Backyard Farmer February Newsletter

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February Newsletter

Succulent Sale - UNL Horticulture Club

Come get a succulent for your Valentine, a friend, or yourself

February 13th | 11 am - 1 pm

East Campus Union and City Campus Union

Now is the Perfect time to Prune your Deciduous Trees

Check out these Videos👇

Winter Tree Pruning Basics: When, Why, and How to Shape Young Trees

How to Make Proper Tree Pruning Cuts

Fixing Co-Dominant Leaders: How to Train a Strong Central Leader

How you make a pruning cut matters just as much as when you prune. Tim Dungan from Great Plains Nursery shows the proper cuts to help trees seal wounds quickly and reduce the risk of decay and disease. Correct pruning cuts protect tree health and prevent long-term structural problems.

From Trash to Treasure | Ella Jorgensen's Passion for Plants

Should you Water in the Winter?

Kim Todd explains that watering during the winter—especially during periods of warmer temperatures—is important to prevent plant desiccation. When soils are dry and temperatures rise above freezing, plants can lose moisture through their leaves and stems, even while they appear dormant. Without available water in the root zone, this moisture loss can lead to winter injury or death. Providing water during these mild winter windows helps maintain adequate soil moisture, supports root health, and reduces stress so plants can better withstand cold, windy conditions.

Should you Water a Dry Winter Landscape? #WinterWatering #garden #gardening #landscape

Tips for Starting a Vegetable Garden this Spring

Nebraska Extension Educator Terri James goes through a series of tips on how to get a vegetable garden planned this winter and planted next spring. 🌱 In this Backyard Farmer segment, we share the essential steps to get started—from picking the right vegetables to understanding space, sunlight, and varieties.

Start Your Vegetable Garden | Beginner Tips

Cost-Share Programs Explained: NRD & NRCS can help pay for windbreak tree planting

Now is the time to start working with your local NRD to order trees for spring planting. Cost-sharing programs are available to help you get started on the road to a new windbreak. Proper planning now means healthier trees and faster results later.

👉 Visit https://www.nrdnet.org to contact your local NRD or https://nfs.unl.edu/find-forester/ to find your Nebraska Forest Service forester to get personalized help designing your windbreak today.

Cost-Share Programs Explained: NRD & NRCS Help Pay for Windbreak Tree Planting

Upcoming Events

Plant Talk: How to Speak for the Trees

Date: Feb. 5, 2026, 12pm-1pm CT

Zoom: Link

Details: PlantNebraska will offer a free Plant Talk on the topic of advocating for planting trees on Thursday, February 5, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. CT on Zoom. PlantNebraska Sustainable Landscape Specialist Sarah Buckley will explore practical strategies for convincing community leaders and neighbors of the benefits of including trees in landscape projects.

The Muck, the Seeds, the Weeds, the Blossoming: The Journals of Karen Blessen

Open Daily: Through Feb. 28, 2026

Time: Starts at 7:30 am

Love Library North & Link

Room: The Link

1300 R St
Lincoln NE 68508

Details: The thoughts, life, and creative process of an artist are revealed to the public in The Muck, the Seeds, the Weeds, the Blossoming: The Journals of Karen Blessen, an exhibit that features 24 of Karen Blessen’s journals recently donated to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries Archives & Special Collections.