Frequently Asked Questions
It would be best to place weeds that are producing seeds and diseased plant debris in biodegradable bags and have the material picked up and composed by a municipal or commercial composting facility. The temperatures in home compost piles...
Herbicide residues should not be a problem if the grass clippings are thoroughly composted. As an added safety measure, mow the lawn two or three times before collecting and adding the clippings to the compost pile.
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...
Collect the pods on a redbud when the pods turn brown in fall. Remove the seeds. Redbud seeds have hard, impermeable seedcoats and dormant embryos. The seedcoats must be broken and dormancy overcome before the redbud seeds can...
Deadheading or the removal of faded flowers is done to encourage additional bloom on hybrid tea and other repeat-flowering roses. Hybrid tea roses usually have one or two 3-leaflet leaves immediately below the flower. Next (lower down...
In the past, some gardeners used salt to control weeds in their asparagus plantings. However, salt is not effective in controlling many weeds, especially grasses. Plus, continued use of salt over several years may result in high salt...
Deciduous shrubs that have colorful foliage in fall include,
- winged euonymus or burning bush (Euonymus alatus),
- fothergilla (Fothergilla spp.),
- common witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana),...
Cut back peony foliage after it has been destroyed by a hard freeze. In Iowa, late October or early November is generally a good time to cut back peonies. Cut off the stems near ground level. If the peonies experienced foliar...
Selecting the proper planting site is critical when planting fruit trees in the home landscape. While fruit trees can be grown on a wide variety of soils, good soil drainage is imperative. Apples and other fruit trees do not tolerate...
Cut back the plants to within 2 to 4 inches of the ground within three or four days of a killing frost. After cutting back the plants, leave the dahlias in the ground for an additional six or seven days to “cure.” Then carefully dig...
The roots of horseradish make their greatest growth in late summer and early fall. To obtain the best crop, delay harvesting horseradish until late October or November.
Carefully dig the horseradish and cut off the foliage...
Crocuses perform best in well drained soils in partial to full sun. Plant crocuses in clusters of 25 or more corms for maximum visual impact. Good garden sites include perennial flower beds, rock gardens, and among low-growing...
Yes, shredded newspapers or whole sheets may be used as a mulch in the vegetable garden. Newspapers use organic inks so gardeners need not worry about lead contamination. When using newspaper sheets, place a layer of 2 to 4 sheets between...
It is advisable not to add dog or cat feces to the compost pile. Dog and cat feces may contain harmful pathogens that may not be destroyed during the composting process.
Kentucky bluegrass lawns should be mowed at a height of 2½ to 3 inches in the spring and fall months. Mow bluegrass lawns at a height of 3 to 3½ inches in June, July, and August. A higher mowing height in summer helps to cool the...
Mowing frequency is based on the growth rate of the turfgrass and mowing height. As a general rule, never remove more than one-third of the total leaf surface at any one mowing. Shorter mowing heights require more frequent mowing. A lawn...
The black sooty material is likely sooty mold. Sooty mold is caused by several different fungi. The fungi don’t infect plants, but grow on the sugary honeydew excreted by aphids, scales, mealybugs, and other insects. In...
Most hybrid tea, grandiflora, floribunda, and other modern roses require protection during the winter months. Low temperatures and rapid temperature changes in winter can severely injure and sometimes kill unprotected modern roses. (...
The asparagus foliage can be cut back to the ground after it has been destroyed by cold temperatures in fall. However, it is generally recommended that the dead foliage be allowed to stand over winter. The dead debris will catch and...
When selecting a forsythia, choose a cultivar that reliably blooms in Iowa.
Forsythias to avoid planting in Iowa
The flower buds on some varieties are not reliably cold hardy in Iowa, and typically don’t bloom well in Iowa as...
There are several factors which may cause peonies to bloom poorly. Peonies perform best in areas that receive at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Peonies that receive less than 4 hours of direct sun will not bloom well. ...
Beginning at the base of the plant, harvest the buds (sprouts) when 1 to 1½ inches in diameter. Continue to harvest the sprouts higher up on the plant as they mature. Sprouts can be stored in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator...
Carefully dig up the plants with a spade in late summer/early fall. Gently shake off the soil from the bulb-like corms. Then cut off the foliage 1 to 2 inches above the corms. Dry the corms for 2 to 3 weeks in a warm, dry, well-...
Suggested radish varieties (cultivars) for home gardens include:
- ‘Champion’ (scarlet red, globe-shaped, white flesh, 20 to 25 days)
- ‘Cherriette’ (cherry red, globe-shaped, white flesh, 20 days)
- ‘Cherry Belle’ (...
When planting an amaryllis bulb, select a pot which is approximately 1 to 2 inches wider than the diameter of the bulb. The container may be clay, ceramic or plastic, but should have drainage holes in the bottom. Plant the bulb in...
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