Yard and Garden Information

Local News

Christmas Trees:
(Posted on 11/17/2009)
For many families, picking out their traditional REAL Christmas Tree at an Iowa choose and harvest farm, has become an annual event. Getting the family together revolves around warm peaceful traditions that sometimes date back generations.

Bagworm
(Posted on 11/17/2009)
The bagworm is an occasional pest on evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs in southern Iowa. We have a packet prepared in our office that can be picked up and help you in addressing your concerns with bagworms.

News from Iowa State University Extension

Ask the ISU Extension Garden Experts: Protecting Trees, Crown Gall and Houseplants
(Posted on 11/18/2009)
This week's answers discuss what to do to protect trees from nearby construction activity, the impact of crown gall on rose bushes and how houseplants can improve the air quality in your home.

Preparing Evergreens for Winter
(Posted on 11/16/2009)
Protection efforts this fall will help your evergreen plantings make it safely through the winter.

Ask the ISU Extension Garden Experts: Rubber Trees, Begonias and Arbor Vitae
(Posted on 11/12/2009)
This week's answers discuss how to propagate a rubber tree, humidity conditions needed by rex begonias and what browning of arborvitae needles indicates.

Why You Should Worry about Your Walnuts
(Posted on 11/9/2009)
Thousand cankers disease is a malady looming on the western horizon that has already claimed many Eastern Black Walnut trees transplanted to the western states.

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.

Staff

Alan Ladd-Regional Education Extension Director
Phone: 712-366-7070
Fax: 712-366-7024
Email: aladd@extension.edu

Eldon Everhart-Commercial Horticulture Field Specialist
Phone: (712) 755-3104
Fax: (712) 755-7112
Email: everhart@iastate.edu