As Iowa gardeners dream about the upcoming growing season, Linn County Master Gardener, Lisa Slattery, offers timely tips to keep in mind when ordering seeds and plants. I have received several seed catalogs for 2013 in the mail already.  The seed catalogs are full of beautiful pictures and luscious descriptions of plants that sound perfect…and [...]

Iowa State University is offering an online course covering the production and management of vegetable crops. Web-based Vegetable Crop Production and Management (HORT 493) will be taught by Ajay Nair, vegetable specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach, and offered through the Department of Horticulture. The course runs Jan. 14 through May 10, 2013. The course [...]

In 2003, I started writing a column I called “Homegrown” for The Gazette, as an outlet for my gardening obsession. The column has since been printed in various places online and in the newspaper, so I’m grateful to all of you who have followed along, as Homegrown marks its 10th anniversary this year. I also [...]

Following are gardening and eco-events happening in Eastern Iowa during January 2013: Tues., Jan. 1 – First Day Hikes: Begin the New Year rejuvenating and connecting with the outdoors by taking a healthy hike on Jan. 1, at a state park close to home.  The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hosting free, guided hikes [...]

As two editors at The Gazette coped with uprooted trees during December’s blizzard, we wondered if the damage could be drought-related. Had the deepest roots died off, leaving shallower roots less capable of keeping trees upright? Linn County master gardeners Debbie Main and Sue Usher said if the drought continues, we can expect more tree [...]

Linn County Master Gardener, Lisa Slattery, provides information on how to cope with winter damage in your landscape and some New Year’s resolutions for gardeners: Last week’s blizzard took its toll on our landscape, everything from minor branches littering the street to full size trees cracking and falling. Snow is a great insulator for ground [...]

Real Christmas trees can be more environmentally friendly than artificial ones, which can’t be recycled and don’t readily decompose. For those of you planning to dispose of your real tree, the Indian Creek Nature Center in Cedar Rapids will accept trees – with tinsel and other decorations removed – at the Sac and Fox Trailhead [...]

Strings of lights that no longer work can be recycled, but do not add to your curbside recycling bins. Instead, drop them off at special collection sites. Through Jan. 7, take to the following locations: (In Coralville) City Hall, 1512 Seventh St.; Hy-Vee, Lantern Park Plaza, 1914 Eighth St.; Recreation Center, 1506 Eighth St.; Recycling [...]

The poinsettia is one of the most popular potted flowers in the United States. ISU Extension horticulturists Richard Jauron and Willy Klein describe how to select a healthy plant and the care involved to keep the plant attractive through the holiday season. What should I look for when buying a poinsettia? Poinsettias are available in [...]

Becki Lynch, Linn County Master Gardener, offers some hints for those of you with gardeners on your gift list: Giving From the Garden Those of us who garden are always looking for ways to bring that garden to others, and one of the simple ways to do that is to use plants as the basis [...]