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Fall color around Lake LaVerne on Iowa State University's Campus

Yard and Garden


Find current home gardening information about plant care, plant recommendations, growing & harvesting, pest management, and household pests written by Iowa State University Extension specialists in the Departments of Horticulture and Plant Pathology, Entomology & Microbiology. 


Timely Topics

little bluestem with fall color

Trending Topics

Keep up-to-date on gardening topics. 

Learn more about what is blooming around Iowa, what are some common gardening questions, frequent pests for the week, and timely tasks for the garden and landscape.

A person holding soil in one hand and a smart tablet in the other in a lawn.

How to Interpret Soil Test Results

After receiving the results from your soil test, it can be overwhelming to determine what to do next. Learn what all those numbers on that report mean and use pH, CEC, organic matter, and other test results to apply appropriate amounts of fertilizer and soil amendments.

Strawberry plant under straw mulch.

How to Overwinter Strawberries

It’s important to protect your strawberries over the winter to protect flower buds and plant crowns. Applying the mulch at the right time in November means you can get the most out of your harvest next spring. Read the full guide to learn how to protect your strawberry plants.

A person tending to a vegetable garden with text overlay "Iowa Donation Garden Network, a community for donation gardens across Iowa to connect and flourish.

Introducing the Iowa Donation Garden Network!

ISU Extension and Outreach is excited to announce the Iowa Donation Garden Network (IDGN), a new initiative that connects and supports donation gardens across the state.

A basket full of small, green striped squash.

Award-Winning Squash for Next Year's Garden

Discover three All-America Selections-winning squash varieties that are small, flavorful, and ideal for personal portions. Try one (or all) in your garden next season!

Green onions being grown in water in a glass jar.

How to Grow Vegetables from Kitchen Scraps: Avocados, Pineapples, Green Onions, and More!

Don’t toss veggie scraps—try regrowing them into plants! It’s a fun, kid-friendly way to connect with your food. Learn how to grow avocado, pineapple, lettuce, green onions, beet greens, ginger, and more on your windowsill from food scraps.

2026 Garden Calendar - A Bounty of Bulbs

Featured Publication

2026 Garden Calendar - A Bounty of Bulbs

Bulbs are nature’s hidden gems, quietly waiting beneath the soil for the perfect moment to burst into color. Celebrate these garden favorites each month in 2026. In addition to beautiful photos, the calendar features information about bulbs, monthly garden tips, and pages to help with garden journaling.  Order yours today!

Yard and Garden Press Releases

Fall Composting Tips for Gardeners

Gardeners are encouraged to compost leaves this fall to improve soil health. With plenty of leaves, grass clippings and garden debris available, residents can create compost piles that benefit the environment, recycle yard waste and nourish their gardens, according to Aaron Steil, consumer horticulture specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Iowa Total Care Launch Garden Network Initiative

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in collaboration with Iowa Total Care, a provider of Medicaid healthcare coverage in Iowa and a Centene Corporation (NYSE: CNC) company, is launching a statewide initiative to support community gardens that donate fresh produce. The Iowa Donation Garden Network is designed to connect and empower garden organizers through expert-led education, shared resources and collaborative programming.

Growers Invited to 2025 High Tunnel Short Course in Madrid

The Iowa State University Commercial Horticulture program will hold the 2025 High Tunnel Short Course at the Iowa Arboretum in Madrid, Iowa, on Nov. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 pm. Commercial growers, as well as those interested in high tunnel production for fruit and vegetable crops, are invited to learn, connect and explore the arboretum.  
Garden Variety Podcast

Garden Variety Podcast

Whether you're a master gardener, just getting started or somewhere in between — there's always something new to learn in your garden.