Yard and Garden Information

Local News

Inside Grundy County
(Posted on 9/23/2009)
Previous "Inside Grundy County" columns by Bill Arndorfer, former Grundy County Extension Education Director.

News from Iowa State University Extension

Ask the ISU Extension Garden Experts: Perennials, Amaryllis Bulbs, African Violets and Fertilizer
(Posted on 11/4/2009)
This week's answers discuss which perennials will not last forever in your landscape, how to have amaryllis blooms at Christmas, light needed by African violets, and how to store unused fertilizer.

November Garden Chores
(Posted on 11/2/2009)
Now is the time to prepare your roses and strawberries to withstand the trials of winter.You also can do cleanup in your vegetable garden to prevent disease carryover, and protect your trees and shrubs from rabbit damage.

Ask the ISU Extension Garden Experts: Vegetables, Acorns, Water Lilies
(Posted on 10/29/2009)
This week’s answers discuss how to prepare your vegetable garden to minimize disease problems next year, damage from acorn weevil larvae, and what to do with your tropical water lilies this fall.

Yellowjacket Wasps Look for Sweet Things to Eat in the Fall
(Posted on 10/26/2009)
Winter weather will put an end to invasions from yellowjacket wasps, but they can be annoying at this time of year.

Ask the ISU Garden Experts: Twig Beetles, Hostas and Magnolias
(Posted on 10/21/2009)
This week's answers discuss why leafy twigs may be falling from oak trees, whether hostas need winter protection, and how to germinate seeds from a saucer magnolia.

Grow Green Know How and When
(Posted on 10/19/2009)
Show a “green” attitude with a 2010 Garden Calendar from Iowa State University Extension – seasonal task prompts and earth-friendly gardening tips with space for your garden diary; printed on recycled paper using soy ink.

Growing Garlic
(Posted on 10/19/2009)
Pumpkins are not the only plants associated with Halloween. Fall is a great time to plant garlic in Iowa -- to keep vampires away and for use later in a wide variety of good-tasting recipes.

Ask the ISU Extension Garden Experts: Fish, Lichens and Compost
(Posted on 10/15/2009)
This week's answers discuss what to do with the fish in your garden pond over the winter, lichens that grow on tree bark and how to avoid odor issues with compost piles.

Prepare Your Plants for Winter
(Posted on 10/12/2009)
Help your plants "harden off" and clean up the sources of disease in your yard to minimize your problems next spring.

Ask the ISU Extension Garden Experts: Beetles, Deer Damage and African Violets
(Posted on 10/8/2009)
This week's answers discuss lady beetles in your home, deer damage to your trees and how to improve the blooming of your African violets.