Frequently Asked Questions
The bright reddish orange seeds of the saucer magnolia need to be exposed to cool, moist conditions before they will germinate. This can be accomplished by planting the seeds outdoors in fall. Plant the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep. The cool...
Carefully dig up each plant before the first fall frost and place in a large container. Water each plant thoroughly, then place the geraniums in a bright, sunny window or under artificial lighting. Geraniums prefer cool indoor...
If properly harvested and stored, sweet potatoes can be stored for 4 to 6 months. Optimum storage conditions are a temperature of 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity of 85 to 90 percent.
Smooth, oakleaf, bigleaf and climbing hydrangea all flower well in partial shade, but when in too much shade may not bloom well. Panicle hydrangea requires at least partial shade to set flowers and often blooms best in full sun. Most hydrangeas...
The iris borer is a serious pest of bearded irises. The mature stage of the iris borer is a grayish moth. Female moths lay eggs on iris foliage and other nearby plants in late summer/early fall. The eggs hatch the following...
Once fruit set has occurred, it normally takes 45 to 55 days for tomato fruit to fully develop and ripen. Cool temperatures during tomato fruit development will slow maturity. Tomato fruit may require an additional 7 to 10 days to...
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...
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...
Using a sharp knife, take 3- to 4-inch stem cuttings from the terminal ends of the shoots. Pinch off the lower leaves, then dip the base of each cutting in a rooting hormone. Stick the cuttings into a rooting medium of vermiculite or...
After harvesting carrots, cut off the green tops one-half to one inch above the roots. Small amounts can be placed in perforated plastic bags and stored in the refrigerator. Large amounts can be buried in sand or sawdust and then...
American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) is dioecious. Dioecious plants bear male and female flowers on separate plants. Gardeners need to plant at least one male and one female bittersweet vine to produce fruit. ...
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a native prairie grass. It is typically found in moist sites, such as along the banks of streams, and grows 3 to 6 feet tall.
Several switchgrass cultivars are excellent plants for the...
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...
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. ...
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