November 12, 2024

Current Issue: November 12, 2024

Featured Content

Featured Publication: 2025 Garden Calendar: Perennial Beauty

FAQ of the Week: Should I clean and till my vegetable garden this fall or early next spring?

Bloom of the Week: Holiday Cacti

Yard & Garden: Preparing Plants for Winter

Yard & Garden: Fall Color FAQ

Pest of the Week: Deer and Rabbits on Trees

Task of the Week: Prepare garden tools for winter

Garden Variety Podcast: A look at plant disease trends this year

Plants on the Thanksgiving Table - Truths Revealed

Thanksgiving staples like turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and cranberries have interesting (and sometimes misleading) histories and myths. Learn more about these popular holiday foods.

Garden Trivia

Which of the following plants has notable (and beautiful) fall color?

A. Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)

B. Blue Stars (Amsonia)

C. Serviceberry (Amelanchier xgrandiflora)

D. Arrowwood Viburnum (Viburnum dentatum)

E. A & C

F. All the above

Read on to see the answer!

Upcoming webinar: PIDC Wrapped 2024

Learn about the 2024 webinar reviewing trends and interesting cases in the Iowa State University Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic by registering for this webinar taking place Wednesday, November 13th at 6 pm.

Broadleaf Evergreen Shrubs for Iowa

Broad-leaved evergreen shrubs like boxwoods, wintercreeper, and rhododendrons add beauty to landscapes but require careful site selection and soil prep in Iowa. Learn more about caring for these evergreens in Iowa.

Don't Get in a Rush to Apply Mulch to Your Strawberry Bed This Fall

November is often the time we think about applying mulch to strawberry beds in Iowa. While mulching in the fall is good practice, it's also something we don't want to do too early. This article explains factors to consider before mulching strawberries.

Reiman Gardens' Grow and Give program surpasses 18,000 pounds of produce donation

Reiman Gardens' Grow and Give program is helping feed Central Iowans by the truckload. In 2024, the Gardens collected and distributed over 18,000 pounds of produce that has been given back to local food pantries across Story County and surrounding areas.

Reminiscing on Past AAS Winners

Here's a look back at some All-America Selections winners from decades past. Whether these haven't been grown for a while, or are grown year after year, they would all be great additions to garden planning for 2025 and beyond.

A Few 2024 Favorite Annuals from Reiman Gardens

Explore a few of Reiman Gardens' favorite 2024 annuals that you might consider growing in your own garden next year.

Other Items of Interest

Garden Trivia Answer

F. All the above. Many trees and shrubs (and even a few perennials like blue stars) can have wonderful fall foliage. Get a complete list of plants with excellent fall color in these articles: Trees and Shrubs with Great Fall Color and Perennials with Fall Color.

See past issues here.

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