Home

coneflowers blooming in front of Iowa State University's Memorial Union

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

red bee balm flowers

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.

Apple leaves with orange rust spots.

Deja vu? Prepare for plant diseases after plentiful spring rains.

Learn about some of the typical plant diseases in the garden and landscapewe should keep an eye out for and how to manage them.

Roundup products on a store shelf.

Roundup: It's Not What it Used to Be!

Glyphosate, once synonymous with Roundup®, is now less available. New Roundup formulas differ in active ingredients and intended use, requiring careful label reading for safe and proper application.

Different types of hostas in a shade garden.

All About Hostas

Hostas are hardy shade perennials with colorful foliage and summer blooms. Versatile and low-maintenance, they thrive in gardens with minimal effort. Learn more about these quintessential shade plants.

Limp, blackened leaves on an established maple tree.

Strong Winds and Tender Leaves... an Unfortunate Combination of Events

Strong winds are the most likely culprit of limp, desiccated tree leaves this year. The good news is that healthy trees will be fine in the long run.

Herbicide drift injury on tomato. Photo by Jenny Pollard

Herbicide Injury to Garden Plants

This time of year we often see damage from herbicide drift.  Learn how to identify the damage and what to do if you find it in your garden.

Growing Garden Lilies

Featured Publication

Growing Garden Lilies

Learn more about several different varieties of true lilies. Also, in addition to being outstanding garden performers, lilies make excellent cut flowers with a long vase life.

Yard and Garden News

Agrivoltaics in Action: Open Houses at the Alliant Energy Solar Farm at Iowa State University

Iowa State University is holding a series of open house events at the Alliant Energy Solar Farm near Ames. Participants will have the opportunity to tour the farm and learn about agrivoltaics — the integration of solar energy and agriculture.

Improve Vegetable System Weed Management with Tarping

A new resource from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach outlines how to use tarps for weed management in vegetable growing.

New Urban Agriculture Field Days Connect Farms to Communities

The Urban Agriculture team with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering four Urban Agriculture Field Days in 2025, partnering with area urban farms. Local community members and those interested in urban agriculture are invited to attend.

Iowa Gardening Newsletter

Get the most current home gardening information right to your inbox!  

Iowa Gardening News provides timely information and reminders all year from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.

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.