Garden & Yard Issues

All Garden & Yard Issues Content

tall trees in the Black Hills

Tree Pest Alert

From seasonal issues and timely recommendations to disease diagnosis and expert advice, the Tree Pest Alert is a trusted resource for selecting, planting and caring for trees and shrubs all year round.

A group of raised ground beds with crops growing in them at McCrory Gardens in Brookings, South Dakota.

Garden Hour

Make the most of your garden and landscaping with weekly insights and ideas from our team of experts.

tall trees in the Black Hills

Tree Issue Treatments

Commonly available in pesticides for Conifer and Broadleaf disease, disorder, insect and mite treatment options.

Narcissus spp. bulb with green shoots emerging from bare soil.

Warm Winter Temperature Impacts on Flowering Bulbs

Warm winters underscore the importance of temperature in regulating bulb growth, as the right sequence of warm and cold periods is critical for healthy shoots and properly formed flowers.

Gardener planting a tomato transplant up to its first set of leaves.
Mar 17

Gardening Workshop @ Winner

SDSU Extension will host a gardening workshop on March 17 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the SDSU Extension Winner Regional Center (325 S. Monroe St., Ste. 125, Winner, SD 57580).

Garden tour taking place at McCrory Gardens
Mar 12

Gardening Workshop @ Faith

SDSU Extension will host a gardening workshop on March 12 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (409 Dakota St, Faith, SD 57626).

Garden tour taking place at McCrory Gardens
Mar 10

Gardening Workshop @ Belle Fourche

SDSU Extension will host a gardening workshop on March 10 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the Belle Fourche Rec Center (1111 National St, Belle Fourche, SD 57717).

Two broccoli plants exhibiting early black rot symptoms.

Black Rot of Brassica Crops

Black rot is an uncommon, but devastating bacterial disease in South Dakota that can develop during extended periods of hot and wet weather, leading to rapid and widespread crop loss.

Dark-green gelatinous masses on a patch of grass.

Nostoc in Lawns

Nostoc is a genus of cyanobacteria that form colonies in gelatinous masses. In South Dakota, it commonly appears in home lawns, notably in patches where grass is not growing, especially after periods of rain.

Swarm of mosquitoes.

West Nile Virus Update: October 16, 2025

As of October 16, 2025, the South Dakota Department of Health reported 86 human cases of West Nile virus from Aurora, Beadle, Bon Homme, Brookings, Brown, Charles Mix, Clay, Codington, Corson, Douglas, Grant, Gregory, Haakon, Hamlin, Hand, Hughes, Hutchison, Hyde, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marshall, Meade, Miner, Minnehaha, Pennington, Roberts, Sanborn, Spink, Stanley, Todd, Union, Walworth, and Yankton counties.