Recent News

The following are highlights and updates about sample submissions from fruit, vegetables, and ornamentals, and questions recently received in the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic.

During mid-April, our Diagnostician Lina was interviewed by a young gentleman for his school project.

Plant Sales!

We are happy to announce we are fully functional in our new location. We have settled into our beautiful new clinic and are open for business again. See more photos in this Facebook post.

The following are highlights and updates about samples and questions recently received in the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic. Visit the PIDC's Facebook page for updates and more pictures.

The Worker Protection Standard (WPS) is a federal regulation issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and enforced, in Iowa, by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS).

There are 57 species of wild mammals routinely found in Iowa.  Learn more about their identification and habits in the new ISU Extension and Outreach publication titled “Mammals of Iowa” that can be downloaded for free at the Extension S

Plant Sales!

As you read this the specialists and staff in the ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic are packing their microscopes, reference books, Sharpie markers and assorted diagnostic supplies for the grand move to their new location.

Finally.

The following are highlights and updates about samples and questions recently received in the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic. Visit the PIDC's Facebook page for updates and more pictures.

Asparagus should be well established after planting before any spears are harvested.  Do not harvest asparagus for the first two years after planting.  In the third and following years, asparagus can be harvested until early to mid-June

We all love our trees; they provide us so many many benefits; increased air quality, increased property value, reduced utility costs, shade, habitat for birds and wildlife, and beauty.

Stem or leaf cuttings, slips, and air layering are ways for growing a new houseplant from an existing one.  Getting a new houseplant identical to your old houseplant is usually an easy procedure but there are details that must be carefully fo

The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys is becoming more well-known as it appears in more and more counties around the state and in more and more homes in the counties where it was previously reported. 

Late winter to early spring is the time to remove weak, diseased and damaged canes from raspberries to improve crop conditions and yield.  However, there is a trick to pruning raspberries depending on which type of raspberry you have (summer-

Growing healthier, happier and more equitable communities is at the heart of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Master Gardener program.

The PIDC staff processed a total of 2581 samples in 2017. The bulk of our samples originate in the state of Iowa (2556), while 29 samples (~1%) originated from other states in the US, mainly from the Midwest.

We are moving!  The PIDC will move to the newly built Advanced Research and Teaching Building (ATRB) here on campus in March, 2018.

Master Gardener Winter Webcasts