Recent News

Oak leaf samples have been arriving in the Plant Disease Clinic showing symptoms of tatters. Tatters on hackberry has also been observed. Counties reporting tatters include Allamakee, Benton, Dubuque, Grundy, Johnson, Muscatine, and Poweshiek.

During the past several years, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been phasing out Toxic Cleanup Days in favor of Regional Collection Centers.

An article published by Reuters Health (April 21, 2000) states that Internet sites are peddling lousy lice treatment information.

Clover mites are very tiny arachnids that live and reproduce outdoors, but are frequently encountered as a household pest during the springtime when they migrate onto and into dwellings by mistake.

When selecting shrubs for the landscape, many gardeners choose familiar plants, such as lilacs, dogwoods, spireas, and potentillas. However, there are a number of little known shrubs that are wonderful additions to the home landscape.

Rhododendrons and azaleas are spectacular flowering shrubs. Unfortunately, most rhododendrons and azaleas (there are over 900 species and innumerable varieties) cannot be successfully grown in Iowa because of a lack of cold hardiness.

When selecting plants for home landscapes, gardeners often choose trees and shrubs because of their ornamental characteristics. For many individuals, another important criterion is their ability to provide food for birds.

Upcoming state horticultural meetings of possible interest to Horticulture and Home Pest News readers are listed below. For additional information, contact the individual listed for each meeting.

Commercial growers and home gardeners are welcome to attend workshops on pruning and training fruit trees that will be held across the state in March and April. The workshops will cover pruning and training goals, equipment, and techniques.

Upcoming state horticultural meetings of possible interest to HHPN readers are listed below. For additional information, contact the individual listed for each meeting.

Americans love awards! Various organizations and businesses bestow awards on cars, trucks, music, movies, and books. Of course, the awards of most interest to gardeners are those given to plants.

Upcoming state horticultural meetings of possible interest to HHPN readers are listed below. For additional information, contact the individual listed for each meeting.

Upcoming Continuing Instructional Courses (CIC) for Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicators: November 16, 1999 Ornamental and Turfgrass At participating Extension Offices November 16, 1999 Mosquito/Public Health Scheman Building, ISU Ames, Iowa

Coniferous trees such as pines, spruces, firs, and cedars normally shed needles in the fall. The older, inner needles turn yellow then straw-colored to brown and drop from the tree.

Geraniums are popular bedding plants, blooming from May through frost. However, the first hard frost doesn't have to be the end of your geraniums.

Listed below are meetings which may be of interest to our readers. These courses offer Commercial Pesticide applicators the opportunity to fulfill their Continuing Instruction requirements for 1999.

It is once again the time when insects inadvertently enter homes and buildings from the surrounding landscape.

Wet, marshy land is not terribly hard to find in Iowa. Most are easily announced by their tall, gracefully swaying cattails.

Infection by the cherry leaf spot fungus causes small purple leaf spots (up to 3mm) that eventually turn brown. These spots sometimes drop out, causing a shot hole appearance. Affected leaves turn bright yellow and drop prematurely.

Potted plants propagated as stem cuttings such as impatiens, geraniums, and poinsettia are more susceptible to Rhizoctonia crown and cutting rot. The problem begins right after plants are transplanted in the landscape.