Frequently Asked Questions
Some perennials emerge early in the spring. In Iowa, it’s common to have relatively warm days in early or mid-March and it is equally common to have below freezing temperatures in April or even early May. In most cases, early leaf...
Freezing temperatures don’t harm dormant plants. In some years, warm late winter temperatures can cause some fruit trees to break bud, leaf-out, or develop flower buds earlier than normal. The inevitable below-freezing temperatures that...
In some years, warm late winter temperatures can cause some trees and shrubs to break bud, leaf-out, or develop flower buds earlier than normal. The inevitable below-freezing temperatures that follow in early spring can potentially cause...
Apples are considered self-unfruitful. While a few cultivars, like Gold Delicious, set a good crop without cross-pollination, most apple cultivars will not produce a good crop without a different cultivar nearby to provide pollen.
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There are many native woodland wildflowers that are great additions to the shade garden. Most are ephemeral with a relatively short (but impactful) bloom time in early spring before the foliage dies back to the ground in early summer....
While most deciduous trees have flowers of some kind in springtime, they tend to be small and not showy. There are several species of smaller, ornamental trees that have showy blooms in the spring.
The eastern redbud...
Perennial grassy weeds die back to ground level in fall but send up new growth in spring. These weed species have long narrow leaves with parallel veins. They are often in the poaceae (grass) family or a closely related family and are...
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a native vine common to woodland areas but found frequently growing in gardens and along fence lines. This vine causes an allergic reaction (dermatitis) in most people when their skin comes in...
Leaves are an excellent resource for the garden. They break down to add organic matter and nutrients to the soil. As they decompose, they act as a mulch suppressing weeds and helping to maintain consistent soil moisture. Additionally, they can...
Hardneck cultivars of garlic will produce a scape or flower stalk from the center of the leaves in mid- to late-May. Removing the scape is advised as it will help the bulb grow larger because the plant will put energy into bulb production...
Fertilization
Garlic requires more fertilizer than many vegetables. Apply and incorporate 1 to 2 pounds of an all-purpose garden fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, per 100 square feet of garden area prior to planting. Lightly incorporate one...
In Iowa, October is the time to plant garlic cloves 1-1.5 inches deep and 3-5 inches apart in well-drained, fertile soils.
Ideal Planting Conditions
Grow garlic in well-drained, fertile soils that are...
Garlic is distinguished from its other close family members like onions, chives, shallots, and leeks, by its flat leaves and clove-like bulbs which contain several small scales or cloves enclosed in a white or purplish parchment-like sheath....
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...
Weedy vines can be some of the most difficult to control weeds in the garden. They are fast growing, getting very large in a relatively short amount of time and often climb and cover other garden plants. These tenacious plants climb...
Woody weeds are trees and shrubs that have woody plant tissue. They are perennial and typically classified as eudicots, although some may belong to other plant groups like gymnosperms (conifers). Examples of woody weeds include...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Perennial grassy weeds die back to ground level in fall but send up new growth in spring. These weed species have long thin leaves with parallel veins. They are often in the poaceae (grass) family or a closely related family and are...
Perennial broadleaf weeds die back to ground level in fall but send up new growth in spring. These weed species have leaves that are wider and often have a major vein running down the center of the leaf with secondary veins branching off of...
Cutting back or mowing off weeds is sometimes used to control weeds in the garden or lawn. Timely or frequent cutting back stresses the weed and reduces its competitive advantage over more desirable plants. Consistent removal of the...
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...
Annual weeds grow rapidly, flower, set seed and die in a single season. New annual weeds, such as crabgrass, velvetleaf, purslane, knotweed, lambsquarter and foxtail, germinate from seeds each year. Before they die, most annual weeds produce...
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