OSU Extension websites provide valuable toolkits for all things gardening

With gardening season preparation underway, three new websites have been developed that pertain to home landscapes and gardening, home lawn care and pond management. In addition, the Oklahoma Proven and Oklahoma Gardening websites have been completely updated, featuring beautiful color photos and the most up-to-date, research-based information. Home Landscape and Gardening This site features a Frequently Asked Questions section covering fruit, houseplants, ornamentals and trees, turfgrass and vegetables. David Hillock, OSU Extension consumer horticulturist,…

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Get a leg up on gardening with Oklahoma Proven selections

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Gardeners know the challenges of selecting plants that will thrive in Oklahoma’s extreme growing conditions. Fortunately, the Oklahoma Proven plant program can assist with selection. “Oklahoma Proven is a plant promotion program to help guide gardeners toward appropriate garden selections that have been proven to grow well in Oklahoma’s diverse climate and soil types,” said David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Extension consumer horticulturist. “Each year, a tree, shrub, perennial and annual are selected.…

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OSU wheat varieties remain most popular for winter wheat crops

By Alisa Boswell-Gore STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State University is responsible for the top eight hard red winter wheat varieties planted in Oklahoma this year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Statistics Service’s March report. Doublestop CL Plus is the number one wheat variety planted for the 2022 wheat crop in Oklahoma, with Gallagher in second place, followed by Green Hammer, a newer variety placing in the top three for the first time.…

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Spring highlights morel mushroom hunting

By Gail Ellis  STILLWATER, Okla. – Mushroom hunters will be out in full force during the next few weeks, and the most popular species on their radar is the morel. It’s the thrill of the chase for morel mushroom foragers, and locations are kept top secret. Stephen Marek, associate professor of entomology and plant pathology in the Oklahoma State University Ferguson College of Agriculture, specializes in fungal biology, and he said morels are one…

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Presentation to offer fundamentals of rain barrels

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Anyone interested in learning about rain barrels in the home landscape can do so at an upcoming Fundamentals for Rain Barrels presentation in April. “Rainwater harvesting is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly practice for consumers,” said Qing Luo, Oklahoma State University associate professor and OSU Extension landscape architecture specialist. “It’s a great way to conserve water, which can cut down on your utility bill. It also can help reduce the demand…

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Not all insects are a threat in the garden

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – When gardeners see insects in the garden, they often fear these multi-legged creatures will chew and chomp their way through the landscape and leave a trail of destruction in their wake. While there are some insects capable of such damage in a garden – including aphids, cutworms and caterpillars – many insects are actually beneficial and are found anywhere from below the soil surface to the tree canopy,…

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When the budget is tight, beef is still an option

By Gail Ellis  STILLWATER, Okla. – The price of beef has skyrocketed since 2020, and consumers are looking for ways to trim their grocery budget without sacrificing flavor. “From the beginning of the pandemic to the fourth quarter of 2021, choice box beef, which is equivalent to a carcass level price, is up 28.5%,” said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist. “Even when you compare prices from the initial pandemic shutdown when meat…

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Stop before you lop – a quick guide to winter pruning

By Trisha Gedon By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – To prune or not to prune? That is the question. When Oklahoma experiences warmer weather in the winter months, homeowners may want to take advantage of the milder temperatures and get a head start pruning trees and shrubs in the landscape. The purpose of pruning is to maintain the intended purpose of the plants in the landscape, improve plant appearance and protect people and property. For security purposes,…

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Beetle saliva shows potential to create a natural antibiotic

By Alisa Boswell-Gore By Alisa Boswell-Gore STILLWATER, Okla. – Oklahoma State University scientists are excited about a brown goo secreted by a rare beetle. Why all the excitement over bug saliva? Because it could lead to the creation of a natural antibiotic and meat preservative, according to Wyatt Hoback, associate professor in the OSU Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology. American burying beetles seek out small animal carcasses and work together to bury it in…

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