Yard & Garden/Horticulture

Local Highlights

April 24, 2013

Proper mowing practices play a vital role in helping to maintain a healthy, sustainable home lawn. Lawn mowing is only one question horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach answer about lawn care and how to have a lawn with the desired characteristics. Homeowners and gardeners with lawn questions should contact horticulturists at Hortline by emailing hortline@iastate.edu or calling 515-294-3108 .

garden transplants
April 24, 2013

Some vegetables are planted in the garden using small plants (transplants) rather than seeds. This is standard practice with warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant and is becoming the practice with cucumbers, squash, cantaloupes and watermelons because transplants shorten the time by several weeks between planting and harvest.

planting tree
April 24, 2013

The importance of planning when selecting trees is explained in Guidelines for Selecting Trees (RG 702), an Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publication.  Iowans must consider multiple things when selecting trees for a site.

March 11, 2013

The Keokuk Master Gardeners have published a Wild Flower book. There are 28 wild flowers in this book, with descriptions of the flowers, where to find them and when they will bloom. This book is a way to get youth interested in outdoor activities, horticulture and wild flowers. There is a scavenger hunt with scoring for finding the flowers in the book. 

Agriculture and Natural Resources has to many resources to help Iowans. Get a list of them all here.

Statewide Resources

  • Let us "feed" your appetite for gardening information with a wide menu of gardening entrees.

  • Helping support the state’s evolving grape and wine industry, because the potential economic opportunities in wineries, value-added agriculture and tourism are limitless.

  • Images and information on a wide range of common pest and non-pest insects encountered in the home, yard and garden.

  • Information on Pesticide Applicator Training, Integrated Pest Management, and related environmental programs.

  • Convenient access to horticulture publications, programs and people.

  • Master Gardeners are individuals who have an interest in horticulture, have taken the Master Gardener training offered by Iowa State University Extension, and share their time and expertise with other gardeners.

  •  Information on lawn, garden, and landscape plant questions is available from ISU Extension staff.

  • Horticulture & Home Pest News is filled with articles on current horticulture, plant care, pest management, and common household pests written by Iowa State University Extension specialists.

  • Production and business management information for commercial producers on wide variety of fruits and vegetables.

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