extension office

These Plants Could Get You Fined — Most Gardeners Have No Idea

February 4, 2026 by Catherine Reed Leave a Comment

You can be a careful, kind, bird-loving gardener and still accidentally grow something that causes real trouble. Some plants are restricted because they’re invasive, some are prohibited because they’re toxic, and others are regulated because they spread crop diseases or create wildfire risk. The frustrating part is that the plant can be sold online, gifted…

Extension Offices Are Sounding the Alarm on This Popular Compost Ingredient

January 17, 2026 by Brandon Marcus Leave a Comment

Sirens aren’t blaring, but county extension offices are definitely waving their arms. Gardeners who proudly pile up kitchen scraps and yard waste are being urged to pause before tossing in one especially common material. What looks like harmless green gold can actually cause stunted plants, twisted leaves, and a season’s worth of frustration. The surprise…

How To Get Free Seeds From The Government by Amanda Blankenship Seeds might seem like a small expense, but any seasoned…
Should I Use Enviro Ice On My Plants? by Kathryn Vercillo Every week, I receive food from Hungryroot. It's a great…
From Trash to Treasure: Transform Shredded Paper Into Garden Gold by Amanda Blankenship Should you use shredded paper as garden mulch? It might…
What Happens to Plants If You Use Enviro Ice on Them? by Amanda Blankenship About a year ago, I wrote our first article about…

How to Plant Lettuce for a Late Fall Harvest

Your summer tomatoes are finished, the cucumber vines are turning brown, and the garden beds that kept you busy all summer are starting to look empty. But before you pack away your gardening tools, there’s one inexpensive crop that can keep fresh food coming well into autumn. Lettuce thrives in cooler weather, and with the…

The Best Radish Varieties for Short Cool-Weather Growing

Your summer vegetable garden may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean you’ve missed your last opportunity to grow something fresh. While tomatoes and peppers need months of warm weather, certain radishes can go from seed to harvest in just three or four weeks. That makes them an excellent option for gardeners hoping to squeeze…

How to Grow Carrots Before the Ground Gets Too Cold

Your summer garden might be winding down, but those empty vegetable beds could still have something to offer. Carrots are one of the more rewarding cool-season crops because they tolerate chilly temperatures, store well, and can develop excellent flavor during autumn. However, getting them established before the ground becomes too cold requires a little more…

How to Grow Kale After Summer Crops Fade

Your tomatoes are finished, the cucumbers have stopped producing, and your once-productive summer garden is starting to look empty. But before you pull everything out and call it a season, there’s one vegetable worth planting that actually prefers cooler temperatures. Kale can turn those empty garden beds into a fresh source of leafy greens long…