College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

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  Visit the Smart Gardening booth at the 2017 Lansing Home and Garden Show

  Published on March 15, 2017
  Welcome spring and receive great Smart Gardening tips to save you time and money at the Lansing Home and Garden Show, March 16-19, 2017.

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  Paper, plastic or reusable bags? Alpena youth ‘bagging it’ for Earth Day

  Published on April 20, 2015
  Alpena elementary students apply their art skills on Earth Day to promote awareness and action toward the issue of plastic pollution and marine debris in our Great Lakes.

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  Autumn brown to spring green

  Published on November 21, 2016
  Mulching or composting leaves this fall can reduce waste at the curb and improve your lawn and garden next spring.

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  Don’t miss out on school garden resources

  Published on December 2, 2015
  Many school garden grants are open now, so plan ahead for a bountiful spring.

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  Harnessing insects for on-farm biological control and nutrient cycling

  Published on November 11, 2014
  You may have experience with two and four footed livestock but how about livestock with six or no legs?

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  Soils for gardeners: Unlocking the secrets to the living component of a healthy soil

  Published on May 28, 2014
  A close look at soil biology helps gardeners understand how routine garden practices may tip the balance of a healthy soil.

• Leaves compost: fall is a great time to add it to gardens

  Published on October 24, 2012
  Composting instead of burning provides many benefits for you and your environment.

• Who’s that digging in my yard: Skunks, raccoons or moles?

  Published on February 13, 2013
  Gain a better idea of which critter is digging up your yard or garden by the damage they cause.

• Improving soil conditions for turf with fall aeration

  Published on September 7, 2012
  Fall aeration improves growing conditions to develop a healthier stand of grass.

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  Composting in community gardens

  Published on July 3, 2014
  Some simple best management practices can reduce problems and provide great compost when managing compost in urban farm and community garden settings.

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  Why should I get an MSU Soil Test?

  Published on March 17, 2016
  Why you should test your garden’s soil and what you’ll learn when using MSU Extension’s handy soil test kit.

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  MSU Enviro-weather station network growing

  Published on July 12, 2016
  Two new Enviro-weather stations have been added in Oceana County in 2016.

• What are your plants telling you?

  Published on March 20, 2012
  Top five plant problems that indicate the need for a soil test

• Gardening helps youth apply science and math concepts in fun ways

  Published on June 5, 2012
  Gardening presents a wealth of opportunities for youth to apply the science and math knowledge they have gained during the school year.

• Compost to protect the air and water and help prevent fall wildfires

  Published on October 20, 2013
  Composting instead of burning leaves and other garden wastes helps to protect the environment, prevent wildfires and improve soils for healthier plants.

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  How might Flint’s water contamination affect garden soils? Part 2

  Published on January 26, 2016
  With the news of lead contamination in the City of Flint’s water supply, people who farm and garden in the city are questioning the safety of growing in soil that has been irrigated with contaminated water.

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  Demonstrate your school garden’s environmental commitment

  Published on August 17, 2015
  Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program offers verification for school gardens and farms.

• Bag to planting bed, 1, 2, 3!

  Published on May 19, 2010
  Recycling your old seed bags into sturdy planting containers is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

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  Soil temperatures and planting timing – Part 3 of 3: Testing Enviroweather data

  Published on April 19, 2019
  The Enviroweather network of weather stations provides current and historical weather and soil data for nearly 100 sites within Michigan and northern Wisconsin—but how well do they represent conditions on your farm?

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  Fall cleanup in vegetable gardens

  Published on October 10, 2016
  Soil testing, removing plant material and adding organic mulches, compost and cover crops are all smart gardening techniques for fall cleanup.