Welcome, to the UW-Extension Western Wisconsin Horticulture website!

Resources for Gardeners in Western Wisconsin

UW-Extension Horticulture Educators provide research-based horticulture education for individuals and businesses. We administer the Master Gardener program, assist growers and horticulture-related businesses, conduct horticulture classes for individuals and businesses, and respond to inquiries regarding plant issues including diseases, insects, plant identification and cultural practices.

This site serves all of western Wisconsin, including the counties that comprise the Western District of UW-Extension listed on the left.

UPCOMING CLASSES for Spring, 2009

March 17          Growing Your Own Vegetables

Basics of producing some of your own vegetables, to get you started or increase your success, River Falls Library, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

March 21          Garden U,

St. Croix Valley Master Gardener Association’s annual day-long seminar, Valley House, North Hudson, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m

Health benefits of different vegetables, Landscaping with Native Plants, The Truth About Organic Gardening

March 27          Developing a Fruit or Vegetable Small Farm Business Workshop,

St. Croix County UW-Extension office, Baldwin, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

• Efficient Production Planning
• Enterprise Budgets
• Cash Flow Management
• Determining your Market
• Experienced Farmer presentations
• $20 pre-registration includes lunch

April 1              Fruit Pruning Workshop,

held at Maple Leaf Orchard, Spring Valley 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.

• Demonstrations of pruning apples, raspberries, grapes and currants
• $5 registration fee in advance

April 1              Fruit Tree Management and Grafting Workshop,

Red Barn Conference Center, Spring Valley, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

• Proper care of apple and other fruit trees
• Hands-on grafting of fruit trees onto rootstocks (materials supplied or bring your own apples to graft)
• $15 registration fee in advance

April 27            Growing Small Fruits in the Backyard,       

Community Room, St. Croix County Government Center, 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.

• In-depth info on growing strawberries and raspberries
• Basic information on growing blueberries and grapes
• $5 registration fee in advance

May 14 and 28  Sustainable Landscape Design,

River Falls Library, 6:30

• 9:00 p.m.
• Learn how to create a beautiful landscape that is functional, maintainable, environmentally friendly, and cost effective
• $25 registration fee in advance ($20 for Master Gardeners)

June 4              Harvesting and Preserving your Produce,

River Falls Library, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

• Peak harvest times
• How to store and preserve through freezing or drying.

GENERAL MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER TRAINING

General Master Gardener training is offered in Pierce/St. Croix Counties each fall. The next class will be offered beginning in September, 2009. If you are interested in becomming a Wisconsin Master Gardener Volunteer and would like to be notified when registration materials and class details become available, call the Pierce County UW-Extension office at (715) 273-6781, or e-mail diana.alfuith@ces.uwex.edu to get on the mailing list.

Please call the Pierce County Extension Office to get on a mailing list for future classes. 715-273-6781.

GOT A QUESTION?

MASTER GARDENER E-LINE - Ask a local Master Gardener your horticulture questions via e-mail at: Westernwimgs@yahoo.com

If you have a plant or horticulture-related question, check out the Wisconsin Horticulture website at http://www.wihort.com. That site provides extensive resources, including publications on most of the common horticulture issues.

You can also find answers to common horticulture questions on UW-Extension's Infosource website at http://infosource.uwex.edu.

You can also contact your county horticulture agent by e-mail or telephone.