Garden
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Vegetable Gardening During a Drought
In a drought, getting water to plants is a priority. The following management tips will help you efficiently use water and maximize other gardening practices to achieve a healthy and productive garden.
Gardening Tips During a Drought
Drought conditions present challenges for gardeners, but it's still possible to grow things by modifying gardening techniques to keep established plants growing and provide a good environment for new plants.
Tree Watering Tips for Drought Conditions
There is no precise recipe for how much and how often trees should be watered during a drought. However, there are a few guidelines to follow.
Trees & Drought Stress
Trees require a lot of water to meet their functional needs and long-term shortages can influence their growth and survival.
Dealing with Drought Stressed Lawns
Drought is a common concern across the region this summer affecting landscapes in many ways, but probably most noticeably in its impact on lawns.
Why Are The Tree Leaves Turning Yellow?
Chlorosis, a condition where the leaf veins remain green but the surrounding foliage turns pale green or yellow, is a common occurrence on certain tree species in South Dakota.
SDSU Welcomes New Horticulture Faculty Member, Extension Specialist
February 19, 2021
The South Dakota State University Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science, along with SDSU Extension, has named Dr. Kristine Lang to serve as an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Consumer Horticulture.
How Do I Keep Insects From Destroying My Garden Produce?
It is not unusual to see insects in a garden during the fall, but it can be frustrating to watch nearly ripe produce be destroyed by insects before it can be picked.
Fire Blight
Fire blight is a disease that can infect apples, pears, and certain ornamental species including crabapples, cotoneaster, and mountain ash. Occasionally it may also appear on cherries, plums, Juneberry (also called Serviceberry or Saskatoon), and raspberry. This disease, caused by the bacteria Erwinia amylovora, can damage blossoms, fruit, leaves, shoots, and branches. If it is not controlled, fire blight may kill the entire tree or shrub. Infected tissue cannot be cured, but will need to be removed from the tree to prevent further spread.
Soil Testing for Vineyards in South Dakota
Not all soils are conducive to growing quality grapes, so prospective vineyard sites should be tested before a decision is made to plant grapes. Tests can identify soils that are either too high in pH, salts, or salinity, or that are “too rich” (too high in organic matter and nitrogen) for grapes. In addition, testing before planting allows for the incorporation of nutrients—such as phosphorus—that do not move easily through the soil to plant roots.