Frequently Asked Questions
Disease issues are a primary limiting factor to producing high-quality apples in the home garden. Without regular fungicide applications, most apple cultivars will develop serious issues with diseases like apple scab, fire blight, cedar...
Beans produce perfect and self-fertile flowers so they readily and easily pollinate themselves. Only beans in the same species are capable of cross-pollinating. So, pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) can cross with other varieties of bean...
The browning of the peony buds is likely due to botrytis blight. Botrytis blight is a common fungal disease of peonies. The fungus Botrytis paeoniae attacks stems, leaves and flower buds. It is most common in cool, rainy weather.
Young...
Many peony flowers have double or triple the number of petals – making them too heavy for their stems to support. Therefore, staking the peony stems as they emerge in the spring or as the flower buds are forming will provide the extra...
Peony flowers are harvested for cut flowers when they are in bud, before they open. Flower buds that are showing color and are soft in the center are at the best stage to harvest for cut flowers. After harvest, flowers can be placed...
Most peonies require well-drained soils and full sun for best flowering. Plants need at least six hours of direct sunlight per day and a location with good air movement helps prevent foliar disease problems. Woodland peonies can...
Numerous carrot cultivars are available to home gardeners. The main differences between cultivars are the shape and size of the root. Carrot roots can be long and tapered, cylindrical, or even roundish. Most carrots are orange. However,...
This is a difficult question to answer because the growth rate of any plant depends on site conditions and maintenance. In most cases, the growth rate given for a particular plant is based on optimal conditions. Quite frequently, however, our...
Ornamental grasses are low-maintenance perennials. Most thrive in sunny sites and there are species that can grow in dry, well-drained, or wet soils. While small in the nursery, many can get quite large in just a couple of years, so check the...
Place gardenia in a brightly lit, cool location. The location should receive bright light, but not direct sunlight. Ideal temperatures are 55 to 65°F during the night and 65 to 75°F during the day. Check the potting soil...
Trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) can be pruned at any time of the year. Although late winter or early spring when the vine is not covered in leaves can make the task easier. Without regular pruning, trumpet vine can quickly...
While most shrub or landscape roses are winter-hardy in Iowa, there is still typically some branch die-back over winter. Gardeners should prune out the dead wood just as the new buds are turning green and breaking in spring - typically...
Old garden roses, hybrid rugosas, and other hardy shrub or landscape roses often survive Iowa's winters with little or no winter injury. If there is any winter injury, it can be pruned back to live wood just as the new buds are turning...
We often use the words herb and spice interchangeably. Herbs and spices are obtained from plants. (Salt is neither a spice nor an herb. It is actually a mineral.) Herbs and spices are used primarily for adding flavor and aroma to food. And both...
Most herbs can be cut and used fresh throughout the growing season. They can also be harvested, dried and stored for use during the winter months.
Many herbs, such as sage, rosemary and basil, are grown for their leaves. These herbs should...
Herbs grow best in the same conditions as most vegetables. Plant in full sun with at least six hours of sunlight a day. While not ideal, some species will grow in part-sun, receiving two to four hours of direct sunlight each day. Herbs will grow...
There are dozens of different species and varieties of herbs that can be grown, but a few are particularly easy to grow in Iowa.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is an annual started easily from seed each spring.
Cilantro (...
While most gardeners prefer to grow perennials from established plants in containers or as divisions, transplants, or bare root, it is possible to grow many perennials successfully from seed. The reason why perennials grown from established...
The hydrangeas found in flower shops are bigleaf hydrangeas forced into bloom out of season. These plants are intended to be enjoyed as a temporary potted plant indoors, much like poinsettia, and are not intended for planting in the landscape....
Raised bed soils should be light and well-drained. An excellent soil mix can be prepared by mixing equal parts topsoil, organic matter (well-rotted manure, compost, or peat), and coarse sand. If bringing topsoil from other...
Mushrooms are the reproductive or fruiting structures of fungi. Their appearance in the lawn is usually indicative of decaying tree stumps or roots in the soil. In garden beds, mushrooms can appear because they are associated with decaying...
Ash trees infected with emerald ash borer (EAB) do not need to be treated or chipped when removed. If you do plan to keep the wood for campfires or fireplaces use it on your property and do not transport the wood to new locations. Any...
Proper cleaning and sanitization of pruners and other garden tools is important to prevent the spread of disease issues. At minimum when removing disease-infected plant material, pruners should be disinfected between plants. Ideally,...
Control of wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) and poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is the same. Safely removing these weeds from the landscape is important as both species can be toxic to humans and animals. ...
Remove suckers with a hand pruners as soon as they appear from their point of origin. Often this requires pulling a little bit of soil back to find the base and clip it off while still less than 6 to 12 inches in length. If suckers...
Pages
