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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. 


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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.

Planting onion sets.

All About Onions

Spring is the time for planting onions, and a little information and planning early in the season can pay off at harvest. Learn the basics of growing onions in home gardens, from choosing the right types to planting, care, and harvesting tips. If onions are on your spring planting list or already in the ground, this is a helpful guide to get them started right.

Spent tulips.

Care of Spring-Flowering Bulbs After Bloom

Spring bulbs are beautiful in spring, but the work is not quite done once the flowers fade. If you have ever wondered whether to cut back leaves, remove spent blooms, or just leave things alone, this article walks you through what really matters after bloom. A little attention now can make a noticeable difference in how your bulbs look next spring.

Patchy lawn.

Bumpy, Rough Lawns

As spring arrives and lawns start greening up, uneven and bumpy turf often becomes harder to ignore. This article explains why lawns develop rough surfaces over time, whether spring is the right time to address them, and which actions actually help and which can make problems worse.

Chlorotic strawberry leaves.

Identifying Plant Nutrient Deficiencies

As plants start growing this spring, yellowing leaves or poor growth can raise questions. Use this interactive key to help you identify common nutrient deficiency symptoms and understand what your plants may be lacking before problems get worse. Knowing how to spot these issues early can help you make better decisions as the growing season gets underway.

The Six-Legged Narrative podcast logo.

Insects Are Making Global News Every Day. Are You Following It?

Hedges provide privacy, define spaces, block wind and views, and support wildlife, with options ranging from formal to informal plantings. Learn about recommended plants for hedgesand how to plant, prune, and care for them.

Growing Garden Peonies

Featured Publication

Growing Garden Peonies

Learn how to plant, grow, and care for garden peonies, including guidance on site selection, planting depth, division, fertilizing, watering, and seasonal maintenance. Additionally, information on different peony types, expectations for flowering timelines, and common reasons peonies fail to bloom is available.

Yard and Garden Press Releases

A Sure Sign of Spring: Growing and Caring for Daffodils in Iowa

Few plants announce the arrival of spring in Iowa as reliably as daffodils. These hardy bulbs in the genus Narcissus light up landscapes with cheerful blooms and return year after year with little maintenance, making them a favorite among home gardeners.

Join Monthly Garden Q&A Live This Spring from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

As lawns green up and gardens come to life across Iowa, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach invites gardeners to take advantage of Garden Q&A Live, a monthly interactive program designed to provide timely help throughout the growing season.

New Statewide Initiative Advances Value-Added Fruit and Vegetable Processing

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is leading a statewide initiative that brings innovative, mobile processing equipment and hands-on education to communities across Iowa. The newly developed Crop Cart is designed to support farmers’ and small businesses’ efforts to create new value-added products, offer opportunities for event and educational taste-testing and strengthen Iowa’s food system.
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.