Recent News

Mowing Tips for Spring

One of the hallmarks of spring in Iowa is the greening up of the lawn.  There are several things we think about for the lawn this time of year and top of the list is mowing.  Below are some resources and advice on mowing this spring.

April 2024 AAS Winners to Grow in Your Home Garden

Highlights include Pisum sativum ‘Snak Hero’, Lactuca sativa ‘Bauer’, and Brassica oleracea ‘Prizm’.

Early Season Wasp Management

With warming weather, many insects are beginning to emerge from winter dormancy. When attempting to manage paper wasps in homes and other human spaces, we often start to think about managing them when populations are already annoyingly high and when management is more challenging. The earlier we think about managing paper wasps, the more likely we are to remove issues with minimal effort.

AAS Winners Featuring Vegetables For Your Home Garden

All-America Selections features Solanum tuberosum ‘Clancy’, Zea mays ‘American Dream’, Brassica oleracea ‘Katarina’, and Solanum lycopersicum ‘Galahad F1’.

Reminder to start thinking about winter fruit pruning!

February is (unofficially) pruning month in Iowa. Time to start watching the weather and picking good days to clean up any fruit bearing woody perennials.

Plan now, save later: Proactive plant disease management

With warm temperatures this week, Iowans are doubtless getting antsy for spring, as spring means time for gardening! In addition to planning your annual garden around flavorful vegetables, sweet fruits, and pretty flowers, you may also want to consider how these choices will affect the long-term health of your plants.

Fungus Gnats in Houseplants

Do you ever notice the occasional small fly in the sink, or sometimes on the lighted screen of a laptop in the evening? Possibly a few dead flies on the windowsill?  There are several species of flies that breed in homes, but one of the most common are fungus gnats. 

AAS Winners are Great Tomatos to Grow in Your Home Garden

Explore All-America Selections top tomatoes like 'Chef’s Choice Red', 'Midnight Snack', and 'Patio Choice Yellow F1'. 

Be Sure to Check Your Houseplants

Make sure to check your houseplants for any signs of an insect pest infestation! See this article for a few different things to look for on your houseplants. 

Mushroom, Morels, and Other Edible Fungi- Upcoming 2023 Workshops

Learn more about edible mushrooms at the 2023 Wild-Harvested Mushroom Certification workshops! These workshops are held to provide certification opportunities to individuals who wish to legally sell any of eight different types of wild-harvested mushrooms. The workshops are open to anyone interested in increasing their confidence and knowledge on safely foraging eight different types of mushrooms and distinguishing them from dangerous look-alikes. Dates are March 25 and April 15.

January 2023 AAS Winners to Grow in Your Home Garden

All-America Selections feature Coleus scuterllarioides ‘Premium Sun Coral Candy’, Colocasia esculenta ‘ROYAL HAWAIIANⓇ Waikiki’:, and Solanum lycopersicum ‘Zenzei.

Keeping Insects Out of Your Home in the Winter

If you’re not a fan of insects and their relatives, colder months can bring a bit of relief from unwanted outdoor encounters. But colder months don’t mean they won’t be present in our spaces. As temperatures cool in the fall and winter, insects, spiders, and other arthropods can seek refuge inside human structures to find warmth and shelter. See this article on how to manage insects in your home in the winter.

A New Feature is Now Available on Horticulture and Home Pest News

Care and How-To articles are now easily found on the website.  Click on "Care and How-To" in the menu bar at the top of the homepage to browse dozens of comprehensive and up-to-date articles on a wide variety of topics, with new articles being added every week!

December 2022 AAS Plants to Grow in Your Home Garden

All-America Selections features Jalapeno 'San Joaquin', Snapdragon DoubleShot™ Orange Bicolor F1, and Kabocha squash ‘Sweet Jade’.

2023 Home Gardening Webinar from the Master Gardener Program

2023 Winter Master Gardener Training Offered Winter and Fall

New Diagnostician Staff at the ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic

The ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic (PIDC) welcomes two new diagnostician staff.

November 2022 AAS Winners For Your Home Garden

All-America Selections is featuring Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima) ‘Blue Prince’, Tagetes erecta ‘Big Duck Gold’, and Pak Choi (Brassica rapa) ‘Asian Delight’.

AAS Winners are Great New Plants to Grow in Your Garden

Getting Ahead with Fall Strawberries