Learn about 'Four Seasons' gardening in Illinois through web series

The summer "Four Seasons" webinar series will feature the topics of common oak pests, soil health through cover crops and native pollinators, all specific to Illinois residents. The University of Illinois Extension Four Seasons Gardening program focuses on environmental stewardship, home gardening, and backyard food production, with new topics explored each season.

In July, join Diane Plewa, diagnostician at the University of Illinois Plant Clinic, as she discusses some of the most common problems seen on oak trees across Illinois. Learn how to identify and address serious diseases, such as oak wilt and bur oak blight, and those that look concerning but are less serious problems like tubakia leaf spot and galls. A few common insects also will be discussed. "Quercus Quandaries: Common Oak Pests in Illinois" will be presented online at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, and again at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 28. The July 26 presentation also may be viewed in the Kane County office, 535 S. Randall Road in St. Charles.

Other summer webinar topics will include:

• "Keep It Growing, Keep It Going: Soil and Cover Crops" at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11. The Aug. 9 webinar may be viewed in the St. Charles office.

• "Illinois Native Pollinators" at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25. The Aug. 23 webinar may be viewed in the St. Charles office.

All webinar sessions are free and open to the public to view online, but participants must register in advance at go.illinois.edu/4seasons_webinars.

Participants also may choose to view the July 26, Aug. 9 and Aug. 23 webinars at the U of I Extension office in St. Charles. There is a fee of $5 to join in person, which includes color session handouts. Local registration closes one week before each program.

To sign up to attend in person or to learn more, visit the "Register Online" section at web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk or call (630) 584-6166 for more information. The U of I Extension office in Kane County is at 535 S. Randall Road in St. Charles. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please at least two weeks prior to the event.

For more information on University of Illinois Extension programs in your county, visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk.

University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs and research-based information to help Illinois residents improve their quality of life, develop skills and solve problems.