. What is the brown dust that is sometimes seen on grass? Killing fungus on plants. Learn more from horticulturalist Laura Irish Hanson extension.umn.edu.

Labor Day is over, which means it's officially back to school for all of America. Here, we dive into the latest in topics, including tech that can save lives ... and shorten lifespans. Plus, how much help with homework is okay and how to teach your kids about AI.