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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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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.

All About Roses

Roses (Rosa sp.) are the quintessential garden plant.  Their beautiful blooms, wonderful fragrance, and captivating history make them a favorite in Iowa gardens.  

Below is an outline of all the resources available on growing, caring for, using, and enjoying roses in Iowa.

Rose Garden

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Composting FAQs

Composting is the best way to dispose of your yard and garden wastes. Below are resources and frequently asked questions on composting.  

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Judging Vegetables, Herbs, Flowers, & Potted Plants for 4-H

When taking flowers or vegetables to the fair, careful harvest and preparation must be done.  Use this information to find tips on preparing and handling vegetables, herbs, cut flowers, floral arrangements, potted plants, and houseplants for 4-H and youth exhibits at state and county fairs.

Pests and Disease of Roses

Roses have a number of potential problems that can make them more difficult to grow.  Planting them in a good garden location and selecting a winter-hardy and naturally disease-resistant cultivar is the best way to avoid many problems.

Japanese Beetle on Rose
Japanese beetles are common insect pests on roses.

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How to Plant and Transplant Roses

The first step in the successful culture of roses is correct planting. Roses can be purchased as container-grown or potted plants from the garden center or as bare-root plants from the garden center or mail-order source. 

Bare Root Roses By Paul Maguire AdobeStock_382628240
Roses are often planted as bare root plants.

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How to Overwinter Roses

Most modern roses need protection to survive the cold winter months in Iowa.  Hybrid tea, grandiflora, and floribunda, as well as some polyantha, miniature, and climbing roses, are not reliably winter hardy and must be protected. 

Most shrub, landscape, species, and old garden roses, as well as some miniature, polyantha, and climbing roses, are reliably winter hardy and do not require extensive preparation for winter. 

The process for preparing roses for winter is outlined below.

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How to Prune Roses

All roses benefit from pruning to improve their appearance and encourage better flowering. Pruning also helps reduce disease issues by increasing airflow and light penetration.  In general, pruning is done in the early spring and starts by removing dead tissue from disease or winter kill.  Then canes can be selectively removed to encourage vigorous growth and open up the plant to promote good air circulation and light penetration to reduce disease issues and improve bloom.  Specific information on how to prune different types of roses is below.

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