Frequently Asked Questions

Question:
Can I manage weeds with boiling water?
Answer:

Pouring boiling water on weeds can be used especially in situations where other plants are not nearby, such as in cracks in patios or sidewalks.   Boiling water will act as a contact "herbicide", killing only the portion of the plant it...

Question:
Can I replant a new tree in the same spot after an old tree has been removed?
Answer:

A new planting site is best for any new tree. 

The site of a removed tree is not ideal for planting a new tree

While planting a new tree in the exact same spot as a tree that was removed is possible, it is not advised. ...

Question:
Why is my lilac, crabapple, or forsythia blooming in fall, instead of spring?
Answer:

Stressful growing conditions typically are the reason for untimely bloom.

Occasionally, spring-blooming shrubs and trees, like lilac, crabapple, or forsythia, will bloom out of season during the fall months....

Question:
How do I know if a plant is a weed?
Answer:

A weed is any plant growing out of place.

A weed is simply a plant out of place.   By this definition, any plant could be a weed if growing in a location where it is not wanted.  

There...

Question:
What do I do with fall planted cool-season annuals when winter arrives?
Answer:

Cool-season annuals are annual plants that prefer cool temperatures, growing best in spring or fall. Many are tolerant of a light frost often surviving down to 28°F or sometimes even 25°F with little damage to flowers or leaves.

Cool-...

Question:
Certain cool-season annuals, like mums, are also sometimes grown as perennials. Can I expect these plants to come back year after year?
Answer:

Cool-season annuals are annual plants that prefer cool temperatures, growing best in spring or fall. Many are tolerant of a light frost often surviving down to 28°F or sometimes even 25°F with little damage to flowers or leaves.

Plants...

Question:
When should I plant cool-season annuals?
Answer:

Cool-season annuals are annual plants that prefer cool temperatures, growing best in spring or fall. Many are tolerant of a light frost often surviving down to 28°F or sometimes even 25°F with little damage to flowers or leaves. They are great...

Question:
What cool-season annuals do well in Iowa?
Answer:

Cool-season annuals are annual plants that prefer cool temperatures, growing best in spring or fall. Many are tolerant of a light frost often surviving down to 28°F or sometimes even 25°F with little damage to flowers or leaves. They are great...

Question:
What are cool-season annuals?
Answer:

Annuals are a great way to add variety and color to the landscape and containers. As temperatures cool in late summer into fall, many of the summer annuals like marigolds, coleus and impatiens are looking “tired”. These annuals can be replaced by...

Question:
How should I prepare woody trees and shrubs for winter?
Answer:

Wrap Trunks of Young Trees

During the winter months when food is scarce, rabbits and other rodents will chew and strip bark from woody plants. Protecting woody trees and shrubs, especially young plants, from browsing is important. Wrap...

Question:
How should I prepare my annual beds and containers for winter?
Answer:

Good fall clean-up is beneficial for containers and garden beds where annuals are grown to help prevent disease and pest issues as well as reduce unwanted reseeding of some annual species in future growing seasons.

Plant Cool-Season...

Question:
How and when do I bring my houseplants back indoors after spending the summer outside before winter?
Answer:

Many of our houseplants enjoy a “summer vacation” spending the warm summer months outside in a full or part shade location. If you placed some of your indoor plants outside for the summer, you will need to move them back indoors before...

Question:
Can I use woodchips from black walnut as mulch in my landscape?
Answer:

Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a common woodland and landscape tree in the Midwest. 

Much has been written about the allelopathic properties of black walnut.  When plants produce a chemical that prevents the growth of...

Question:
How long does juglone last in the landscape after the removal of a black walnut?
Answer:

Black walnut (Juglans nigra) is a common woodland and landscape tree in the Midwest. 

Much has been written about the allelopathic properties of black walnut.  When plants produce a chemical that prevents the growth of...

Question:
What plants are sensitive to the juglone produced by black walnuts?
Answer:

When plants produce a chemical that prevents the growth of other plants, it is called allelopathy. 
Black walnut is a common woodland and landscape tree in the Midwest that produces an allelopathic compound called juglone which is...

Question:
What organic options exist for controlling weeds in my vegetable garden?
Answer:

Hand Pulling

Mechanical control of weeds through hand pulling and cultivation as well as the use of mulches and other cultural control methods to suppress weed growth are all effective organic options for weed management. 

...

Question:
What cultural methods can be used to control weeds in the vegetable garden?
Answer:

There are several cultural or management techniques the gardener can use to reduce weeds in the vegetable garden. 

  • Watering Directly
  • Proper Plant Spacing
  • Tilling (stale seedbed technique)
  • Cover Crops...
Question:
What herbicides can I use in the vegetable garden?
Answer:

Many home gardeners choose to avoid the use of herbicides in vegetable gardens since they are growing edible crops.  In certain situations, however, a gardener can use herbicides to supplement other weed control strategies.

Pre-...

Question:
What mulches work well for weed suppression in the vegetable garden?
Answer:

Mulches control weeds by preventing the germination of weed seeds. Established weeds should be destroyed prior to the application of the mulch. 

Excellent mulches for vegetable gardens include: 

  • Grass clippings...
Question:
How do I control weeds in my vegetable garden?
Answer:

Control of weeds in the vegetable garden is important. These unwanted plants are strong competitors for available water, nutrients, and sunlight and can reduce yields when not controlled.  Reduced air circulation created by tall weeds...

Question:
What is the difference between cool season and warm season vegetables?
Answer:

Cool season vegetables prefer cool daytime temperatures, while warm season vegetables prefer warmer daytime temperatures.  Cool season vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, and lettuce will tolerate light frost whereas warm season...

Question:
What are some easy to grow vegetables?
Answer:

There are a number of vegetables that are relatively easy to grow.  Peppers, bush beans, leafy greens, and even tomatoes often make the easy to grow vegetable lists.  Be sure to select vegetables that you are most likely to eat as you...

Question:
What if I don’t have enough space for a large vegetable garden? Can I grow vegetables in smaller plots or containers?
Answer:

Yes, many vegetables can be grown in small plots or in containers.  Consider selecting more compact or dwarf varieties of vegetables for these situations. 

Vegetables That Can Be Successfully Grown in Containers or Small Plots...

Question:
Do I need to kill the grass or till the soil before starting a raised bed?
Answer:

Before filling raised beds, remove the grass sod, if possible, and work up the existing soil with a rototiller or spade.  Add a few inches of the soil mix, then incorporate it into the existing soil.  Continue to add and incorporate...

Question:
What are some pros and cons to growing vegetables in raised beds?
Answer:

Raised beds provide several advantages over conventional garden areas. Wet, poorly drained sites can be improved by constructing raised beds. A properly prepared raised bed increases drainage, thereby promoting plant growth and increasing crop...

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