May 20, 2025

Current Issue: May 20, 2025

Featured Content

Featured Publication: Growing Garden Peonies

FAQ of the Week: It's early May, but I don't see any signs of my balloon flowers. Should I be worried?

Bloom of the Week: Iris

Problem of the Week: Yellow Nutsedge

Task of the Week: Water Newly Planted Trees

Garden Variety Podcast: Kiwi berries? Fur-get about it

Growing Eggplant in the Home Garden

Eggplant is a great addition to the vegetable garden. Learn about which varieties to plant and how to plant, care, and harvest this beautiful and tasty vegetable.

Two eggplants on the ground. One is a deep purple and the other is a lighter striped purple.

Garden Trivia

What is the term used to describe the production and drop of unusually large quantities of seed every few years in certain populations of trees?

Read on to see the answer!

A deer eating plants with white flowers.

Managing Wildlife in the Landscape

Deer, rabbits, moles, oh my! Wildlife can be challenging in the garden. Find the resources you need to manage all those pesky animal pests.

Trees and Shrubs for Alkaline Soil Conditions

Are you struggling with a yellow pin oak because of high soil pH? The long-term solution is to find a suitable replacement. Use this list to select a tree or shrub that is tolerant of the alkaline soils common in many parts of Iowa.

How to Manage Ant Mounds in Lawns, Gardens, and Pastures

Most of the time, when we see ants, there is no need to worry; they are quite beneficial. However, if their mounds become a nuisance in the lawn or garden, then there are some steps you can take to manage the mounds (and keep the ants).

Fertilizing in the Home Garden

Many areas of the landscape benefit from fertilization, especially the lawn, edible gardens, flowering annuals, and houseplants. However, figuring out how and when to use fertilizers responsibly can be confusing, and improper fertilization can harm plants and the environment. Learn more about fertilizing all of your plants properly.

A person wearing gloves and applying granular fertilizer to a shrub in the garden.

Round orange carrots with the green tops still attached.

AAS Winners That Stand the Test of Time

From round carrots and cool-season spinach to vibrant petunias, these AAS winners have proven their staying power in gardens for decades.

Other Items of Interest

Garden Trivia Answer

Mast seeding. The phenomenon is common in oaks, walnuts, and this year we are seeing it across the state in maples. Why trees have "boom" and "bust" years when it comes to seed production is not well understood. Learn more in this article: It’s a Mast Year for Maples and this article from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

See past issues here.

Yard and Garden Website

Master Gardener Program

Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic

Iowa State Extension and Outreach

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After reading this email, I plan to do something differently in my garden.