Marigolds do not repel rabbits, deer, or other animals. In fact, rabbits occasionally browse heavily on marigolds. Erecting a chicken wire or hardware cloth fence around the vegetable garden is the best way to keep rabbits out of the…
Annual flower and vegetable plants started indoors or purchased from greenhouses should not be planted directly into the garden. The intense sun and strong winds may damage or kill the tender transplants. Plants should be “hardened” (…
Petunia varieties can be divided into four main categories or types based on flower and growth characteristics. The four types are grandiflora, multiflora, milliflora, and spreading or groundcover. Choose the type that best meets your…
Crabgrass is an annual weed. In flower and vegetable gardens, hoeing and hand pulling are the best control options. When cultivating the garden, avoid deep tillage. The roots of many vegetables and flowers grow near the soil…
Knowing the area of the garden bed or lawn is necessary for applying fertilizers or pesticides, determining how much mulch is needed, or determining the number of plants needed to fill a space.
Careful observation of your seedlings will help you determine if the light levels are appropriate. Seedlings that are not receiving enough light will stretch and lean towards the light source. Use a brighter fixture that provides more…
Supplemental lights need to oriented relatively close to the seedlings to be effective and therefore need to be adjustable in height to accommodate the growing plants. For most fluorescent fixtures, the seedlings should be 4 to 6 inches…
Oedema is probably responsible for the lesions on the undersides of the ivy geranium leaves. Oedema is not caused by an insect or disease pathogen. It is a physiological problem. Oedema is most often encountered in greenhouses…
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…
Part shade garden areas receive 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. Some annuals thrive in these conditions, and others may grow best in full sun but tolerate part shade. For these species, they may have fewer flowers or a more…
Symptoms of impatiens downy mildew initially appear as yellowing of infected leaves. The yellow-green foliage may initially be confused with a nutritional deficiency. As the infection progresses, leaves may curl downward and a white, fuzzy growth…
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…
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.
Carefully remove plants from plastic cell packs by gently squeezing the bottom on each compartment. Plants in plastic pots can be removed by tipping them on their sides and tapping the bottom of the pots.
When plants produce a chemical that prevents the growth of other plants, it is called allelopathy.
Black walnut is a common woodland and landscape tree in the Midwest that produces an allelopathic compound called juglone which is…
Select short, stocky plants with dark green foliage. Avoid tall, spindly plants. Small to medium-sized transplants become established in the garden more quickly than large ones. Short, stocky vegetable transplants are often more…
When buying petunias, select compact, stocky plants. Tall, spindly petunias will need to be pinched to encourage the plants to spread and take longer to develop into attractive plants. If buying plants from a greenhouse, harden the…
For most home gardeners, a plug-in shop fluorescent or LED light fixture is the perfect type of light to use for seed starting. When shopping for fluorescent lights, look for high-output, full-spectrum (…
Plant impatiens outdoors after the danger of frost is past. It’s usually safe to begin planting impatiens in late April in southern Iowa and mid-May in northern portions of the state. Plants purchased at a greenhouse or started…
Two planting options are available when planting marigolds. Most gardeners set out plants in spring. However, gardeners can also sow marigold seeds directly outdoors.
Plant marigold seedlings outdoors after the danger of…
Petunias should be planted in the garden after the danger of frost is past. It’s usually safe to begin planting petunias in late April in southern Iowa and mid-May in northern parts of the state.
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…
Sow marigold seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the intended outdoor planting date. Lightly cover seeds with 1/4 inch of Jiffy Mix or other soilless medium. If given favorable temperatures and moisture conditions, the marigold seeds…
The growth rate of the seedlings and the outdoor planting date determine when to sow seeds indoors. The crop time (number of weeks from sowing to planting outdoors) for several popular flowers and vegetables are as follows: 10 to 12 weeks…
Plant caladiums indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the average last frost in your area. Tubers should be planted 1 to 2 inches deep. When planting tubers, place the knobby side up. The knobs are the tuber’s eyes or buds. …
For earlier bloom, start dahlia tubers indoors in early April. Fill an 8-inch-diameter pot about one-half full with a commercial potting mix, place a tuber horizontally on the potting mix surface, then cover with an additional 1 or 2 inches…
All varieties of the common garden impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) and interspecific hybrids with an Impatiens walleriana parent (such as Fusion and Butterfly impatiens) are susceptible to Impatiens downy mildew. Garden balsam…
