Winnebago County Extension outlines climate-resilient landscaping strategies for Oshkosh area

K. Lusa, an extension educator with Winnebago County Extension, presented about 30 minutes of data and practical guidance on landscaping to adapt to climate change in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Lusa said rising carbon dioxide and changing weather patterns have already altered growing conditions in the region and recommended local strategies—mulches, drip irrigation, native plantings, rain gardens and careful tree selection—to reduce damage from both intense rainfall and drought.

The talk summarized state and federal climate data and translated it into actions homeowners, gardeners and municipal landscapers can take. Lusa cited the state climatology office and national sources, and noted that preindustrial atmospheric carbon dioxide measured about 280 parts per million and has risen to roughly 420 ppm today. "Climate change isn't a hoax. It really costs money and really hurts us," Lusa said, noting billions of dollars in weather-related damages in recent years.

Why it matters: Lusa said average temperatures in Wisconsin have risen about 3 degrees since 1950, with the last two decades the warmest on record, and statewide precipitation up about 20…