On September 20, 2025 students from Purdue University’s Field Production of Horticultural Crops and Landscape Contracting and Management classes participated in a day-long field trip exploring several key horticultural sites in central and southern Indiana. The courses, both part of Purdue’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, provide students with practical exposure to commercial horticultural[Read More…]
Resources for landscapes and gardens in the Midwest
Landscape Report
Found 521 Articles
As the Midwest gardening season winds down, there’s still one task that can make a big difference come spring: mulching. Once the soil has cooled but before it freezes, a layer of mulch helps protect plant roots from the freeze-thaw cycles common in Midwestern winters. Mulch stabilizes soil temperatures, conserves moisture, and shields roots from[Read More…]
Fall has arrived! The beautiful foliage that we love to admire this time of year will soon become the yearly chore of managing fallen leaves. You have likely heard the adage “leave the leaves” many times by now. This practice is gaining traction along with many other pollinator-friendly landscape management tactics, such as saving dead[Read More…]
As you travel in rural Indiana this time of year, you may happen upon a field of sunflowers. It’s so beautiful that drivers will occasionally pull off on the side of the road and take pictures. Perhaps you grow sunflowers in a more limited capacity in your home garden. Today, we’ll review a few items[Read More…]
As emerald ash borer reached its highest populations throughout the landscape in Indiana, Purdue University, partnered with other organizations, helped to spread several messages intended to engage the public in helping limit the movement of the insect. Readers may recall one such message in the form of bumper stickers with the phrase, “Don’t Move the[Read More…]
Join the Purdue Turf and Landscape Seminar in Person or Virtual – November 19–20, 2025! Advance your expertise, earn pesticide credits, and connect with top Green Industry professionals at this two-day in-person and virtual, live event in West Lafayette, Indiana. Elevate Your Turf and Landscape Game The 2025 Turf and Landscape Seminar, hosted by the[Read More…]
Fall and drought have been nearly synonymous in recent years; 2025 is no different. The September 30 US Drought Monitor, released on October 2, indicated that over 92 percent of the state was categorized as either abnormally dry (D0) or moderate drought (D1), with additional areas classified as severe drought (D2) or extreme drought (D3)[Read More…]
By now, the emerald ash borer (EAB) invasion is an old story for landscapes and forests in the Midwest. Since EAB was first found in North America in 2002 more millions of ash trees than we can know have died and this tiny insect continues to kill ash in an ever widening zone that currently[Read More…]
It’s finally October, and we should be enjoying lovely fall temps and colors. While some of the trees are changing, it’s not necessarily due to the change in seasons. As I write this, the temperature is 84 F (29 C). I look out my window and see mostly green leaves with some colors from the[Read More…]
The last week has caused many to struggle with whether to turn the heat on inside. Mornings have been quite chilly, and I am guessing several readers may have also struggled with the decision to wear a jacket as they started their workday. These are tough decisions, no doubt. Several data sources have suggested we[Read More…]
Aspen, cottonwood, and poplar are all names for the fast-growing Populus tree species. Used widely for building materials, these trees are often located around ponds, riverbanks, and sloping areas toward water bodies (especially cottonwood). Cottonwood flowers produce little white tufted seeds that float through the air which a lot of people love (my kids included),[Read More…]
Untangling the Vines: Identifying Bindweed, Morning Glory, and Honeyvine Milkweed Few garden problems cause as much frustration as untangling vines. Sometimes the vines are beautiful climbers planted with intention. Other times, they creep in uninvited and smother everything in their path. Among the most common, and the most confusing, vines in Indiana are bindweed, morning[Read More…]
If you have any stakes in agriculture, you may have noticed a fairly rapid drying trend as summer has come to a close. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor on September 2, 76 percent of Indiana is considered abnormally dry—up from just 26 percent one week earlier. Moderate drought conditions have also expanded from less[Read More…]
Christmas tree growers have been struggling with an invasive scale pest called Cryptomeria scale (Aspidiotus cryptomeriae), which is a serious pest of conifers. The scales infest the undersides of the needles and extract plant juices with their piercing-sucking mouthparts. Economic losses are due to the unsightly yellow discoloration and needle drop that occurs from the[Read More…]
Summer patch hits hard in early August; fall rust outbreaks causing orange shoes; cool temperatures allowing a head start on recovery plans. August in the region started cool, got back to summer hot, and now dare I say it feels like fall. This “false fall” in Indiana certainly is convincing as a stagnant high-pressure dome[Read More…]
Join the Women of the Green Industry for an expert-led hike through wetlands, oak savannas, and dunes on Lake Michigan. The hike will begin at 10:00 am (Central) on September 21st, 2025. Everyone is invited, and there is no cost to attend this educational and networking opportunity! If you have questions, email Pedra Sage at[Read More…]
Fall is quickly approaching, bringing cooler temperatures, refreshing rains, and fewer pests. It’s a perfect time to tackle garden tasks, from pruning perennials to planting vegetables. Pruning Fall is a good time to prune out dead, damaged, or diseased plant material (Fig. 1). You can also tidy up perennials that have finished blooming and[Read More…]
With brute and sudden force, the atmosphere is doing its job: acting like a fluid. Weather is not a precise science, which means the atmosphere is constantly shifting. There tends to be some sort of pattern shift come mid-late August, and it looks like it’s just about here. Temperatures are on their way down, as[Read More…]
Having a healthy tree canopy around your home and throughout your community is something that benefits all. Ask most elementary students what trees do for us, and they will almost always come up with answers like clean air and shade, but they do so much more for us. Trees not only provide oxygen, but they[Read More…]
Aphids are some of the most common insect pests of herbaceous plants and broadleaf trees and shrubs. I have to admit, I do not always enjoy identifying aphids – but I find their shapes, colors, and biology fascinating. One species of aphid, which I first met myself this year, threatens plants in our landscapes on[Read More…]
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