A listing of our favorite websites, magazines, organizations, and places. Many have e-newsletters that you can sign up to receive in your inbox, keeping you informed of upcoming events and information.

Beginner’s Guide to Basic Gardening: Tools, Soil and more

The below link is a comprehensive guide containing everything you will need to know about growing your own vegetables.

A Practical Beginner’s Guide to Gardening [2023 ] (handymanreviewed.com)

DIY Gardening Projects and Landscaping Ideas to Save Money

The below link contains Gardening Basics, and includes garden terminology, needed tools, plant and flower information and more.  It is a great source of information for all gardeners, new and experienced.

Jumping Worms

They are a non-native earthworm and a threat to gardens.  They have been found in McHenry County.

Please click on links below for information, fact sheet and how to detect them

jumping_worms_factsheet_10152021.pdf (illinois.edu)

https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives/fact/jumpingWorm.html

Roundup Alternatives for Your Lawn and Garden

The below link contains information about the use of Roundup and other options to use in your yard/garden.

https://www.consumernotice.org/environmental/pesticides/roundup/alternatives/

A Kid’s Guide to Gardening

Includes the following:  How to Start a Garden, Planting Techniques, How to Maintain Your Garden, Floral Arrangement Ideas, Recipe Ideas and Gardening Safety

The link is below

https://www.kremp.com/kids-guide-to-gardening

Home Gardening Improvement
http://www.nationwidemortgages.net/home-garden-improvements.html

University of Illinois Extension Office – McHenry County      http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lm/

McHenry County Master Gardeners (University of Illinois Extension Office)
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lm/mchenrymg/

McHenry County College Gardenfest
http://www.mchenry.edu/Gardenfest/

Lou Marchi Total Recycling Institute
http://www.mchenry.edu/green/campus/lmtri.asp
The Institute publishes the McHenry County Official Green Guide annually. Full of new recycling and reusing information, it includes a Green Living section on where to buy green products locally and online. The Institute also provides education on related solid waste topics.

McHenry County Conservation District
http://www.mccdistrict.org/rccms/

The Land Conservacy of McHenry County
http://www.conservemc.org/

University of Illinois Extension Office
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/index.php

Horticulture Magazine online
www.hortmag.com
Website has weekly tips, plant information, gardening blog, and an e-newsletter.

Michael Fields Agricultural Institute
michaelfields.org
A great resource of information.

Johnny’s Selected Seeds
www.johnnyseeds.com/
Great resource and e-newsletter

Chicago Botanic Garden
https://www.chicagobotanic.org/

Plant Hardiness Map
planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
Updated for 2012

Horticulture and Home Pest News
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/

Doug Green Gardens
http://www.douggreensgarden.com/

Home, Yard & Garden Newsletter
http://hyg.ipm.illinois.edu/

Wind Ridge Herb Farm
Caledonia, IL
www.windridgeherbfarm.com/index.html

Insecticide Etc. Disposal
The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County has a dropoff site in Gurnee. See www.swalco.org. They will take all insecticides, oil based paints, etc.  McHenry township no longer funds the hazardous waste disposal, but Gurnee’s place is state sponsored.

Purdue Plant and Pest Diagnostic Laboratoy Clinic
https://ag.purdue.edu/btny/PPDL/pages/default.aspx

Proven Winners
Website and Email newsletter: http://www.provenwinners.com/

Beyond Impatiens and Petunias
The site focuses on helping gardeners select the right plant for a given growing  conditions. An extensive plant directory gives several plant suggestions for various growing environments including annuals for part to full shade and perennials that tolerate moist to wet soils. The site was developed by Greg Stack, Extension Horticulturist.  You can visit the site at: http://urbanext.illinois.edu/beyond/

Creative Critter Control
This is a new site for gardeners and other who want to approach critter control with insight and understanding.There is information on critters commonly found around gardens and homes: Gophers, Moles, Voles, Deer, Tree Squirrels, Ground Squirrels, Raccoons, Skunks, Opossums, Mice, Roof Rats, Wild Rabbits, Wild Turkeys, and other common wildlife. All suggestions are humane, non-toxic, and easy to implement. While many people consider these critters to be pests, the most effective solutions treat wildlife as co-inhabitants of our environment. www.creativecrittercontrol.org