Frequently Asked Questions

Question:
How do I purchase high-quality bulbs?
Answer:

High-quality spring blooming bulbs are large, firm, solid, and purchased from quality retailers, both in-store and online.

Select Firm, Solid Bulbs

When buying bulbs, select only firm, solid bulbs for...

Question:
How do I plant spring-blooming bulbs?
Answer:

Planting Depth

Plant bulbs at a depth equal to two or three times their maximum bulb diameter. Larger bulbs like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are often planted 6-8 inches deep. The smaller bulbs like squill, snowdrops and crocus are...

Question:
Where should I plant spring-blooming bulbs?
Answer:

Light Requirements

Most bulbs should be planted in a full or part-sun location. Early blooming bulbs are often successful beneath a high branched deciduous tree because they usually flower before the tree fully leafs out. After the bulbs...

Question:
When do I plant spring-blooming bulbs?
Answer:

October is the ideal time to plant spring-flowering bulbs in Iowa. This allows bulbs to establish and develop good roots before winter. Planting bulbs too early in the season in September when soil temperatures have not yet cooled may cause some...

Question:
What spring-blooming bulbs are best for Iowa?
Answer:

There are a number of species and varieties of bulbs and bulb-like structures like corms and tubers that grow well in Iowa. Some of these species are readily available from retailers and others may have to be purchased from specialty producers or...

Question:
How can I use preemergent herbicides to control weeds?
Answer:

Preemergent herbicides are used to prevent weeds from growing. They interrupt the growing process of a newly germinating plant, preventing that plant from becoming established.  Preemergent herbicides will not impact mature or established...

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:
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 early spring planted cool-season annuals when summer 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.

Since...

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:
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:
How do I construct a raised bed? What is a good size for a raised bed planter?
Answer:

Raised beds may be permanent or temporary structures. Temporary raised beds are shallow beds (6 inches or less in height) constructed within the existing garden. After the garden is tilled in the spring, the loose soil is raked into raised beds....

Question:
When should material for hardwood stem cuttings be collected?
Answer:

Material for hardwood stem cuttings should be collected in late winter (when the plant material is dormant) from wood of the previous season’s growth.  In Iowa, hardwood stem cutting material should be collected in late February or early...

Question:
What is the proper size of hardwood stem cuttings?
Answer:

The length of most hardwood stem cuttings varies from 4 to 12 inches.  However, the cuttings of some plants may be up to 30 inches in length.  The diameter of hardwood stem cuttings typically ranges from ¼ to 1 inch.  Each cutting...

Question:
What is the procedure for rooting hardwood stem cuttings?
Answer:

After cutting the material to the proper length, dip the bottom of each cutting in a rooting hormone.  Gather the cuttings together (placing all the tops in one direction) and secure them with twine or rubber bands.  Place the bundled...

Question:
What are hardwood stem cuttings?

Answer:

Plants can be propagated by a number of different methods.  Hardwood stem cuttings utilize shoots of the previous year’s growth on trees, shrubs, and vines to produce new plants. 

Learn more from this article: ...

Question:
Which plants can be propagated from hardwood stem cuttings?
Answer:

Several woody trees, shrubs, and vines can be propagated by hardwood stem cuttings.  Plants that can be propagated by this method include willow, poplar, dogwood, forsythia, wisteria, grape, currant, gooseberry, and elderberry. 

...

Question:
What materials are needed to make hardwood stem cuttings?
Answer:

Materials needed to make hardwood stem cuttings include a pruning shears, rooting hormone, plastic bag, and sphagnum moss or wood shavings.  Use the pruning shears to collect cutting material and also cut the shoots to the proper length....

Question:
In regards to tree fruits, what is meant by the term self-unfruitful?
Answer:

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma.  After pollination and fertilization, fruit set occurs.  There are two types of pollination.  Self-pollination occurs when the pollen is transferred from the...

Question:
Will a crabapple pollinate a nearby apple tree?
Answer:

A crabapple is a type of apple.  The main difference between an apple and a crabapple is the size of the fruit.  A crabapple is a tree that produces fruit that are less than 2 inches in diameter.  An apple tree produces fruit that...

Question:
Are there any trees or shrubs that bloom in winter?
Answer:

While most trees and shrubs bloom in spring or summer, witch hazels are a notable exception. Common witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) blooms from mid-October to early December.  Vernal witch hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) and...

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