Frequently Asked Questions

Question:
How do I control mealybugs on a houseplant?
Answer:

Mealybugs on houseplants are difficult to control.  Unless the plant is particularly valuable, it’s often best to throw away the infested plant before the insects spread to other houseplants.  The standard remedies for houseplant pests...

Question:
What are the differences between the different types of strawberries?
Answer:

There are basically 3 types of strawberries grown in home gardens.  They differ in growth, flowering, and fruiting characteristics. 

June-bearing

June-bearers are the most widely planted type of strawberry.  June-...

Question:
Sap is flowing from a pruning cut on my maple tree. Should I be concerned?
Answer:

Some tree species, such as maple, birch, and elm, “bleed” heavily when pruned in late winter or early spring.  However, the loss of sap does not harm the trees.  The trees will not “bleed” to death.  Eventually the flow of sap will...

Question:
How do I produce my own sweet potato plants?
Answer:

To produce your own slips (plants), select a large, unblemished sweet potato from the previous year’s harvest.  Place sand in the bottom of a pot or other large container.  Set the sweet potato horizontally on the surface of the sand...

Question:
Will a fluorescent light fixture provide sufficient light for seedlings?
Answer:

A standard fluorescent shop fixture containing two 40-watt tubes provides sufficient light to grow seedlings indoors.  For best results, place one cool white and one warm white tube in each fixture.  Place the fluorescent lights no more...

Question:
Areas of my lawn that were covered with snow for most of the winter aren't greening up. What could be wrong?
Answer:

Snow molds may be responsible for the brown spots in your lawn.  Two snow mold diseases, gray snow mold and pink snow mold, occur in Iowa.  Gray snow mold is caused by two species of the fungus Typhula, while pink snow mold is...

Question:
We recently experienced several days of flooding. What will happen to the trees in the yard?
Answer:

Flooding during the growing season is typically more harmful to trees than flooding during dormant periods. And, the longer trees are exposed to flooding, the greater the potential for injury. Short periods of flooding during the growing season...

Question:
When would be the best time to divide 'Autumn Joy' sedum?
Answer:

Early spring is the best time to divide ‘Autumn Joy’ and other upright, clump-forming varieties sedum (Hylotelephium).  Dig up plants in early spring just as new growth begins to appear.  Divide each clump into sections with a...

Question:
I have an old apple tree that is starting to decline. I don't know the variety, but would like another tree. How can I propagate it?
Answer:

Apple trees don’t come true from seed.  Grafting is the best way to propagate an apple tree.  Grafted apple trees produce fruit that are identical to their parent. 

Grafting is the joining together of two plant parts (scion...

Question:
Can I plant my Easter lily outdoors after it is done blooming?
Answer:

Individuals wishing to save their Easter lily (Lilium longiflorum) should place the plant in a sunny window after flowering.  Continue to water the plant when needed.  Fertilize once every 2 weeks with a dilute fertilizer...

Question:
What is the proper way to prune grapevines?
Answer:

Grapevines produce fruit clusters on the previous season’s growth.  Before pruning, a grapevine may have 200 to 300 buds capable of producing fruit.  If the vine is not pruned, the number of grape clusters would be excessive and the...

Question:
How do I control spider mites on houseplants?
Answer:

Spider mites are a common pest of houseplants.  Spider mites use piercing-sucking mouthparts to puncture the plant tissue and feed on the liquid within the cells.  In light infestations, the foliage appears to be speckled with very tiny...

Question:
Should I fertilize my fruit trees?
Answer:

It is generally not necessary to fertilize fruit trees in Iowa.  Most Iowa soils can supply sufficient amounts of nutrients to fruit trees.  Check tree growth to determine whether fruit trees need fertilization.  Young, nonbearing...

Question:
Is it advisable to paint pruning wounds when pruning trees?
Answer:

Do not apply a pruning paint or wound dressing to pruning wounds.  The application of a pruning paint or wound dressing does not prevent wood decay and may actually interfere with the tree’s natural wound responses.

Oak trees are an...

Question:
What would be a good planting site for rhubarb?
Answer:

Rhubarb performs best in well-drained, fertile soils that are high in organic matter.  Heavy, clay soils can often be improved by incorporating organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure, into the upper 12 to 15 inches of soil....

Question:
What type of germination medium should I use to start seedlings indoors?
Answer:

The germination medium should be lightweight, porous, and free of pathogens.  Excellent seed-starting media are commercially prepared soilless mixes, such as Jiffy Mix.  Use a high quality, well-drained potting mix when transplanting...

Question:
When should I prune hybrid tea roses in spring?
Answer:

The upper portions of modern roses, such as hybrid teas, floribundas, and grandifloras, typically winterkill due to exposure to low winter temperatures and extreme temperature changes.  Gardeners should prune out the dead wood after the...

Question:
A hard freeze in early spring damaged the newly emerged growth on several trees and shrubs. Will the plants recover?
Answer:

Newly emerged tree and shrub foliage is susceptible to damage from below freezing temperatures. The new growth on many trees and shrubs can tolerate temperatures in the low 30s and upper 20s. Freeze damage is most likely when temperatures drop...

Question:
Do hardy geraniums perform well in Iowa?
Answer:

While not widely planted in home gardens, hardy geraniums (Geranium spp.) are attractive, easy-to-grow perennials.  Numerous species and varieties are available.  Plants typically bloom in late spring/early summer.  The 1...

Question:
Can I grow an apple tree from a seed?
Answer:

It is possible to grow an apple tree from an apple seed.  However, in most cases, apple trees don't come true from seeds.  For example, a seed taken from a Red Delicious apple will not produce a Red Delicious apple tree.  Seedling...

Question:
What should I do with my poinsettia after the holidays?
Answer:

If given good care in the home, poinsettias should remain attractive for 2 to 3 months.  Toss the poinsettia when you grow tired of it or it becomes unattractive. 

Tips to have the poinsettia bloom again:

March to Late...

Question:
How can I propagate a grapevine?
Answer:

While grapevines can be propagated by several methods, they are most commonly propagated by hardwood cuttings.  Hardwood cuttings are made from the dormant canes of the preceding year’s growth. Cutting material should be collected in late...

Question:
Do houseplants actually improve indoor air quality?
Answer:

Houseplants have received much attention as options for improving indoor air quality. In 1989, scientists from NASA discovered that plants could remove VOCs (volatile organic...

Question:
When should I apply a dormant oil spray to my fruit trees?
Answer:

Dormant oil sprays are highly refined petroleum products that are mixed with water and applied to trees and shrubs to control aphids, spider mites, and scale.  Dormant oils destroy pests by suffocating them.  When applied properly, the...

Question:
When should I prune my shrubs?
Answer:

The proper time to prune deciduous and evergreen shrubs is determined by the plant’s growth habit, bloom time, and health or condition. 

Spring-flowering shrubs, such as lilac and forsythia, bloom in spring on the growth of the...

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