Frequently Asked Questions
Onions perform best in well-drained, slightly acidic, fertile soils in full sun. The planting site should receive at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Heavy soils can be improved by incorporating organic matter, such as compost,...
Plant onion seeds as soon as the ground can be worked in spring (late March or early April in southern Iowa, early to mid-April in central Iowa, and mid to late April in northern portions of the state). Plant seeds in rows 12 to 15 inches...
Plant onion plants from early April to early May. Place plants 1 to 1½ inches deep in rows 12 to 15 inches apart. To produce large, dry onions, space plants 2 to 3 inches apart.
Red raspberries spread rapidly as they sucker profusely from their roots. To prevent the planting from becoming a wide, unmanageable thicket, red raspberries should be confined to a one- to two-foot-wide hedgerow. Shoots growing...
Cut off the branch just beyond the branch collar and branch bark ridge. The branch collar is the swollen area at the base of the branch. The branch bark ridge is the dark, rough bark ridge that separates the branch from the main...
Spring is the best time to plant rhubarb in Iowa. Plants can be purchased at garden centers or from mail-order catalogs. Digging and dividing large existing plants is another source of plants.
Plants growing in...
Honeyberry (Lonicera caerulea) is a species of honeysuckle native to cold regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. Other common names include blue honeysuckle or haskap. Honeyberries grow 4 to 6 feet tall. Plants...
Serviceberries are members of the genus Amelanchier. Other common names for plants in the genus Amelanchier include juneberry, saskatoon, shadbush, sarvisberry, and sugar plum.
Serviceberries are dual-purpose...
The cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) is actually a species of dogwood. It is also referred to as cornelian cherry dogwood. The cornelian cherry dogwood is an adaptable, durable, and relatively pest-free small tree. Plants...
Three species of hydrangea are commonly grown in Iowa. Pruning practices are based on the flowering characteristics of each species.
Smooth Hydrangea
The smooth hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens) grows 4 to 5...
Japanese spireas (Spiraea japonica) are small shrubs that grow 2 to 3 feet tall. Plants produce clusters of small pink flowers in summer. Numerous cultivars are available. The best way to renew or rejuvenate straggly...
When a prolonged period of snow cover deprives deer of food on the ground, deer often feed on trees and shrubs in woodlands, windbreaks, and home landscapes. Among evergreens, arborvitae and yews are most susceptible to browsing by deer in...
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