Frequently Asked Questions
Tulip foliage should not be removed until it has turned brown and died. The length of time it takes the foliage to die back depends on bulb type, weather, and other factors. The foliage of most tulips usually doesn’t die back until...
Several organic materials can be used as a mulch around tomato plants. Suitable mulching materials include:
- Dry grass clippings (Do not collect grass clippings from lawns that have been treated with a broadleaf herbicide...
Asparagus plants should be allowed to become well established before any spears are harvested. No spears should be harvested during the first growing season. Asparagus can be harvested over a three to four week period during its...
The roots of trees continue to grow until the ground freezes. If the weather is dry, continue to water newly planted trees until the soil freezes in winter. Small trees usually require watering for 1 or 2 growing seasons. It may...
Thatch is the layer of dead and living plant material that forms between the soil surface and green vegetation. It is composed of shoots, crowns, and roots. Thatch, to some degree, is present in all lawns. However, when thatch...
Proper pruning of purple raspberries promotes high yields, helps control diseases, and facilitates harvesting and other maintenance chores.
In March or early April, remove all small, weak canes, leaving only 4 or 5 of the largest,...
Ash rust is probably responsible for the orange growths on your ash tree. Ash rust is caused by the fungus Puccinia sparganioides. The fungus produces conspicuous swellings on leaves, petioles, and twigs. Infected...
Hybrid tea roses are propagated by budding. A single bud is removed from the desired variety and inserted onto a hardy rootstock. The bud union (the knob-like swelling at the base of the canes) is sensitive to extreme cold. If...
Weed control is essential to insure optimal plant growth and fruit production. Weeds compete with the strawberry plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Weeds also reduce air circulation which results in fruit and foliage staying...
Tree roots are not as deep as most people imagine. Most tree roots are located in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil. While tree roots are quite shallow, they often extend out into an area that is 2 to 3 times larger than the crown area...
Petunias perform best in sunny locations. The planting site should receive at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. They also require a moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Crown or root rots may be problems in wet, poorly...
Melons are relatively easy to grow. Their basic requirements are full sun and a fertile, well-drained soil. The planting site should receive at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Heavy, poorly drained soils can often be...
Ants aren’t necessary for peonies to flower. The ants are attracted to the sugary nectar produced by the peony buds. The nectar is a good food source for the ants. Peony buds will open without the presence of ants. ...
Beets may be harvested when the roots are 1 inch in diameter. However, the main crop usually isn’t harvested until the roots are 1½ to 3 inches in diameter. (Beets larger than 3 inches in diameter are often tough and fibrous.) ...
Tulips can be dug up and replanted as soon as the foliage dies back (turns brown) in early summer. Tulips can also be dug up and replanted in fall (October). If you intend to move tulips in the fall, mark the site when the foliage is...
There are different ways to classify or categorize plants and plant structures. We eat many plant parts including roots, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruit. The root is the edible portion of carrots, radishes, beets, and...
Stop harvesting well established asparagus plantings in early June in southern Iowa and mid-June in northern areas of the state. If harvested over a longer period, the asparagus plants may be weakened and less productive the following year...
Weigelas bloom on both old and new wood. Plants bloom heavily in late May or June on the previous year’s growth. They also bloom intermittently through the summer on the current season’s growth.
Weigelas are prone to...
Grass clippings contribute very little to thatch development because clippings are primarily cellulose and decompose quickly. There is no need to remove grass clippings when lawns are mowed properly. Infrequent mowing of tall grass...
Kentucky bluegrass and other cool-season grasses thrive in the cool weather of spring and fall. Hot, dry conditions in summer are stressful for cool-season grasses. Kentucky bluegrass lawns should be mowed at a height of 3 to 3½...
Suggested raspberry varieties for Iowa include:
Summer-Bearing Red Raspberries for Iowa
- ‘Boyne’
- ‘Latham’
- ‘Killarney’
Fall-Bearing Red Raspberries for Iowa
...Oak wilt is a serious disease that can infect many oak species. It is caused by the fungus B. fagacearum. Red and pin oaks are very susceptible to the oak wilt fungus and can die within 4 to 6 weeks. White and bur oaks...
Blackspot is a common fungal disease of roses. Symptoms of blackspot are circular black spots on the leaves. Infected leaves turn yellow and drop prematurely. Initially, symptoms develop on the lower leaves and gradually move...
If the strawberry patch is being overrun with perennial grasses, such as quackgrass, control is not very practical. Your best option would be to prepare a new site for a strawberry bed this summer or fall and plant a new bed next spring....
Carefully examine the tree for the type and extent of damage. Trees that have split trunks or suffered extensive trunk damage are no longer structurally sound and should be removed. Large trees that have lost 50 percent or more of...
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