Recent News

New fungicide use encyclopedia article

Just about everyone who has experience gardening or taking care of landscape plants has thought about the need for a fungicide. It can be confusing and overwhelming to figure out what type to use when to use and how they should be applied.

Invasive plants FAQ

The USDA Forest Service defines an invasive plant as a “non-native plant to the ecosystem under consideration whose introduction causes or is likely to cause harm to the economy, environment, or human health."

Growing Philodendrons

Upcoming horticulture conferences and webinars, 2022

Upcoming conferences and meeting for gardeners and producers to learn new tools, tips, and techniques. 

Master Gardener Winter Webinar Series Continues in December

Managing those fallen leaves

Adopt a Bat for Halloween

Bats are important to our landscapes and natural areas.  They serve as pollinators for certain plants and control insect pests. 

Cool Season Annuals

Planting Spring-Blooming Bulbs

Growing Herbs in the Home Garden

Fall Armyworms - The Surprise of 2021

Fall armyworm moths blew into Iowa in late August and caused an unprecedented situation of egg masses on structures, vehicles, and trees.  Monitor turgrass for damage like happened in the eastern one-third of the U.S. earlier this summer.

September Lawn Care

Mushrooms In the Landscape

Controlling Weeds in the Landscape

Oak Wilt or Bot Twig Canker?

A year after the derecho, we lost so many beautiful trees while others lost limbs. We always remind oak lovers to avoid unnecessary pruning from April to July to minimize the risk of Oak wilt transmission. We had questions at the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic from oak caretakers wondering if their derecho injured trees may be infected with oak wilt after the derecho.

How Many Japanese Beetles Will You See This Year?

Emergence of Japanese beetle adults is underway and reports, so far, are fewer beetles than usual.

Iron Chlorosis in Pin Oak and River Birch

Yellow leaves in summer could indicate plant problems.  Yellow leaves on specific plants such as Pin Oak and River Birch could be signs of underlying nutrient issues like iron chlorosis.

New Field Specialist Ready to Help

Iowa State Extension and Outreach recently welcomed a new field specialist focusing on commercial vegetable and specialty crops.

Where Are the Lightningbugs?

Drought and dry weather may be interfering with the development and survival of lightningbugs, also known as fireflies.

So Many Cankerworm Caterpillars

"Cankerworm Curtain" is a term used to describe what happens when thousands or tens-of-thousands of spring cankerworm caterpillars hang from trees on silk strands.