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Honey Bee, Nuisance: Nests and Swarms

Encyclopedia Article
Closer Look at Exposed Bee Comb on Rock. Photo by Gary Koehler

Honey bees are valuable pollinators and should be protected and preserved.  However, there are occasions where honey bees can be a undesirable.  Honey bee colonies inside the wall of the house or other building may cause a nuisance, a health hazard and a serious threat to the structure. Similarly, temporary honey bee swarms hanging on trees or shrubs may be a health threat though most can be left alone till the bees move on.

Springtails Can Be a Tiny Nuisance

News Article

Springtails have been a nuisance to many Iowans lately. These tiny insects (1/16 to 1/8 inch long) have an uncanny ability to get indoors.

Growing Annual Geraniums

Annual geraniums are popular indoor and outdoor flowering plants.  The variety of flower colors, leaf shapes, colors, and growth habits make this plant ideally suited for home landscapes.  These versatile plants are excellent as annual bedding plants, in hanging baskets, and in containers.  Annual geraniums are not actually "true" geraniums as they are members of the genus Pelargonium. True geraniums are perennials in the genus Geranium.

Native Shrubs for Moist to Wet Locations

Locations with moist to wet soils are not suitable for many shrubs.  However, these sites are home to several native shrubs.  A list of native wetland shrubs, along with a brief description of each, is provided below. 

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How to Manage Moss in the Lawn and Garden

Mosses are common in many lawns, especially during wet years. Mosses are small, thread-like plants that form green mats on the soil surface. Mosses are adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions. Mosses can be found in moist and dry sites, sun or shade, and in acidic or alkaline soils.

Control of mosses is discussed below.

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Creating Raised Bed Planters

Raised beds have become popular features in the home landscape. They are both functional and attractive and can be used to grow flowers, vegetables, and small fruits.

Learn how to build your own raised beds for use in vegetable gardens and other areas in the landscape.

Fall Nuisance Invaders Are On the Move

News Article
As the days grow short, temperatures cool and plants in the landscape senesce, many insects and arthropods move to find overwintering habitat.

What Do Warm Winter Temperatures Do to Insect Populations?

News Article

A common question we have been receiving in the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic (PIDC) is if the warmer winter temperatures we have been experiencing in Iowa will result in increased insect and arthropod abundance this summer. Will there be more ticks? What about other insects like mosquitoes and boxelder bugs? Well, the short answer is it depends and remains to be seen for many. In addition, more than just temperature will have an impact on insect populations. Things like precipitation can also be a huge factor.

Propagation of Trees, Shrubs, and Vines from Hardwood Cuttings

Hardwood cuttings is a propagation method done while the plant is dormant from the shoots that developed during the previous growing season.  Learn more about this type of vegetative propagation if you want to propagate any trees, shrubs, or vines in the home landscape.

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