UW-Madison, Division of Extension Rock County

10/15/2026

🌱 This Week in the Garden: Your Questions Answered, Week of October 12

Did you know that you still have time to plant garlic? This week we look into some common planting mistakes. Make sure to check out our linked resources for even more help with your garlic!

❓Question:
I’m growing many different kinds of hardneck garlic, but my garlic bulbs just keep getting smaller. What am I doing wrong?

🧄 Answer:
Planting time - You have these last two weeks in October until the 1st of November to plant. You want the garlic to start to grow some roots before going dormant without a bunch of top growth. Make sure you choose a variety of garlic that will grow well in Wisconsin. The varieties grown in California (most commercially produced garlic and garlic from the store) do not adapt well to our climate. Select the largest cloves for planting (and just eat the smaller ones). Check out the article below for a list of varieties that can grow well here.

Depth / Spacing - Plant each clove 2" deep (basal plate down), spacing the cloves about 6-8" apart and space your rows at least 12" apart, however I've seen recommendations for spacing rows 18-30" apart. Overcrowding could certainly lead to more competition and smaller cloves. If they are planted sideways, upside down or too deep, that could lead to smaller or misshapen cloves too.

Mulching - Spread a layer of straw mulch should be about 4-6" deep for winter protection. Leaf litter is okay as long as you're not getting a lot of matted up leaves. When you plant, make sure to label each hole. When growth resumes in spring, the mulch should be raked off of the emerging garlic. It can be left between the rows to help with w**d suppression.

Scapes - In the spring, remove the scapes in the curl stage to help increase bulb size.

Watering - Garlic needs consistent moisture, especially from April to June, and then you can cut back 3-4 weeks before harvest (but don't let them dry out). Water stressed plants will not produce well. If using an overhead sprinkler, they might not be receiving as much water as you think they are getting. Plus, that water has to get through the mulch layer and down to the plants, and the water isn't going directly to each plant. If you want to continue using a sprinkler, check the ground (in multiple areas) after 10-15 minutes and see if it's saturated. You might need to run the sprinkler longer and more often (more than once a week, depending on the weather and your soil). Sprinkler irrigation provides less control, so you might find it better to water the plants manually or invest in drip irrigation.

🔗 Learn more:
Growing Garlic in Wisconsin - https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/garlic-allium-sativum/

Growing Garlic in Wisconsin YouTube Video -
https://youtu.be/S2Oud9LmvRY?si=LZUNLnNRbGpSKSw4

💬 Have a question of your own?
Reach out—we may feature it in an upcoming post!
You can reach Julie, your local horticulture educator by calling 262-741-4958, Text 262-374-4191, email [email protected] or use our online form: go.wisc.edu/PlantQ

📷 Picture of garlic bulb

10/15/2026

Only 15 spots available for our upcoming “Cultivating Your Farm’s Future” workshop series! 📢 This one-of-a-kind farm succession planning program will guide your operation through a proven three-step process:

1️⃣ Where are you now?
2️⃣ Where do you want to be?
3️⃣ How do you get there?

For just $200 per farm, your whole family can participate. Each farm receives one workbook and publication, plus a learner guide for each registered participant. Materials will be mailed in time for the Nov. 12 start date.

Register before Oct. 23 at go.wisc.edu/cyff

10/12/2026

The “Shoebox to Strategy” virtual workshop series is designed to help farm owners tackle a complicated yet essential task. We guide participants through organizing and analyzing important documents and asset information over a series of weeks. In the event of an untimely death or accident, you will be able to return to your completed “Shoebox to Strategy” binder and spreadsheet to find the information that is key for continuing the farm’s legacy. You will also run a variety of transfer scenarios to analyze and compare possible distribution plans for farm transition.
Learn more and register today: go.wisc.edu/shoebox

10/06/2026

Protect your farm from legal and financial risks.

When planning for succession, understanding the legal risks is key to ensure a smooth transition for the next generation. As part of the "Cultivating Your Farm’s Future” workshop series, Farm Law Outreach Specialist Kelly Wilfert will help families learn the basics of business and estate planning tools, including wills, trusts, and various business entities. You'll also learn an overview of probate and estate tax to help you identify potential risks and protect your farm’s assets.

Gain the legal clarity you need to make your future meetings with an attorney more efficient and productive.
🗓️ Fall Workshop Series starts: Nov. 12, 2026
📌 Registration deadline: Oct. 23, 2026

Secure your spot for the Fall series today at go.wisc.edu/cyff

09/30/2026

🌟 Upcoming Program 🌟

Understanding Your Garden Soil
Monday, October 5 from 5:30 - 6:30 PM
Location: Big Foot HS, Room W31
FREE, advanced registration required - https://www.bigfootrecreation.org/

Understanding your garden soil can help unlock your garden’s potential. We’ll discuss soil testing and how to interpret the results. We’ll look at how soil pH impacts nutrient availability and plant health. Finally, we’ll take a closer look at fertilizer labels and application rates to avoid over-applying fertilizer nutrients which can negatively impact the environment. You’ll gain practical tips for applying the right amount of nutrients to create the healthiest garden possible.

09/28/2026

How will your farm operate when you’re ready to step back?

Protecting your life’s work means starting the conversation today. Join UW-Madison Extension for "Cultivating Your Farm’s Future," an interactive virtual workshop that starts November 12, 2026. This online learning series is designed to help families navigate the succession process together. Whether you are the owner generation or the successor, this workshop provides the tools to shape your farm’s legacy.

Registration for the Fall series ends October 23! Secure your spot for just $200 per farm. Details here: go.wisc.edu/cyff

09/24/2026

🌱 This Week in the Garden: Your Questions Answered, Week of September 21

Fall is a time of transition as we help our plants and gardens settle and get ready for winter. If you added some new plants to your space this year, make sure you keep taking care of them so that they have the best chance of surviving the winter. Do you have any plants that did exceptionally well this past year, given the variable weather conditions? We want to hear about it! Please take a moment to complete this quick survey and let us know, What survived in your garden? https://forms.gle/4gtJyPr58UmdcwcL7

❓Question:
We planted a magnolia and some small boxwood bushes recently. What can we do to protect them over winter?

🍂 Answer:

✂️ Fall is NOT the time to do any pruning. The only exception to this is if you have a dead or diseased branch, especially if it’s at risk of falling on something.

💦 Continue watering newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials until the ground freezes (until approximately mid-November), unless we continue to get adequate rain fall.

🌲The boxwoods would benefit from some shelter or protection from the winter wind (unless they are planted in a sheltered spot) and from the southside direct sun. Given their small size, the easiest is to wrap them in burlap or other breathable fabric. You don't have to do this until after the first hard frost. Do not tightly wrap them and leave the top open, and then remove the wrap in the spring. Alternatively, you could stretch burlap on stakes next to the plants to create a windbreak.

🐇 Protect your newly planted trees and shrubs from possible animal damage. Deer can rub on trunks, rabbits can chew on the bark, and other animals can cause damage. Put fencing around plants, and/or use tree wraps as a protective guard around the trunk. Tree wraps must be removed in the spring. They are not supposed to be on the tree year round!

🔗 Learn more:
Winter burn - https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/winter-burn/

Protecting Trees and Shrubs in Winter, from University of Minnesota - https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/protecting-trees-and-shrubs-winter

💬 Have a question of your own?
Reach out—we may feature it in an upcoming post!
You can reach Julie, your local horticulture educator by calling 262-741-4958, Text 262-374-4191, email [email protected] or use our online form: go.wisc.edu/PlantQ

What survived in your garden this year? Fill out this quick survey! https://forms.gle/4gtJyPr58UmdcwcL7

As gardeners, we may experience drought, heavy rainfall, heat waves, cold snaps and other weather challenges. We're interested in learning which plants performed well in your garden, landscape, or yard. Your observations will help us identify plants that appear resilient under changing environmental...

09/23/2026

Join us at Children's Wisconsin - Rock County Family Resource Center for an Eating Smart Being Active! class starting in October. Scan the QR code to register attend. You'll learn how to meal plan and build healthy habits for you and your family, and take home free kitchen tools too!

09/22/2026

Registration is open for the WWASH Conference, hosted by ! Don’t miss the early bird discount rates available through October 4. Registration includes two full days of keynotes, breakout sessions, and roundtables, as well as lunch each day.
Join farmers, consultants, Extension, and agency staff for two days of real data, on-farm research, and conversations around soil health and water quality.
Register: go.wisc.edu/WWASH