Garden Variety

Leaving plant debris in your perennial garden all winter long provides texture and habitat, but now it’s time to do some spring cleaning as the weather warms.

As the weather warms up and insects emerge, you might find yourself with some unwanted houseguests crawling around.

It will be a while before you can pick your homegrown harvest, but we can offer some guidance when it comes to picking the right fruit trees.

Many landowners and stewards in Iowa battle invasives on a regular basis, sometimes spending hours weeding plants like honeysuckle and garlic mustard.

Guidance on caring for seedlings

To get a larger plant selection conveniently sent to your home, there is an online market of bulbs, seeds and plants. But how do you know you are ordering quality plants?

If you’re going to prune your shade trees this spring, it’s time to make a plan

In this bonus episode of Garden Variety, learn about the Philadelphia Flower Show from designer Kelly Norris.

Variety is the spice of life and the key to getting the most out of your garden.

Instead of going to the grocery store this season, grow flowers for your Valentine from home.

A horticulture expert shares ways to create your own indoor hydroponics system without breaking the bank.

Horticulture experts discuss their favorite seed catalogs and picking the right plants for your garden.

In this bonus episode of Garden Variety, go behind the scenes to learn about how Horticulture Day started!

The holidays inspire many of us to bring new plants into our homes. Here's how to best care for them

Host Charity Nebbe talks with horticulturist Chris Currey about the long history of the poinsettia.

More and more people are planting gardens with pollinators in mind. How about planting something nice for birds?

Ajay Nair, professor of Horticulture at Iowa State University, discusses the finer points of growing our own carrots.

Daylight hours are about to get even shorter. What's your outdoor agenda this weekend?

Though they may look scary, horticulture and insect experts say Iowans do not need to be afraid of the spiders that may enter their homes this fall.

In this bonus episode of Garden Variety, ISU experts answer your questions on global warming, spring prep, and more!

Prairie and savanna biologist Pauline Drobney and horticulturist Kelly Norris offer advice on planting and maintaining native plants and grasses.

Fall is here, and beautiful colors are creeping across the landscape. On this episode, it's a conversation about fall colors!

Summer is over, but it's prime time for mums and asters. Here's how to help them flourish

Honeyberries are delicious — and chances are good that you can grow them in your yard!

Horticulture experts discuss which shrubs will put on a colorful show during the fall.

Cool season crops to plant this September

Social wasps might make you think of wasps that are invasive, but it refers to the fact that certain kinds of wasps like to live in groups.

There are fewer and fewer fireflies in Iowa every year. In this bonus episode of Garden Variety, it's a conversation about climate conditions and light pollution and their impact on fireflies in the state.

Let's talk about what you need to know about lawn care — and lawn robots!

Do melons grow well in Iowa? How long do they stay fresh? What do I need to know? All these questions answered, and more, in this bonus episode of Garden Variety.

What you need to know about picking, storing and processing your grape harvest

Every week, we get the best garden questions from our listeners. We've put together a few of our favorites in this bonus episode of Garden Variety from IPR News.

How experts select new plant varieties that will thrive

Late summer in Iowa has its own distinct soundtrack, provided by insects.

Advice on keeping your plants healthy in hot temps

How to identify signs of stress in the trees

Cucumbers and summer squash can thrive! Here's how

Japanese beetles are emerging once again and, as usual, they’re hungry. Here’s what you need to know about everyone’s least-favorite invasive species.

We often remember to water the plants in our landscape when it's dry, but don't neglect the trees in your yard.

Some people start gardens solely for fresh tomatoes, but disease can keep your plants from thriving. Here's how to avoid and address tomato diseases.

Experts answer your thorniest questions about growing roses.

What’s one of the best summer fruits to bite into? You’re right — melon. And it’s even better if it comes from your garden.

Many of the vegetables found in your favorite international cuisine can be grown in your home garden.

Ferns predate the dinosaurs — they’ve survived for hundreds of millions of years, and the odds are good that they can survive in your yard.

Commercial fruit crop specialist Randall Vos offers advice on protecting fruit from frost damage and disease.

Advice for avoiding ticks so you can keep enjoying the outdoors

Harvest is still months away, but apple trees all over the state are blooming. Here’s how to care for them.

On this Garden Variety bonus episode, Charity heads into the woods with master mushroom hunter Mark Vitosh.

How to choose and nurture trees.

We celebrate one of the shining jewels of springtime — tulips! — with horticulture specialists.