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…
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…
Proper pruning tools for a home gardener include hand shears, lopping shears, and a pruning saw.
Hand or pruning shears are generally used for cutting stems (branches) up to 3/4 inch in…
When purchasing grass seed, select a high quality seed mix that is best adapted to the site. Kentucky bluegrass is the best choice for sunny areas that receive at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Choose a seed mix that contains…
Tools required to prune grapevines include a hand shears, lopping shears, and saw. Brightly colored ribbons or cloth strips can be used to identify fruiting canes and renewal spurs.
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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.…
Suitable materials for the compost pile include garden debris, leaves, grass clippings, straw, sawdust, and small twigs and branches. You can also add food scraps from produce items, such as apple cores, potato and banana peels, and melon rinds.…
Blueberry plants require a sunny location and a well-drained soil high in organic matter. Avoid wet, poorly drained sites. Blueberries are susceptible to root rots in poorly drained soils. Soil pH is also important. …
Chrysanthemums perform best in moist, well-drained soils. Avoid wet, poorly drained sites. Improve hard, difficult-to-work soils by incorporating 2 to 3 inches of organic matter, such as compost, peat, or barnyard manure, into the…
Selecting the proper planting site is critical when planting fruit trees in the home landscape. While fruit trees can be grown on a wide variety of soils, good soil drainage is imperative. Apples and other fruit trees do not tolerate…
Gooseberries and currants prefer cool, moist, well-drained sites. Avoid poorly drained, wet soils and hot, dry sites. To discourage fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew, select sites with good air movement. Gooseberries and…
Peonies perform best in full sun and well-drained soils. When selecting a planting site, choose a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. Avoid shady areas near large trees and shrubs. Poorly drained…
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…
The late growing season is a good time to collect seeds from vegetables and flowers. Seed saving allows gardeners to preserve heirloom varieties or their favorite plants from year to year.
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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.
Grow garlic in well-drained, fertile soils that are high in organic matter. Amend…
Cut back peony foliage after it has been destroyed by a hard freeze. In Iowa, late October or early November is generally a good time to cut back peonies. Cut off the stems near ground level. If the peonies experienced foliar…
Lungworts (Pulmonaria spp.) can be divided in late summer/early fall or after flowering in spring. Carefully dig up the entire clump, then divide the clump into sections with a sharp knife. Each section should contain several…
Begin harvesting the large, oval varieties when the fruit are 2 inches in diameter. Continue to harvest the fruit until they are 4 to 6 inches across. At the proper harvest stage, the fruit will be firm and shiny. Overmature…
Radishes can be planted as soon as the ground can worked properly in spring. This is often late March in southern Iowa and mid-April in northern counties. Successive plantings can be made every 7 to 10 days through May. Radish…
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…
The trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) is a woody vine that produces orange to reddish, trumpet-shaped flowers. After planting, trumpet vines often don’t bloom for 3 to 5 years. The trumpet vine has to grow and mature before it…
In Iowa, September and April are the best times to aerate Kentucky bluegrass and other cool-season lawns. While the overall results are beneficial, core aeration causes some initial damage. Aerating in September or April allows the…
Fall (mid-September to early November) is the best time to control perennial broadleaf weeds in the lawn with broadleaf herbicides. In fall, perennial broadleaf weeds are transporting food (carbohydrates) from their foliage to their roots…
Sod can be successfully installed from spring to fall. However, spring (late April and May) and late summer/early fall (September and October) are the best times to install sod in Iowa.
October is the ideal time to plant daffodils, tulips, and other spring-flowering bulbs in Iowa. When planted in October, spring-flowering bulbs have sufficient time to develop a good root system before the ground freezes in winter. If…
Spring is the best time to plant garden mums (Chrysanthemum ×morifolium) in Iowa. Mums planted in spring survive the winter much better than those planted in fall. Spring planted mums have the opportunity to grow and…
Early fall is an excellent time to plant Asiatic, Oriental, and other garden lilies (Lilium spp). Plant lily bulbs at a depth equal to three times their diameter. Container-grown lilies can also be planted in spring and…
Peonies are available as potted and bare-root plants. Potted peonies are often available at garden centers and can be planted anytime during the growing season. Bare-root peonies are typically purchased from mail-order nurseries.…
October is the ideal time to plant tulips, daffodils, and other spring-flowering bulbs in Iowa. When planted in October, spring-flowering bulbs have sufficient time to develop a good root system before the ground freezes in winter. If…
Late summer (mid-August to mid-September) is the best time to establish a lawn from seed in Iowa. Late summer seeding has several advantages over spring seeding. The seeds of cool-season grasses germinate quickly in the warm soil of…
Early morning (5:00 to 9:00 am) is the best time to water a lawn. A morning application allows the water to soak deeply into the soil with little water lost to evaporation. When watering is completed, the turfgrass foliage dries…