Master Gardener

All Master Gardener Content
Close-up of a grass lawn during drought

Lawn Care During a Drought

Maintaining a lawn during a drought takes a bit more care than usual. Learn some helpful tips to keep turf healthy during the worst periods of any extended dry spell.

A monarch butterfly alights near a purple flower with trees, grass and a blue sky in the background

SDSU Extension, McCrory Gardens to host 2023 Garden Discovery Festival

May 15, 2023

SDSU Extension and McCrory Gardens are kicking off their summer programming with the 2023 Garden Discovery Festival from 1 to 5 p.m. CST on May 21 at McCrory Gardens in Brookings, South Dakota.

Glory of the Snow, Daffodil, and Allium blooming in three gardens.

SDSU Extension launching 2023 Garden Hour webinars in May

April 26, 2023

SDSU Extension’s 2023 weekly Garden Hour series will debut May 2.

Gardener re-potting several seedlings that were started indoors over winter.

Apply now to attend SDSU Extension Master Gardener and Home Horticulture Course

February 24, 2023

Applications are now being accepted for the South Dakota State University Extension Master Gardener and Home Horticulture course offered March 23 to June 13.

Gardener holding a box of vegetables

SDSU Extension launches new virtual vegetable production training series

January 13, 2023

The South Dakota Virtual Vegetable Short Course is a four-part educational series geared toward commercial specialty crop farmers, gardeners and Master Gardeners. Nonprofits, business partners and members of the general public are also welcome to attend.

Tulips blooming near the entrance to McCrory Gardens.

McCrory Gardens to Host 2022 Garden Discovery Festival May 22

May 16, 2022

SDSU Extension and McCrory Gardens will be hosting the 2022 Garden Discovery Festival on May 22 from noon to 5 p.m. CDT at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center in Brookings.

Young tomato plants surrounded by organic mulch in a no-till garden.

Weed Control in No-Till Gardens

Mulch is the key to successful weed control in no-till gardening. It is best to start a no-till garden in the fall to give applied mulch the time to breakdown and suppress any weed growth.

two cucumbers. the one on the top is larger and has begun yellowing. the bottom is smaller and is a crisp green color.

Harvesting Cucumbers

Cucumbers fresh from the garden are a summer treat! Harvesting them frequently not only helps keep the plant producing new fruit, but it also helps ensure that you are picking them at their optimal flavor and tenderness.

A grub that has an orange colored head and legs and a white body with a dark grey tip at the end. The grub is laying on top of the soil.

Do You Have Grubs in Your Lawn?

We’ve had quite a few calls about dead patches in lawns this spring, which could be a sign of grub activity. If areas of your lawn are not greening up or appear to be dying, it is important to scout to determine if grubs are present.

Numerous small black beetles feeding on a green leaf.

Flea Beetles Already Active In Gardens

It may seem early, but flea beetles are already active in gardens in South Dakota. Adult beetles feed on leaves and stems, and their feeding will leave behind a multitude of small, irregular holes or pits.