Utah State University Extension

Utah State University Extension USU Extension operates through a cooperative agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture, Utah State University, and county governments.

Utah State University Extension provides research-based programs and resources to the citizens of Utah, with the goal of improving the lives of individuals, families and communities. Utah State University Extension provides research-based programs and resources with the goal of improving the lives of individuals, families and communities throughout Utah. Program areas include:

1) Agriculture and

Natural Resources

2) Gardening

3) Home, Family, and Food

4) Utah 4-H and Youth

Founded in 1914 as part of the Smith-Lever Act, USU Extension plays a primary role in helping Utah State University fulfill its land-grant mission. Though more than 100 years old, USU Extension is as vital as ever, and perhaps even more so, due to the increased diversity and complexity of the issues people encounter today. The integration of teaching, research, and public service enables USU Extension to respond to critical and emerging issues with research-based, unbiased information. USU Extension has an office in every county in Utah, with the exception of Daggett County, which is served by the Uintah County office. Faculty and educators facilitate programs and conduct research to meet the needs of citizens at each location. In addition to county offices, USU Extension operates other centers and gardens, including:

- Ogden Botanical Gardens

- Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter

- USU Botanical Center

Additionally, USU Extension hosts the lead Utah Small Business Development Center as well as centers in Brigham City, Logan, Tooele, and Vernal. Facebook Comment Policy
Utah State University welcomes and encourages your participation through our social media channels. Our goal is to provide a place to express and honor the diverse voices of our university. In order to achieve that end, we reserve the right to delete posts and comments containing profanity, obscenity, bigotry, or privacy violations. Posts that solicit funds or promote commercial entities may also be deleted. Connect with USU Extension! Twitter - http://twitter.com/usuextension
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June is when gardens start acting like teenagers... suddenly they need constant attention.A little maintenance now can m...
06/01/2026

June is when gardens start acting like teenagers... suddenly they need constant attention.

A little maintenance now can make a big difference later in the season. Your yard and garden checklist doesn’t have to be overwhelming just tackle a few tasks at a time and enjoy the growing season along the way!

https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/monthly-tips

A bird-friendly yard does more than attract colorful visitors. It helps support healthy local ecosystems and provides bi...
05/29/2026

A bird-friendly yard does more than attract colorful visitors. It helps support healthy local ecosystems and provides birds with the food, water, and shelter they need to thrive.

Creating habitat doesn’t require a complete landscape makeover. Small changes like planting native species, adding a water source, reducing pesticide use, and creating safe shelter can make a big difference for Utah’s backyard birds.

Bird-friendly landscapes can also support pollinators, improve biodiversity, and bring more nature right outside your window.

05/28/2026

If your toilet was installed before 1992 it is most likely not a water efficient toilet. And, if it was installed before 1982 it could be using up to 4.375 times as much water as a modern toilet!

Under the federal Energy Policy Act, maximum flush volumes were mandated to drop to 1.6 gallons in 1992. If your home still features an old toilet, it is an inefficient model. Upgrading your fixtures can make a significant difference. Older high-volume toilets waste thousands of gallons of water annually, driving up utility bills. Current high-efficiency toilets can use even less than the federal mandate per flush, and many feature dual-flush options to save even more.

To find out how much water your toilet uses, first look for a stamp of the gallons per flush (gpf) typically located on the back inside wall of the tank, under the tank lid, or on the porcelain behind the seat. If there is no gpf rating on the toilet, manufacture date is the next best option. If you know when the toilet was manufactured, you can determine how much your toilet uses. Here are common flush volumes of toilets and the time periods they were manufactured:
• 5 to 7 gpf before 1982
• 3.5 gpf 1982 to 1992
• 1.6 gpf 1993 to present
• 1.28 gpf 2004 to present
• 1.1 gpf or less 2014 to present

If your toilet doesn’t have any of this information on it, it’s likely an older toilet. Consider the year your home or building was built or last had a major remodel. The toilet was likely manufactured around that time.

You can receive up to $150 from Utah Water Savers for replacing an old toilet with a new, WaterSense-labeled one. In the case that an old toilet can't be replaced soon, place a plastic soda bottle filled with gravel or sand in your toilet tank to reduce the amount used in each flush.

Graduation is an important milestone, but before teens step into adulthood, they need to understand one subject that wil...
05/27/2026

Graduation is an important milestone, but before teens step into adulthood, they need to understand one subject that will shape nearly every part of their future: money management.

Small financial lessons now can help young adults build confidence and avoid costly mistakes later. Knowing these skills will be invaluable to high school graduates:
• How to make a simple budget
• How to watch bank account balances
• How credit cards and interest work
• The difference between wants and needs
• Why saving early matters
• How to read a paycheck and understand taxes
• How to avoid debt and financial scams

Financial confidence starts at home. Involving teens in everyday financial decisions, such as grocery shopping, comparing prices, planning expenses, and savings goals, can help build important lifelong habits.

Download Teaching Children Money Management here: https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0k7MvbsVnnrc7Z4
Learn more through USU Extension Finance and Utah Money Matters:
https://extension.usu.edu/finance/

As summer is approaching, let USU Extension come to you, no matter where you live in Utah!For more than 100 years, Exten...
05/26/2026

As summer is approaching, let USU Extension come to you, no matter where you live in Utah!

For more than 100 years, Extension has connected Utah communities with research-based, unbiased information to help individuals, families, farms, businesses, and communities thrive. Whether it be gardening help, soil testing, youth programs, financial education, agriculture, nutrition, health, or community development, local Extension offices are staffed with local faculty and agents who understand the unique needs of their counties and communities.

USU Extension has offices in every county in Utah (except Daggett County, which is serviced through the Uintah County office). Offices are located in:
• Beaver County - Beaver
• Box Elder County - Brigham City
• Cache County - Logan
• Carbon County - Price
• Davis County - Kaysville
• Duchesne County - Duchesne
• Emery County - Castle Dale
• Garfield County - Panguitch
• Grand County - Moab
• Iron County - Cedar City
• Juab County - Nephi
• Kane County - Kanab
• Millard County - Delta
• Morgan County - Morgan
• Piute County - Junction
• Rich County - Randolph
• Salt Lake County - Salt Lake City
• San Juan County - Monticello
• Sanpete County - Manti
• Sevier County - Richfield
• Summit County - Coalville
• Tooele County - Tooele
• Uintah County - Vernal
• Utah County - Orem
• Wasatch County - Heber City
• Washington County - Hurricane
• Wayne County - Loa
• Weber County - Ogden

Founded in 1914 through the Smith-Lever Act, USU Extension continues Utah State University’s land-grant mission by bringing education, research, and public service directly to communities across the state.

Find your local office and learn more: https://extension.usu.edu/locations

Some of the best landscape plants thrive on neglect!These low-water favorites bring color, texture, and pollinator power...
05/18/2026

Some of the best landscape plants thrive on neglect!

These low-water favorites bring color, texture, and pollinator power to your yard without demanding constant watering or maintenance. From the purple blooms of Russian sage to the bright yellow flowers of desert marigold, water-wise plants can help create beautiful landscapes that use less water and still thrive in Utah’s climate.

Water-wise landscaping doesn’t have to mean boring landscaping. Choosing drought-tolerant plants can conserve water and keep your yard looking great all season long. And, you can submit your efforts to the Best Garden in Utah competition for a chance to win Best Native Plants Garden!

Did you know greenhouses conserve water? But they’re not the only option!A greenhouse can reduce water use by up to 50-9...
05/15/2026

Did you know greenhouses conserve water? But they’re not the only option!

A greenhouse can reduce water use by up to 50-90% compared to traditional outdoor growing by reducing evaporation and improving irrigation efficiency. But for many home gardeners, high tunnels and low tunnels may be a more practical (and affordable) way to save water while extending the growing season. Here’s the difference:

Greenhouse
• Permanent structure
• Uses active heating & cooling
• Higher cost
• Great for intensive growing

High tunnel
• Walk-in structure with no climate control
• Grown directly in the soil
• Moderate cost
• Can reduce irrigation needs by roughly 30-50%

Low tunnel
• Simple temporary cover over crops
• No climate control
• Low cost and beginner-friendly
• Can reduce irrigation needs by about 24-40%

These systems help conserve water by reducing evaporation from the soil and blocking drying winds. https://extension.usu.edu/agriculture-and-natural-resources/irrigation-high-tunnels

**One important note: tunnels and greenhouses are primarily tools for season extension not for growing through peak summer heat without management. Temperatures inside these structures can exceed 140°F during the day and damage plants if they aren’t ventilated properly.

To help manage summer heat, growers often replace plastic coverings with 30% shade cloth (reducing temperatures by 5-10°F). These practices can also help crops like tomatoes and peppers ripen earlier while reducing issues like sunscald and blossom end rot.

Pairing tunnels with drip irrigation and mulch can improve water savings even more.

05/14/2026

The benefits of gardening are very real.

Research continues to show that gardening is linked to lower stress, reduced anxiety and depression, improved physical health, greater life satisfaction, and even a stronger sense of community. One large meta-analysis reviewing dozens of studies found that a regular dose of gardening had significant positive effects on overall health and wellbeing.

Turns out fresh air, movement, sunshine, and growing your own food is actually very good for you!

Need help getting started or improving your garden this season? USU Extension has research-based gardening tips, guides, and resources to help. And, you can submit your efforts to the Best Garden in Utah competition for a chance to win.

Think you have one of Utah’s best gardens? Enter the Best Garden in Utah Competition from USU Extension for a chance to ...
05/13/2026

Think you have one of Utah’s best gardens? Enter the Best Garden in Utah Competition from USU Extension for a chance to win prizes and statewide recognition!

Gardeners can win in five categories:
• Best Flower Garden
• Best Vegetable Garden
• Best Native Plants Garden
• Best Container Garden
• Best Overall Garden

To enter, simply submit your garden during the contest window running May 1 to August 31, 2026. Gardens will be evaluated on visual appeal, creativity, plant health, sustainability, and productivity.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or trying your first raised bed, USU Extension has research-backed tips, guides, and resources to help your garden thrive all season long. From planting advice to watering tips and pest management, we’re here to help you grow your best garden yet!

Visit BestGarden.usu.edu for more information!

Groceries add up fast in the summer, but a garden can help stretch your budget while giving you fresh food right outside...
05/12/2026

Groceries add up fast in the summer, but a garden can help stretch your budget while giving you fresh food right outside your door.

A variety of vegetables and herbs give you a surprisingly big return for the space they take up. Herbs can cost several dollars for a small package at the store, but one plant can provide fresh flavor all season long. Tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and green beans are often high producers. Lettuce can be harvested again and again. Hot peppers keep producing after the first pick. Perennial crops like asparagus can come back year after year once established. Just a few plants can supply pounds of fresh produce over the summer.

Growing even a handful of these crops can help lower grocery bills and make summer meals a little fresher. No matter the size of the garden, it’s possible to grow food that saves money and tastes better too.

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4900 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT
84322

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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