Controlling Weeds in the Home Lawn and Garden
Learn about the options for controlling lawn and garden weeds from horticulture specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
Learn about the options for controlling lawn and garden weeds from horticulture specialists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
A new suite of resources about invasive species is now available on the Natural Resource Stewardship website. The new Invasive Species in Iowa page introduces the topic by explaining what an invasive species is and why species become invasive.
Mile-a-minute weed is an invasive species in the Polygonaceae (smartweed) family. It is a herbaceous annual vine that can grow up to 20 feet long.
As of February 2017, Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) had been found in 49 of Iowa’s 99 counties. This is the perfect time to be on the lookout for Palmer amaranth while doing regular scouting in corn and soybean fields.
Fall is a great time to improve your yard and get a head start on having a great yard in 2017. Now is the time to apply fall fertilization and broadleaf herbicide applications.
As the leaves change and colors of fall become more beautiful, it is also the ideal season to complete turfgrass maintenance practices. It is the most important time to focus on cultural practices of mowing, aeration, fertilization, and seeding. The work you do now helps your lawn recover from summer stresses and prepares it for another long Iowa winter. This article will provide the necessary steps to ensure a healthy lawn through the fall months and next spring.
Biennial thistles are commonly found in Iowa's pastures, roadsides, CRP and other un-tilled areas. Musk (Carduus nutans ) and bull (Cirsium vulgare) thistle are exotic species (originate from outside of North America) and are responsible for the majority of problems caused by this group of plants. Read more about identification, characteristics and removal methods.
Conditions have been especially favorable this year for wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), a common roadside weed in Iowa. Wild parsnip plant parts contain a substance called psoralen, which can cause a condition known as “phytophotodermatitis”. This reaction occurs when plant juice gets on the skin and then the skin is exposed to sunlight. Learn how to identify and control this weed.