Announcements and Upcoming Events

Reducing Winter Related Injury in Landscape Trees (pdf)

Montana can have harsh winter conditions that can sometimes challenge even our hardiest trees and shrubs, especially if steps aren’t taken to set them up for the best success. Last winter was especially tough on many of our landscape trees and shrubs, and we saw significant amounts of winter injury across the state. Follow these tips to set your trees and shrubs up for a more successful winter this year by allowing them to harden off and protecting them from common winter-related injuries.

Frost and Freeze Data for Montana

Frost and freeze occurrence data.

Tree Care

The Basics of Pruning Trees and Shrubs

 The Basics of Pruning Trees and Shrubs.  Why, when, and what to prune

Tree Pruning Techniques

 Proper pruning creates more beautiful, healthy trees and can increase the life span and productivity of fruit and shade trees

Managing Aphids in Landscape Trees and Shrubs (pdf)

 MSU's Extension Horticulture Specialist, Abiya Saeed, takes a look at potential Aphid issues in susceptible trees. 

Blister Mites - MSU Urban Alert

 There have been quite a few samples coming into the Schutter Lab with appleleaf blister mites. These mites are a type of eriophyid mite, which are microscopic and difficult to see with the naked eye. Their hosts are apple, crabapple and pear trees.

Training Young Apple Trees to the Central Leader System

 The purpose of training and pruning is to maintain desired tree shapes that are capable of early production of large, high-quality crops with balanced vegetative and reproductive growth. 

Jujube Training and Pruning Basics

 Jujube is a new fruit to most of the American population, and there is very limited information about pruning jujubes. Jujube’s shoot structure is different from apples or peaches in that its secondary branches always accompany the primary shoots. 

Pruning the Home Orchard

 Fruit trees are pruned to regulate growth, increase yield, and improve fruit size and quality. Pruning is used to shape trees for ease of management and to repair damage. How you prune your trees affects the way they grow and how much they fruit.

Old School Solution Found to New Tree Trouble

 Sheep are proving useful in helping new trees gain a better foothold in cutblocks. Cutblocks are areas with clear boundaries that have been approved for harvest.

Early Tree Care

 Proper early care of young trees is pivotal to the long-term health and success of your orchard as it matures. Young trees are more susceptible to pests, diseases, and competition from other vegetation when they are young. 

Common Tree Care Myths

 The MSU Broadwater County Extension Office takes a look at some tree myths.

Flowers and Shrubs

Minimizing Deer Damage in Residential Landscape Settings

 Deer are generalists that can persist across a wide range of habitat conditions. They favor early vegetation stages that keep brush and sapling browse within reach. Dense cover is used for winter shelter and protection. Because deer are so adaptable and residential areas sometimes provide suitable habitat conditions, deer can pose challenges to homeowners.

Annual Flowers May Solve Many Landscape Problems

 We've got tips on planning, planting, growing and harvesting your annual flower garden.

Why Planting Wildflowers Makes a Difference

 In this National Geographic article, Christina Nunez shares why planting wildflowers can be a big benefit.

Trees and Shrubs in Montana

 By learning how to identify trees and shrubs, you will improve your
knowledge about Montana and about the growing things near streambeds,
mountain slopes-practically everywhere that plants grow.

Growing Lilacs in Montana

 The earliest homesteaders brought lilacs to the state and found them to be one of the few exotic flowering shrubs to thrive on the Great Plains. Even today, many of these hardy shrubs survive next to long-abandoned homesteads.

Master Gardener Q & A

 Master Gardeners answer the question "Now that the snow has melted, what should I be doing in my yard and garden to ensure I have a good season?"

Plant ID Guide of Ornamental Trees and Shrubs

 Useful plant identification guide for ornamental trees and shrubs.

Growing Shrub Roses in Montana

 Montana's climate is only marginally suitable for growing most types of roses, but shrub roses do well here.

Deer Resistant Ornamental Plants for Your Garden

 Deer can wipe out a garden faster than any other pest.

Xeriscaping and Other Thoughtful Landscaping Practices to Conserve Water

 Drought conditions and limited water supplies in much of the semi-arid West can reduce water availability for irrigating home landscapes. This makes water conservation an important component of gardening in Montana and beyond. Xeriscaping, a term originally developed by Denver Water (derived from the Greek word “xeros,” which means ‘dry’), is a method of landscaping that incorporates water conservation strategies to minimize water waste and reduce the need for supplemental irrigation.

Fruits and Vegetables

Growing Tomatoes in Montana

 Extremes in temperature, dry climates, poor soil quality, water shortages, and short growing seasons can make the production of fine tomato fruit difficult. But there are plenty of ways to improve the chances of producing all the vine-ripened fruit your family can eat.

Tomato Diseases and Disorders

 Here are some things you'll want to be aware of when growing tomatoes in your garden.

Growing Raspberries in Montana Gardens

 Just about everything the home gardener might want to know about growing raspberries is explained in this MontGuide: differences among cultivars, how to choose a good site, preparing the ground, planting, pruning and training, fertilizing and irrigating. It also touches on insects and diseases.

Growing Fruit Trees in Montana

 The keys to a successful fruit tree orchard discussed in this publication include site evaluation and preparation, good rootstock, proper cultivar selection, proper irrigation, reducing plant competition, maximizing the potential of the soil, testing for nutrients, and using proper fertilization.

Growing Cold-Hardy Berries and Small Fruits in Montana

 Currants, gooseberries, dwarf sour cherries, aronia, and haskaps (or honeyberries) are hardy fruits that can be grown almost anywhere in Montana.

Rhubarb

 Technically a vegetable, rhubarb or “pie plant” can produce for 20 or more years and grows to a size of two feet high and six feet wide.

Summer Squash

 Growing, harvesting, using and storing summer squash are all covered in this article from MSU Extension Services.

Grapes

 Learn more about producing and using this wonderful fruit.

Harvesting and Saving Garden Seeds

 Saving vegetable seed is fun but takes time and must be done right. Find out more in this MontGuide issue.

Asparagus in the Home Garden

 This publication offers basic instructions for successfully growing asparagus, from choosing plant materials to maintaining beds.

Successful Home Vegetable Gardening

 Having a successful vegetable garden depends on how you garden and on planting enough of the right vegetables at the right time to supply a family’s needs.

Late Blight in Garden Potatoes

 Late blight of potato is a disease of great concern wherever potatoes are grown. The organism responsible for late blight, Phytopthora infestans, is known as the “plant destroyer.

Seed Potatoes

 Need to purchase seed potatoes for your garden?

Yard and Garden Safety

Minimizing Pesticide Contaminated Soil Around the Home and Garden

 This publication was developed as a tool to reduce the prevalence of contaminated manure, grass clippings and compost while teaching homeowners to recognize toxicity symptoms and purchase only noncontaminated soil amendments.

Chemicals and Animal Safety

 Pesticides are part of a routine pest management strategy for most pet owners. Animal safety on your property and the surrounding area should be integrated into any management decisions you make.

Calibrating Home and Garden Sprayers

 This publication contains instructions on steps to calibrate home sprayers while saving time with easy to follow steps.

Safe Handling of Pesticides

 The safe handling of open containers of concentrated pesticides requires familiarity with the compound, preparation of the work site, appropriate barriers to limit exposure, and observance of proper procedures for mixing, loading and cleanup, and for dealing with spills.

Poisonous Plants in the Home Landscape

 The list of selected landscape plants with known toxicity tells which part is poisonous and whether people are affected through contact or ingestion.

Articles and Useful Links

Surviving Montana Bugs Below Zero

 How do insects survive the winter?

The ABC's of Plants for Bees!

Though it might not seem like it for some of us who are still in the throes of winter and it especially feels like a distant dream as I look outside my window here in Montana, but spring is right around the corner.

The Difference Between Potting Soil and Potting Mix

 Shopping for a growing medium to use for potted plants can be a confusing experience because the terms “potting soil” and “potting mix” are often used interchangeably.

Maintaining Successful Lawns in Montana

 This MontGuide contains insights and information on maintaining a lawn. Topics include fertilizers, mowing, water, disease, and weed and insect control.

Yard and Garden Water Management

 This publication lists efficient water management tips that benefit plants as well as your water budget.

Frost and Freeze Data for Montana

 Freeze / Frost Occurrence Data.

Mushrooms in the Lawn

 Mushrooms are the above-ground fruiting bodies of fungi that live in the soil. These fungi feed on decaying organic matter, such as old roots, stumps and thatch.

Plant Hardiness Zone Map

 This page allows you to find and download state, regional, and national Plant Hardiness Zone Maps at various resolutions.

Can I Grow That Here?

 Includes information on days to maturity, planting dates, sun requirements, weeks to transplant size and frost tolerance for 34 vegetables.

Montana Conservation Seedling Nursery

 The Montana Conservation Seedling Nursery is part of the Montana DNRC and is overseen by the Legislature. Our Mission is to provide plants for conservation projects that occur throughout the State of Montana. View the seedling inventory and prices here.

Home Composting

 This MontGuide describes the essential ingredients for effectively composting organic materials such as grass clippings, leaves, and some kitchen food scraps into a high-quality soil conditioner at home.

Building and Maintaining a Pollinator-Friendly Garden Landscape

 In Montana, we have a plethora of pollinators that call the various ecosystems, agricultural lands, and urban areas across the state home. These pollinators play important roles in the pollination of agricultural crops and other flowering plants that help sustain native plant diversity and ecosystem functions.

The Garden Professors

 The Garden Professors website provides great information on all aspects of gardening. 

Selecting Garden Seeds

 I’ve started dreaming about sinking my toes into warm garden soil. And with that, garden planning begins!  However, when flipping through the catalogs, it can quickly become overwhelming. Here are a few frequently asked questions for garden seed selection which may be helpful to narrow down the options.

 

Pests and Bugs

Blister Mites in Apple Leaves - Statewide

 This article takes a closer look at the Blister Mite.

Backyard Guide to Codling Moth Management

 Codling moth (CM) is a major pest of apple, pear, quince, and walnut.

Honeylocust Podgall Midge

 Honeylocusts have been looking thin, showing brown tips, and defoliating. This is likely due to the honeylocust podgall midge.

Social Wasps in Montana (PDF)

 We have several social wasps in Montana. Except for the Western yellowjacket, social wasps are typically not aggressive unless their nest is disturbed. 

Bumblebees in Montana

 Bumble bees are important native pollinators in wildlands and agricultural systems. Creating habitat to support bumble bees in yards and gardens can be easy and is a great way to get involved in native bee conservation.

Voles

  Vole damage to trees and shrubs primarily takes place in the fall and winter. During winter months and sometimes during drought, voles will move from surrounding uncultivated areas into landscaped yards and gardens to find food.

Grasshoopers in the Yard and Garden (PDF)

 Grasshopper outbreaks are occurring in several areas in Montana. They are difficult to control due to their migratory nature and voracious feeding on several host plants.

Saving Bees and Other Pollinators

 This story by ABC news outlines the importance of saving bees and other pollinating insects.

Flea Beetles in the Garden

 When holes appear on the leaves of garden plants, there is a likely culprit: the flea beetle. The flea beetle is a yearly visitor in Montana and a frequent guest in most places where potatoes, tomatoes, and cruciferous vegetables are grown.

Homeowner Guide to Spiders Around the Home and Yard (PDF)

 Valuable information about spiders found in our homes and yards.

Mitigating Winter Vole Damage

 With heavy snow levels throughout much of Montana this past winter, we have seen and heard many reports of considerable vole damage in yard and garden landscapes. Voles can feed on and cause damage to a variety of plants including turfgrass, trees, and shrubs. 

 

MSU Extension Services has information on their website on a vast number of topics.  Visit the MSU Extension MontGuide page to find information on whatever you might be curious about.