Frequently Asked Questions
Disease issues are a primary limiting factor to producing high-quality apples in the home garden. Without regular fungicide applications, most apple cultivars will develop serious issues with diseases like apple scab, fire blight, cedar...
Ornamental grasses are low-maintenance perennials. Most thrive in sunny sites and there are species that can grow in dry, well-drained, or wet soils. While small in the nursery, many can get quite large in just a couple of years, so check the...
Gerber daisy is frequently sold in florist shops and garden centers during the spring and fall. Plants prefer cooler temperatures. Place in bright, indirect or direct light indoors. Soil should be moist but well-drained. ...
Kalanchoe grows well in bright indoor locations. Keep at moderate temperatures (45-65 °F at night and 50-70 °F during the day). Keeping plants on the cool side will help prolong flower life. Allow the soil to dry between...
In the home, place the mum in a brightly lit, cool location. An ideal site is one near a window that receives bright light (but no direct sunlight) and temperatures of 60 to 70°F.
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Occasionally a florist or garden center will have vibrant blue moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) for sale. Blue is not a color that naturally occurs in orchids. These orchids are typically white flowers dyed to achieve this unique...
No. Pruning stimulates new growth. That new growth will not have an opportunity to properly harden off before winter leaving it vulnerable to more winter damage.
Even established growth that has properly hardened off will see...
While most gardeners prefer to grow perennials from established plants in containers or as divisions, transplants, or bare root, it is possible to grow many perennials successfully from seed. The reason why perennials grown from established...
Hickory nuts need to be exposed to cold temperatures and moist conditions before they will germinate. (The cold-moist requirement is referred to as stratification.) The cold-moist requirement can be met by planting the nuts in the ground in fall...
In most cases, very little to no damage will occur to the lawn when a pool, hot tub, or other chlorinated water source is emptied on it, provided it is not done frequently, dumped all in one spot, and care is taken to reduce the chlorine...
Raised bed soils should be light and well-drained. An excellent soil mix can be prepared by mixing equal parts topsoil, organic matter (well-rotted manure, compost, or peat), and coarse sand. If bringing topsoil from other...
Common or edible figs (Ficus carica) are not reliably cold hardy in Iowa. The stems of ‘Chicago Hardy’ (considered one of the hardiest edible fig cultivars) are hardy to 10 degrees Fahrenheit and the plant’s roots are hardy to 15 to 20...
The fruit of most tomato cultivars generally begins to ripen in August. Fruit production for early maturing cultivars such as ‘Early Girl’ or many of the cherry and grape tomatoes generally begins in mid- to late-July.
Tomatoes should be...
Ash trees infected with emerald ash borer (EAB) do not need to be treated or chipped when removed. If you do plan to keep the wood for campfires or fireplaces use it on your property and do not transport the wood to new locations. Any...
Proper cleaning and sanitization of pruners and other garden tools is important to prevent the spread of disease issues. At minimum when removing disease-infected plant material, pruners should be disinfected between plants. Ideally,...
Once seeds are collected and properly cleaned, they need to be stored. Proper storage conditions for seeds are essential to maintain viability and good germination at planting time. ...
The late growing season is a good time to collect seeds from vegetables and flowers. Seed saving allows gardeners to preserve heirloom varieties or their favorite plants from year to year. Once harvested, the seed will need to be cleaned to...
The late growing season is a good time to collect seeds from vegetables and flowers. Seed saving allows gardeners to preserve heirloom varieties or their favorite plants from year to year.
Collect the Seed When Mature
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Look for Open-Pollinated Plants
It is easiest to save seed from varieties of vegetables and plants that are open-pollinated. These seedlings typically resemble the parent plants as long as they are not allowed to cross pollinate...
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a native vine common to woodland areas but found frequently growing in gardens and along fence lines. This vine causes an allergic reaction (dermatitis) in most people when their skin comes in...
What to Look For
When at the store or pumpkin patch look to purchase pumpkins that are firm, heavy, and uniform in color. Avoid fruit with any cuts, holes, bruises, or soft spots on the outer surface. Wash or brush any dirt...
If fallen leaves are collected, there are a several options for what you can do with them.
Add Leaves to the Compost Pile
Whenever possible, keep this valuable organic resource on-site. Leaves can be added to a compost...
Leaves are an excellent resource for the garden. They break down to add organic matter and nutrients to the soil. As they decompose, they act as a mulch suppressing weeds and helping to maintain consistent soil moisture. Additionally, they can...
Keep Leaves in Place, When Possible
Leaving the leaves alone is a good way to support native pollinators and other insects and wildlife. These valuable insects rely on the habitat fallen leaves provide, especially over the winter...
If a perennial cannot be planted in its final spot before winter arrives, you will need to take steps to make sure it survives the winter while still in the container.
Container-grown perennials should not be left outdoors above ground...
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