Julie Weisenhorn

closeup of Julie Weisenhorn smiling against a dark background
Associate Extension Professor and Extension Educator, Horticulture
[email protected]
9522396608
158 Alderman

1970 Folwell Ave.
Saint Paul, MN 55108
United States

Extension Yard and Garden
Plant Elements of Design plant selection program
Extension Yard and Garden News
Education
  • M.Ag. University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, Horticulture, 2002. Project title: Development of the Sustainable Herbaceous Plant Maintenance Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series
  • M.A. University of Minnesota–Twin Cities, Visual Communication, 1990. Project title: Designing Corporate Newsletters
  • B.A. Gustavus Adolphus College, Communications / Spanish, 1985
External Affiliations

Member / Vice chair, Noxious Weed Advisory Committee. Minnesota Department of Agriculture. 2019 - 2023;

Member, Noxious Weed Listing subcommittee.

Member, Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA). 2006 – MNLA Education and Certification Committee 2018 -

Member, American Orchid Society. 2018 –

Member, Minnesota Association of Extension Agricultural Professionals (MAEAP). 2014 –

National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA). 2014 –

Member, American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS). 2014 –

Member, American Horticultural Society (AHS). 2004 –

Extension Master Gardener. 1996 – 2008

Member, Minnesota State Horticultural Society. 1996 –

Areas of Interest

Landscape design, plant selection, Home horticulture; Invasive species

Biography

Minnesota-born Julie Weisenhorn holds master’s degrees in visual communication and horticulture from the University of Minnesota where she taught landscape design and served as state director of the Extension Master Gardener Program. As an Extension horticulturist, Weisenhorn has statewide responsibility for horticulture teaching, research, and outreach with special focus on plant selection and sustainable residential landscape design. Recent research included Flowers for Pollinators study on annual flowers and Pollinators for food studying annual flowers and pollination of bell peppers. Weisenhorn coordinates and regularly appears on the popular WCCO Radio Smart Gardens show (Saturdays, 8-9 am, AM 830), and released the second version of the Plant Elements of Design plant selection database. She also serves on the MN Department of Agriculture Noxious Weed Advisory Committee and the MN Nursery and Landscape Association Education and Certification Committee. In her own words, “This is the best job I have ever had.”

Teaching

Credited courses:
HORT 1003 Horticulture for the Home Gardener 2008 - 2013
HORT 4021 Landscape Design, Implementation and Management 2002 - 2007
HORT 4022 Applications in Computer-Aided Design for Landscapes 2005 - 2007
HORT 5018 Landscape Design & Implementation II 2002 - 2003
HORT 5021 Landscape Design, Implementation and Management 2002 - 2007

Certification teaching:
Extension Master Gardener Core Course. Instructor, author. Certification. Herbaceous Plants, Trees, and Shrubs, Indoor Plants. 2008 -
Licensed Pesticide Applicator Training. Instructor, author. Certification. "Landscaping for Pollinators"; "Invasive Terrestrial Plants and Noxious Weeds of Minnesota"; "Mistaken Identity – Nuisance Plants and their Noxious Weed Look-alikes". 2014 -
Master Gardener Advanced Education. Certification. Flowers for Pollinators; Good Questions, Good Answer; Water Wisely

Workshops:
Landscape Design Basics Workshop. Instructor, co-author. Non-credit. 2004 -
Residential Design & Plant Selection for Master Gardener Twin City Habitat for Humanity volunteers. Twin City Habitat for Humanity, St. Paul, MN. 2017, 2018.

Research

Plant selection for Upper Midwest landscapes
Sustainable landscape design and implementation
Flowers for Pollinators
Technology for landscape design, plant selection, and education
Best landscape management practices
Home horticulture

Select Publications

Extension Yard & Garden News blog. Various. https://blog-yard-garden-news.extension.umn.edu/; Johnson, G. and Weisenhorn, J. Select Trees and Shrubs for Minnesota. 2019. https://extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/trees-and-shrubs-minnesota/; Weisenhorn, J. Annual Flowers that Attract Pollinators. 2019 https://extension.umn.edu/flowers-pollinators/annual-flowers-pollinators;
Weisenhorn, J. Growing Lilacs for Minnesota Landscapes. 2019. https://extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/lilacs; Weisenhorn, J. How Much Light do Houseplants need? 2019. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/light-requirements...; Hahn, J. and Weisenhorn, J. Japanese Beetles in Yards and Gardens. 2019. https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/japanese-beetles; Weisenhorn, J. Geraniums. 2018. https://extension.umn.edu/flowers/growing-geraniums-annual-flowers-minne...; Weisenhorn, J. Growing bulbs indoors. 2018. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/growing-bulbs-indoors; Davenport-Hagen, L.; Weisenhorn, J.; Meyer, M. H. Applied Research Engages Extension Master Gardener Volunteers. Journal of Extension August 2018 https://www.joe.org/joe/2018august/iw5.php; Dorn, S.; Bradley, L.; Hamrick, D.; Weisenhorn, J.; Bennett, P.; Callabro, J.; Behe, B.; Bauske, E.; Bumgarner, N. The National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture: Focusing on the Critical Role of Communication and Collaboration to Further Research, Extension, and Industry Goals. HortTechnology http://horttech.ashspublications.org/content/28/4/414.abstract; Weisenhorn, J. Poinsettias. 2018. https://extension.umn.edu/house-plants/poinsettia; Meyer, M., and Weisenhorn, J. Growing and caring for Amaryllis. 2017. https://extension.umn.edu/house-plants/amaryllis;
Weisenhorn, J. African violets. 2017. https://extension.umn.edu/house-plants/african-violets; Weisenhorn, J., Hagen, L., Meyer, M., Su, X. “Biochar as a Soil Amendment in Extension Demonstration Vegetable Gardens” https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/189778; Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series, 2002 - present; Author, Plant Elements of Design plant selection software program, v.2.0, 2006 – present; Minnesota Gardening Calendar. Contributor, editor. 2008 - 2017; Editor, course manual, HORT 1003 Master Gardener Core Course / Horticulture for the Home Garden, 2008 - 2014

Honors and Awards

CFANS Star Academic Professional Award for stellar performance in research, teaching, outreach. 2007.
CFANS Merit Award for stellar performance in research, teaching, outreach. 2006.
CFANS Merit Award for stellar performance in research, teaching, outreach. 2005.

Outreach

 

WCCO Smart Garden radio show. Weekly, 2013 - present Survey: How pollinator-friendly is your landscape? August 2017 – 2019 and follow up survey December 2018 Garden Time: Lake Minnetonka Shores Senior Living Community, Spring Park, MN. 2017 - Gopher Adventures Youth Gardening Daycamp Selected classes for the gardening public: Houseplant Patrol: Basic care, problem-solving and resources Plant Selection: Right Plant, Right Place - Right Purpose! Flowers for Pollinators: Do annual flowers attract insect pollinators? Renovation of a Home Landscape Solving Landscape Problems: 3 Case Studies Edible Landscaping: Blending beauty with bounty Xeriscaping and Plants for Dry Conditions Plant Selection for a Changing Climate Planning for a Sustainable Yard and Garden: An Introduction Landscaping for Pollinators