Recent News

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 Winter Master Gardener Training Offered Winter and Fall

2023 Home Gardening Webinar from the Master Gardener Program

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’.

New Diagnostician Staff at the ISU Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic

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

AAS Winners are Great New Plants to Grow in Your Garden

Getting Ahead with Fall Strawberries

Iowa State Fair Weed Identification Contest

Test your weed ID skills at the Iowa State Fair on August 12, 2022!

Updated Emerald Ash Borer Information

Emerald ash borer is now in all but 7 of Iowa’s 99 counties.  As it spreads across Iowa, the impact is felt differently depending on if your community has just been reported infested or has been infested for many years. 

Japanese Beetles are Back in Full Force

Japanese beetles are back in full force, and will be here for a while longer. Read for more information about Japanese beetles and management options.

Walnut Trees Wrapped with Webbing

We have received few (very few) reports of a peculiar phenomenon involving woodland walnut trees in Iowa.  In each case, the walnut tree leaves are gone, and the tree trunks are shrouded with fine webbing.

Pollinator Week is June 20-26, 2022

Summer Pruning Tips for Raspberries, Blackberries, and Brambles

Is My Tree Sick?

At the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic, we often receive questions from tree enthusiasts: Is my tree sick?

End of an Era in Three Voices

Donald Lewis retires after 45 years as ISU Extension Entomologist.