Frequently Asked Questions
Fruit cracking is a common problem on tomatoes. Cracks usually appear at the top or stem end of the fruit. Cracks radiate out from the stem (radial cracks) or circle the fruit in concentric rings (concentric cracks). Fruit...
Shade trees that possess excellent fall foliage include Freeman maple (Acer x freemanii), red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra...
Some perennials, such as garden peonies, can be left undisturbed for 50 or more years.
Others need to be divided periodically to contain their spread or to rejuvenate declining plants. Vigorous growing perennials include:
- ...
Garlic cloves should be planted in fall (October to early November) or early spring (late March to mid-April). Plant cloves 1 inch deep with the pointed side up. Fall-planted garlic should be mulched with a 4- to 6-inch-layer of weed-...
The roots of established asparagus plants are deep and quite extensive. As a result, transplanting attempts are usually unsuccessful. Large, old plants will be severely injured during the transplantation procedure. Some may...
Several things can be done to make it difficult for squirrels to dig up tulip bulbs.
When planting tulips and other spring flowering bulbs, make sure they are planted at the proper depth. Plant tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths 6 to 8...
In Iowa, Kentucky bluegrass lawns can be fertilized in spring (April or May), mid-September, and late October/early November. The number of fertilizer applications is largely determined by an individual’s desires or expectations for their...
Red and purple raspberries are hardy throughout the state. Black raspberries, however, often suffer severe winter damage in northern Iowa and can be reliably grown only in central and southern portions of the state. ‘Black Hawk’ (an...
Soil testing services are provided by neighboring universities and private laboratories. Information on how to collect good soil samples for testing and recommendations for how to find testing laboratories can be found at ...
Broadleaf herbicides are most effective when applied to weeds that are actively growing. During prolonged periods of dry weather, some weeds are likely to curl up or wilt. An application of a broadleaf herbicide to drought stressed...
The tiny holes are likely due to flea beetles. Flea beetles are the most common pest of eggplant in the home garden. Adults are tiny, shiny, black beetles. They possess large hind legs that enable them to jump. Flea...
Bagworms are caterpillars that live inside spindle-shaped bags. (The bags somewhat resemble small Christmas tree ornaments hanging from the tree.) Bagworms feed on the foliage of a wide variety of trees and shrubs. However, they...
Martha Washington or regal geraniums (Pelargonium x domesticum) produce beautiful flowers. Unfortunately, cool (50 to 60°F), night temperatures are required for flower formation. Few flowers form during the summer...
Harvest roots when 3 to 5 inches in diameter. The foliage may also be harvested for greens. Prior to storage, trim off the foliage to within 1 inch of the crown with a sharp knife. Also remove the tap root. Rutabagas...
It’s common for the acorn crop on oak trees to vary from year to year. Most oak species produce a good crop of acorns once every two or three years. However, the white oak tends to produce a good acorn crop once every four to six years....
Peonies perform best in full sun and well-drained soils. When selecting a planting site, choose a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Avoid shady areas near large trees and shrubs. Poorly drained...
Foliar diseases of tomatoes are a common problem in the home garden. Fungal diseases, such as early blight and Septoria leaf spot, overwinter on plant debris in the soil. Fungal spores are splashed onto plant foliage by raindrops or...
The “hedge apple” is the yellow-green, softball-sized fruit of the Osage-orange (Maclura pomifera). The Osage-orange is a small- to medium-sized tree. It commonly grows 25 to 30 feet tall. The Osage-orange is dioecious...
The best time to divide perennials varies with the different plant species. While most perennials are best divided in early spring, late summer/early fall (September in Iowa) is a good time to dig and divide peony, daylily, garden phlox, hosta,...
Harvest garlic when the foliage begins to dry. In Iowa, garlic is usually harvested in August or September. Carefully dig the bulbs with a garden fork or shovel. Dry the garlic in a warm, dry, well-ventilated location. ...
Early in the 1900's, white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) became a serious disease problem in the United States. White pine blister rust requires both a currant or gooseberry (Ribes species) and white pine to...
Grape hyacinths (Muscari spp.) are spring-flowering bulbs. They produce urn-shaped flowers on 6- to 9-inch-long, upright spikes. (The flower spikes somewhat resemble clusters of grapes, hence the common name.) Flowers...
Do not mow shady areas less than 3 inches in height. Because of the lower photosynthetic rates in shady areas, the turfgrass plants need a large leaf surface to manufacture adequate amounts of food. The recommended mowing height for...
Dead raspberry canes will be white to gray in color. When dead canes are pruned, the tissue inside the stem will be tan to brown and dry. Live canes will be brown to purple in color. The tissue inside the stem will be white to...
Dig a hole that is 2 to 3 times wider than the diameter of the tree’s rootball. The depth of the hole should be 2 or 3 inches less than the height of the rootball. Slope the sides of the hole so the top of the hole is several inches...
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