It’s state fair season and the Iowa State Fair has a competition for everything from biggest boar to longest beard to the best pie. But one contest puts people’s knowledge of backyard weeds to the test. We hear from the participants at the Iowa State Fair Weed Identification Contest.
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When plants start growing and insects start buzzing, plant diseases aren't far behind. There's no way to protect your garden from everything that can go wrong, but there are things you can do to prevent some common diseases. Chelsea Harbach of the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State University joins to discuss disease prevention. -
A few days of sunny weather in late winter or early spring, and the bugs are immediately back. It raises questions like, how do these tiny creatures survive in subzero conditions? We explore that question with Laura Iles, director of the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center.
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Our relationship with fruit trees is different from the way we interact with other trees. This hour, we’ll dig into pruning fruit trees, vines and bushes with Iowa State University horticulturist Suzanne Slack. Later, horticulturist Aaron Steil joins the conversation to help answer your questions and share advice to keep your plants thriving.
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Our relationship with fruit trees is a little different than our relationship with other trees. Iowa State University’s Suzanne Slack shares advice about when and how to prune fruit trees, vines and bushes.
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Have you got your Christmas tree yet? If you haven't, there's still enough time to check out your local ditch. In this bonus episode, we hear from one caller about his holiday tradition of sourcing his tree from the side of the road.
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Our horticulture experts brainstorm solutions for a well-intended caller who gifted his wife a tropical plant in a Midwestern climate.
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It's time to get your berries ready for the cold. Your future self, and your strawberries, will thank you.
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Non-native insects can compete with some native species for resources, but they rarely cause extinction of native insect species.
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As food insecurity grows, Iowa’s gardeners are stepping up to help feed those in need — plus, how an improv nonprofit is empowering Iowa's youth to grow confident on and off stage.
