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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.

AAS Winners Would Make Great 2024 Garden Plants

News Article

March is here, and we are all sowing seeds with ultimate optimism! Do you have your garden planned out? Is every little corner and crevice full? If you have room for just one more plant this year, consider one of these AAS Winners!

Growing and Selling Cut Flowers in Iowa

In recent years, the number of farms that grow and sell locally-grown cut flowers has increased.  Learn more about the reasons for the rise in flower farms across Iowa and the unique niche they are filling at farmer's markets and flower shops.

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Tobacco Budworm

Encyclopedia Article

Tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) also attacks and feeds on a wide variety of garden flowers, especially geraniums. The caterpillars feed on foliage and flower buds of geranium, reducing plant vigor and blooms, respectively. 

What are some good annuals for garden areas in part shade?

Answer: 

Part shade garden areas receive 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.  Some annuals thrive in these conditions, and others may grow best in full sun but tolerate part shade.  For these species, they may have fewer flowers or a more open habit than they would if grown in full sun.

Annuals do grow well in part shade (areas that ) include: 

Winter Garden Tasks

While winter is often considered a slow time in the garden, there are still several things that can be done from December through February to prepare for spring and keep yourself active in the garden even when there is snow on the ground!  Below is a list of tasks to do for perennials, annuals, trees & shrubs, vegetables, lawns, and houseplants.

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AAS Winners are Great for 2024 Gardens

News Article

 All-America Selections has been trialing edible and ornamental plants for over 90 years, presenting awards to entries that will impress home gardeners with their performance regionally or nationally. There have been plenty of exciting new winners that merit a place in your garden that will be highlighted in this series.

 

New Plant Hardiness Zone Map Released from the USDA

News Article

In November 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) released an updated version of its popular Plant Hardiness Zone Map. 
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a standard guide to a plant’s cold tolerance.  Overall, much of Iowa is now in Hardiness Zone 5.  Learn more about the new map and how to best use it below.

Hibiscus for Iowa Gardens

There are several Hibiscus species that grow well in Iowa. Growing hibiscus can be confusing to Iowa gardeners because the three most common species vary greatly in flower, habit, and cold hardiness. But all three are worthy of consideration in the outdoor or indoor landscape.

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