Tree roots are not as deep as most people imagine. Most tree roots are located in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil. While tree roots are quite shallow, they often extend out into an area that is 2 to 3 times larger than the crown area…
The holes were likely created by sapsuckers. Sapsuckers, members of the woodpecker family, damage trees by drilling holes in the trunk or large branches. Sapsucker damage is very distinctive. They drill uniform, 1/4 inch holes…
American holly (Ilex opaca) and English holly (Ilex aquifolium) are prized for their glossy, green leaves and brightly colored fruit. Sprigs of both hollies are often used in wreaths, centerpieces, and other Christmas…
Trees have shallow roots. The vast majority of a tree’s roots are located in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil. As the tree roots grow, some of the larger roots near the soil surface may emerge from the ground. While many individuals regard…
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…
Carefully examine the tree for the type and extent of damage. Trees that have split trunks or suffered extensive trunk damage are no longer structurally sound and should be removed. Large trees that have lost 50 percent or more of…
Oak wilt is a serious disease that can infect many oak species. It is caused by the fungus B. fagacearum. Red and pin oaks are very susceptible to the oak wilt fungus and can die within 4 to 6 weeks. White and bur oaks…
Symptoms of herbicide damage vary and depend on the type, formulation, concentration, mode of action, source, and amount of herbicide, as well as the plant species affected, application method, equipment used, and weather conditions during and…
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…
Most garden areas, including the lawn, vegetable garden, and perennial garden, perform best when they receive an inch of water each week. When this is not supplied by rain, the gardener must do it using a hose, bucket, or sprinkler.
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.
Trees are valuable assets to the home landscape. Occasionally, the services of a professional arborist are needed to prune a large tree or assess its condition after a storm. For many individuals, selecting an arborist can be…
Of all the hydrangeas that grow in Iowa, only the bigleaf hydrangea can potentially bloom with blue flowers. The flower color of this species depends on soil pH – blue in acidic soils and pink in alkaline soils. In Iowa, most bigleaf hydrangeas…
The forsythia is easily propagated from softwood cuttings. Softwood cuttings should be made from the current season’s growth in late June or early July.
Using a sharp knife, cut off 4 to 6-inch long shoots. Pinch off the leaves on the…
Most garden areas, including the lawn, vegetable garden, and perennial garden, perform best when they receive an inch of water each week. When this is not supplied by rain, the gardener must do it using a hose, bucket, or sprinkler.
The roots of trees continue to grow until the ground freezes. If the weather is dry, continue to water newly planted trees until the soil freezes in winter. Small trees usually require watering for 1 or 2 growing seasons. It may…
The roots of trees continue to grow until the ground freezes. If the weather is dry, continue to water the newly planted trees until the soil freezes in winter.
The Japanese wisteria (Wisteria floribunda) is the most widely grown wisteria in the United States. Unfortunately, it doesn't perform well in Iowa. Most Japanese wisteria varieties (cultivars) do not bloom when grown in the…
Japanese beetles feed on more than 300 different plants. However, lindens are one of their favorites. Defoliation of well established, healthy lindens (and other trees) is usually not fatal. Defoliation is most harmful to recently planted trees (…
The ‘Sunburst’ honeylocust has distinctive yellow-green foliage. Unfortunately, it is not a vigorous tree. It grows slowly and is susceptible to cankers and mimosa webworms.
Cankers, caused by fungal pathogens, are localized…
American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) is dioecious. Dioecious plants bear male and female flowers on separate plants. Gardeners need to plant at least one male and one female bittersweet vine to produce fruit. …
The leaf drop is probably due to apple scab. Apple scab is a fungal disease caused by the fungus Venturia inaequalis. Cool, wet weather in spring favors apple scab development. Crabapple varieties differ in their susceptibility to apple…
Magnolia scale is the largest scale insect in Iowa. Sap feeding by the scales causes stress to heavily infested plants and can result in stunted growth, yellowish foliage, branch dieback, or death of the plant. Magnolia scales produce…
Shedding bark on some trees is a completely normal development. The bark of most young trees is smooth and thin. As the tree grows, the bark layer thickens with the outermost tissue eventually dying. Continued growth pushes the bark outward,…
Chokecherries (Prunus virginiana) and several other trees will send up shoots (suckers) from their roots. Unfortunately, there is nothing the home gardener can do to prevent these trees from suckering.
Deciduous trees that have been girdled (the bark has been removed completely around the trunk) have essentially been destroyed. The best course of action is to replace the girdled trees. Wrapping the trunk or applying pruning paint to…
Purple, black, and summer-bearing red raspberries that have been badly damaged by rabbits will likely produce little fruit this year. (Purple, black, and summer-bearing red raspberries produce fruit on the previous year's shoots. …
