Recent News

Rainfall amounts this spring have been below normal in most areas of Iowa. If the dry conditions persist, the yields of strawberries and raspberries could be reduced.

The perennial garden is a continuous source of tinkering. Gardeners will move plants from one area to another, replace those plants that didn't perform up to expectations, and thin those whose performance was more than ever dreamed possible.

The heavy rainfall in 1993 has taken a heavy toll on cherry trees in Iowa. Last year's frequent rains kept the soil saturated through much of the growing season and deprived the roots of the cherry trees of oxygen.

The combination of weather we experienced last summer, fall and winter has put us in a position this spring to witness emergence of unbelievable numbers of pine bark adelgids (also known as pine bark aphids).

All trees and shrubs produce flowers. The flowers of many trees and shrubs are small and inconspicuous. Maples, oaks, and pines, for example, do flower, but they usually go unnoticed by most individuals.

This is the time to begin watching for yellowjackets, hornets and paper wasps that might be nesting in your landscape or on your house.

An interesting behavior of several unrelated bees is to live underground in burrows and tunnels. Some of these, such as bumble bees, nest in pre-existing cavities made by rodents or small mammals.

Color in the home landscape during the summer months is usually supplied by perennials and annuals. However, gardeners can add color to the green landscape by planting yellow- or gold-leaved shrubs.

Not all browning and loss of conifer needles is caused by infectious diseases.

Eastern Tent Caterpillar.

Clover mites, those tiny, reddish brown specks that crawl across house siding, window sills, walls and counter tops, are again causing annoyance and frustration to Iowans.

Midges are found almost everywhere and often occur in huge swarms. It is the large numbers that suddenly appear around the house or landscape that attract attention.

Many gardeners spend considerable time and money to produce a healthy, attractive lawn. Fertilizers are applied to promote root and shoot growth and produce a dark green lawn.

If seeing is believing, then many people must believe that topping trees is an acceptable pruning practice. Even though most tree care professionals disapprove of topping, it seems to be increasing at an alarming rate.

President Clinton has signed a bill to delay the implementation of the general requirements of the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) from April 15, 1994 to January 1, 1995.

Lettuce offers 4 main types from which to choose; crisphead, butterhead, romaine, and leaf. Numerous varieties of each type are available. The type of lettuce you choose to grow depends upon your growing season as well as your taste preferences.

One of the most recognizable household pests is the larder beetle. Both the adults and larvae have characteristic features that readily distinguish them from other insects.

Several species of scale insects, mealybugs and whiteflies are commonly found on plants in the home or greenhouse. All are sap-feeding insects that can weaken plants and cause poor, stunted growth.

Ants: Wings of different sizes; antennae "elbowed"; pinched "waist."Termites: wings of equal size; antennae straight; no pinched "waist."

This article originally appeared in the March 30, 1994 issue, p. 38.

Now is the time when samples of carpet beetle adults and larvae become more numerous. The following drawings, reprinted from last years newsletter, should help with identification.