Fresh ideas for your lawn and garden
(4/30/2008) Looking for gardening tips? University of Minnesota Extension's Consumer Horticulture Team has organized a fresh Web resource featuring useful, research-based information in a gardener-friendly format.

Make eating more appealing
(4/16/2008) Many people are trying to adopt a healthier approach to eating. Is it any wonder? Research shows that 6 out of every 10 Americans are overweight and nearly one in three is obese. University Extension has some tips on how to make eating more appealing.

Frostbite nips the competition
(4/11/2008) Though small in size, it packs a wallop in the flavor department. Frostbite, the University's latest fruit release, is an apple for people with adventurous tastes.

Pruning 101
(3/19/2008) Late winter, early spring means it's time to rejuvenate those large, overgrown shrubs in your garden. University of Minnesota Extension has some basic pruning tips for the green thumbs.

Holiday plants: To stay or go
(1/9/2008) Holiday plants add to the festivity of the season, but when is it time to toss them? The University of Minnesota Extension has some tips on understanding the limitations on growing space and the conditions imposed by the home environment.

Decorating for the holidays
(12/5/2007) The holiday season has begun, and you don't have to spend a fortune to create a joyous and festive mood in your home. University of Minnesota horticulture instructor Sue Jacobson has some holiday decorating ideas and tips.

Food safety: Thanksgiving leftovers
(11/7/2007) Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and University Extension educator Suzanne Driessen has some tips for storing and reheating those holiday leftovers.

High tunnel craze
(10/30/2007) A team of University researchers and educators is making a difference in Minnesota's farmers markets by using high tunnels to improve Minnesota's fruit and vegetable production.

Get plant information online
(10/10/2007) Where can you find the names of 918 North American nurseries and more than 347,000 citations to almost 133,000 plants? At Plant Information Online, a free service of the University of Minnesota Libraries that's the largest of its kind in the world.

How much house can you afford?
(9/12/2007) Before you buy a house, take a homeownership class to learn more about this important purchase, advises University of Minnesota Extension. The class will help you find a home you can afford and avoid being yet another victim of foreclosure.

When lightning strikes your tree
(8/15/2007) Lightning storms with 70- to 80-mile-per-hour winds rocked Minnesota and west central Wisconsin this past weekend and Monday night, causing power outages and uprooting dozens of trees. A University tree care expert has tips on what to do when lightning strikes your tree.

Mulch through hot, dry spells
(7/3/2007) One of the best things you can do for your plants through dry summer spells is apply mulch, advises U Extension educator Nancy Rose. Soil moisture can evaporate rapidly on hot, sunny days, but an inch or two of mulch can significantly reduce the water loss.

Gardens of Eastcliff
(6/28/2007) At the height of summer beauty, gardens of the historic University president's home were the site of the annual Friends of Eastcliff garden party, complete with gardening tips from horticulturist Deb Brown.

What to do with fresh berries?
(6/20/2007) Summer is here, and so is berry season! Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries... . University of Minnesota Extension has some tips to help you make yummy jams and jellies from fresh berries.

Growing your own vitamins and minerals
(5/14/2007) Vegetables are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals that are good for your body. Here are a few tips on which nutrient-rich vegetables to consider planting in your garden this summer, courtesy of University of Minnesota Extension.

Heaven in your garden?
(4/13/2007) The U's new ornamental grass, Blue Heaven, is finally hitting garden centers. Breeding of the native grass began on campus more than a decade ago.

Trouble in pollen nation
(4/11/2007) Honeybees have died in droves this winter, and people around the country are wondering why. University entomologist Marla Spivak offers a glimpse at the life of this hard-working insect.

Snow on your roof
(3/7/2007) Last week two winter storms hit the upper Midwest, dumping as much as three feet of snow on roads and rooftops. University of Minnesota Extension encourages homeowners to hire professionals to clear snow or ice from roofs.

Winter greens, anyone?
(2/23/2007) Carol Ford can grow vegetables even in the dead of winter, thanks to her greenhouse. The administrative specialist at UMM is sharing her organic bounty year-round with families in west central Minnesota.

Be wary of new hardiness zones
(2/21/2007) Horticulture experts with University of Minnesota Extension recommend caution with regard to a recently released map that shows changes in the state's plant hardiness zones.

Radon in your home?
(1/10/2007) Radon, along with smoking and secondhand smoke, are the leading causes of lung cancer in the United States. According to recent studies, the danger of lung cancer from high radon levels in homes is higher than previously thought. U indoor air quality expert Bill Angell offers some tips on testing your home for this radioactive gas.

Keep homes, cabins safe during heating season
(12/13/2006) When the temperature drops, we reach quickly for the dials of our furnaces or portable heaters. But did you know that heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires in December, January and February? The University of Minnesota Extension Service has some tips to help you stay safe--and warm--during these frosty months.

Fall yard care tips
(9/27/2006) Ah, fall. The season of beautiful foliage colors and of raking leaves. University of Minnesota Extension Service horticulturist Bob Mugaas has some tips on lawn care, including mowing those leaves.

Treat yellowjacket nests too close for comfort
(8/10/2006) Above-average populations of yellowjackets are popping up in Minnesota this summer, and a University entomologist advises homeowners to treat nests that are found close to areas of human activity.

Tips for keeping your lawn healthy
(7/19/2006) Hot and dry summer conditions can create stress for cool-season lawn grasses or grasses that experience peak growth activity during the spring and fall. One of the best ways to moderate those stressful conditions is through timely, appropriate lawn watering, says an Extension Service horticulturist.

Farmers market returns to TC campus
(6/27/2006) The University of Minnesota community can stock up on fresh produce and flowers every Wednesdays from July 12 to August 30 at the second annual farmers market on the Twin Cities campus in Minneapolis.

Raindrops keep falling
(6/8/2006) Within the city of Duluth, 42 creeks run into Lake Superior. Last year, University of Minnesota, Duluth, took a major step to protect Oregon Creek, a principal water pathway from the campus, by building one of the biggest rain gardens in the nation.

Building a global garden
(6/5/2006) University of Minnesota master gardeners developed a junior master gardener component as part of the science curriculum for fourth and fifth graders at Riverview Specialty School in Brooklyn Park, Minn. Recently, the program was expanded to include a community global garden that will feature plants representing the students' heritage.

Wandering the secret gardens
(6/2/2006) When Frances Hodgson Burnett wrote "The Secret Garden" in 1911, little did she know that 85 years later her classic novel would inspire 20 secret gardens at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The 'Secret Gardens' exhibit runs June 3 to Sept. 10.

Watering your houseplants
(3/8/2006) No two plants are alike. Some need only a sip of water, others a big gulp. So how do you know when and how often to water your plants? Here are some tips from Prairie Yard and Garden, a public television program produced at the University of Minnesota, Morris.

Thinking inside the box
(3/3/2006) The Natural Resources Research Institute at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, has designed a bio-based containerized house that can be assembled in hours in disaster areas or wherever quick, reliable housing is needed.

Organize those records
(2/22/2006) For some people, tax season spells fear. It means having to frantically dig through drawers, pockets, and glove compartments for months-old documents and receipts. University of Minnesota Extension Service educator Glenice Johnson has some tips for creating an organized record-keeping system.

The future of affordable housing
(2/10/2006) Too often, we equate "affordable" with plain or ugly. But it doesn't have to be. Affordable houses, for example, can stand out for being both distinctive in design and friendly to the environment. And this is the future of affordable housing, claims "The HOME House Project" exhibit through April 30 at the Weisman Art Museum.

Salt damage on plants
(1/11/2006) Winter is the season for ice fishing, snowball fights, and snuggling up by the fireplace. But it's also the time when salt reigns. Without it, driving is a pain. With it, though, your plants may die. U plant pathologist Janna Beckerman offers tips on how to diagnose and prevent plant damage.

The heat is on
(11/22/2005) If you think your heating bill is frighteningly high this winter, just be glad you're not heating the University of Minnesota. Granted, the Twin Cities campus alone has 253 buildings and roughly 19 million square feet of "heatable" space. Which is precisely what makes the rising cost of fuel so chilling.

Apples for today, tomorrow, and later
(10/12/2005) Apple season is here! Americans eat approximately 20 pounds of fresh apples annually, according to the Washington Apple Commission. The University of Minnesota Extension Service has some tips on how to keep your apples tempting to the taste buds and appealing to the eyes.

Winterizing your lawn
(9/14/2005) Although the summer gardening season is winding down, the lawn growing season is by no means over. Now's the prime time to seed or reseed your lawn, lay sod, and prepare your perennial plants for winter. U horticulturist Bob Mugaas offers some advice.

Waging gardens
(8/17/2005) Since the Great Depression, community gardens have been meeting people's needs for food, beauty, and a sense of belonging. The Twin Cities campus was the site of the 26th annual conference of the American Community Gardening Association August 11-14.

Hot days: keeping cool and saving money
(7/29/2005) Whether you use air conditioning all the time, sometimes, or never, the following tips will help improve your comfort, and perhaps save you a few bucks, on those dog days of our remaining summer.

Banish those fabric-eating insects
(6/8/2005) Warmer temperatures mean lighter clothing. If you're just now starting to store your cold-weather clothes (and who can blame you--Minnesota weather has been pretty darn chilly this month), read on for some tips on how to safeguard your favorite garb from fabric-feeding insects.

Summer health tips for dog
(6/3/2005) The Veterinary Medical Center, which has served Minnesotans for more than 50 years and is one of the busiest veterinary hospitals in the country, offers ways to keep your dog safe during the summer.

Plump for the pickin'
(5/27/2005) Nancy Rose, an educator with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, offers advice on growing your own produce and flowers.

Flowers in a bucket?
(5/18/2005) According to the National Gardening Association, the number of people gardening in containers has more than doubled over the last five years to an all-time high of 26 million households. If you want to give container gardening a try this spring, University horticulturist Mary Meyer has some tips.

Info kit available for lake home and cabin owners
(5/4/2005) Minnesota has more than 120,000 seasonal cabin owners and thousands of people who live year-round in a lake home. Recently, the U of M Extension Service unveiled a portable information kit to help these people keep their getaway places in tip-top shape.

Arboretum names visitor center in honor of donor
(5/4/2005) On May 1, the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum named its newly opened visitor center the Oswald Visitor Center. The $20 million center is named for Charles W. Oswald and family, who gave $13.5 million toward its construction.

Extension info kit offers advice for lake home and cabin owners
(4/26/2005) If you can't get away to your cabin this weekend, head to the 2005 Lake Home and Cabin Kit Show in Minneapolis, April 29-30 and May 1. You'll find U of M Extension Service experts there, plus a kit to help keep your getaway in tip-top shape. The kit is also available through the U of M Bookstores.

What's in it for Spot and Puff?
(4/20/2005) As we become more health conscious, we're reading food labels and choosing products carefully. If you have pets, you're probably doing the same with their food. Here are some tips to guide you through the world of pet food labeling.

Houseplants: beating the winter blahs
(2/23/2005) When the weather outside is frightful, we turn up the heat. Ahh... we're happy, but not our plants. The low humidity level can literally squeeze the green out of them. Here are some winter-blah-beating tips.

Confronting the winter blues
(2/3/2005) College of Human Ecology interior design students are learning how to work with light--both natural and artificial--to help alleviate Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) symptoms.

Talking turkey
(11/10/2004) According to the National Turkey Federation, 95 percent of Americans eat turkey at Thanksgiving, and those Thanksgiving turkeys average 15 pounds. If you're looking for tips on buying and cooking turkey, read on.