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It's only February, but my garlic is coming up. What should I do?

Answer: 

While not a regular occurrence, it is not unusual for the foliage of fall-planted bulbs like garlic to emerge a bit early during a mid-winter warm-up. While in Iowa garlic normally begins to emerge from the ground in mid-March to early April, mild winter weather can encourage premature growth. 

While the premature emergence of garlic foliage is undesirable, the danger is not as great as it may seem.  The foliage of garlic can tolerate cold temperatures (down into the 20s °F).  Often, typical winter weather (cold temperatures and snow) returns, delaying further growth.  A blanket of snow is especially helpful.  The snow discourages additional growth and also protects the foliage from extreme cold.

Trees and Shrubs for Wet Soils

Many trees and shrubs thrive in Iowa's fertile, well-drained soils. Most trees and shrubs, however, don't like wet soils. Fortunately, some plants tolerate wet soils better than others.

When selecting trees and shrubs for the home landscape, gardeners should select plants suitable for the site. Wet sites can be a challenge. However, the trees and shrubs listed below will perform well in wet soils.

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Perennials for Moist to Wet Soils

When selecting perennials, choosing plants that are suitable for the site is important. Garden sites can vary tremendously. Some areas are hot and dry. Others are wet. Wet sites can be challenging, but they also provide gardening opportunities. The following perennials perform well in moist to wet soils.

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Perennials Tolerant of Dry Conditions

In addition to providing color in the garden, perennials can be used as solutions to problem spots in the home landscape. Many landscapes have hot, dry sites that are difficult for many perennials. Drought-tolerant perennials are the perfect solution for these dry sites. Below is a list of some perennials that, once established in the garden, will tolerate or even thrive in dry conditions.

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Drought-Tolerant Annuals

Most annual flowers require consistent moisture throughout the growing season for adequate growth and bloom. However, there are a few annuals that perform well in dry weather. When other annuals suffer from a lack of moisture, these annuals will flower profusely without a significant rise in the water bill.

All of these drought-tolerant annuals will require water initially to establish a good root system. Once established, however, they require little watering. All perform best in full sun with well-drained soils.

Don't let dry weather stop you from having flowers in your garden. These annuals will tolerate the heat and drought better than we will.

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Landscape Plants for Difficult Sites

When selecting annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees, choose plants that are adapted to the growing conditions at the planting site. Most landscape plants prefer moist, well-drained soils in full sun. However, there are plants that will tolerate more difficult sites.

Lists of annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees that tolerate dry soils, wet soils, and partial shade are provided below.

Landscape Plants for Wet Soil Conditions

Many plants grown in the home landscape require consistent moisture throughout the growing season without staying too wet. However, there are a few annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees that perform well in wet soil conditions.  This includes low-lying areas, water edges, or soils with poor drainage. Many of these plants will also tolerate periodic flooding.  

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