If your Viburnum has angular shaped, water soaked, diseased areas on its leaves, the plant may have bacterial leaf spot, also known as bacterial blight. This disease is caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. viburnum.
One of the most unusual insects found this summer has been the robber fly. Adult robber flies are noted for their voracious attacks on other insects, including wasps and bees. This behavior has earned them the name bee catchers.
Everyone loves a beautiful bouquet on the dining table. Bouquets made from plants in our gardens are twice as nice. However, we often wish it would last longer. Make your wish a reality by picking and preparing the flowers properly.
The 2003 growing season is wonderful for gardening, in part because ISU is celebrating 100 years of ISU Extension at the Home Demonstrations Gardens statewide.
A Chinese rodenticide or rat poison containing tetramethylenedisulfotetramine, also known as TETS, has been illegally imported into the United States. TETS is an odorless, tasteless white powder that is a highly lethal neurotoxin.
Drying or preserving flowers is a popular gardening activity. Dried materials are long-lasting and can be used to add warmth and color to the home during the cold, gray winter months.
The wet spring conditions this year have favored the development of anthracnose on shade trees. Symptoms of anthracnose have been observed on white oak, ash, sycamore, and maple.
Trees and shrubs are vital components of the home landscape. Most woody plants are clearly either trees or shrubs. However, several plants (because of their intermediate size) can be utilized as large shrubs or small trees.
The most common canker disease observed in the Iowa State University Plant Disease Clinic is Cytospora canker on blue spruce. Cytospora canker is observed most often on older trees, especially those that are planted in poor sites.
Red, white, and blue are popular colors this year. But flying the American flag is not the only way to introduce red, white, and blue into the landscape. Why not have these colors growing in beds, borders, and containers as well?
The Asian lady beetle and cluster flies (also called attic flies) are two insect species that Iowans have been finding inside their homes in the past few weeks. Actually, these insects have been inside your home all winter.
Medium-size, deciduous shrubs (those that grow 4 to 8 feet tall) are important components of the home landscape. Some can be used in hedges, screens, or naturalized areas. Others are excellent accent plants in the landscape.
