By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Gardeners who have been slacking on their landscaping chores lately have a loophole. No time to rake the leaves or clear out the flower beds? No problem. The landscape can go to the birds – literally – in the fall. David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Extension consumer horticulturist, said wild birds are grateful for the lack of upkeep. “This is the time of year when tidy gardeners are raking…

By Lauren Raley STILLWATER, Okla. – Now that fall has fallen, Oklahoma gardeners can turn to Oklahoma State University Extension for helpful tips on how to prepare for the end of the year. OSU Extension’s fall gardening fact sheet includes a wide range of vegetables that can outlast other summer crops, as well as how to prepare the soil for the next growing season. The foundation for a healthy garden is keeping crops properly watered and monitoring…

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – They look rather prehistoric, and they can make a pretty good smudge mark on a vehicle’s windshield. And oh boy, can they jump and eat. Fortunately, of the more than 130 resident species of grasshoppers that live in Oklahoma’s forests and grasslands, only a few species become real pest problems, said David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Extension consumer horticulturist. It’s the redlegged, migratory, differential and two-striped grasshoppers that are…

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Just as water is vital for human life, the plants, trees, shrubs and grass in any landscape also require hydration. However, how much water is used and what watering strategies gardeners choose can have a direct impact on their wallets. “Nobody likes to waste money, but it easily can happen in the landscape if you’re not careful,” said David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Extension consumer horticulturist. “Gardeners…