Temperatures of 150 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit are required to kill most plant disease pathogens. Unfortunately, the internal temperatures of most home compost piles don’t reach this level and the disease organisms are not destroyed. For many home…
There is no published peer-reviewed research that shows liquid aeration is a viable replacement for core aerification to reduce soil compaction in the lawn.
Liquid aeration products are often sold as soil conditioners and promoted as an…
Yes, shredded newspapers or whole sheets may be used as a mulch in the vegetable garden. Newspapers use organic inks so gardeners need not worry about lead contamination. When using newspaper sheets, place a layer of 2 to 4 sheets between…
The butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a member of the milkweed family. Plants grow 2 to 3 feet tall and produce flat-topped clusters of bright orange flowers from July through September. Their flowers attract several…
While more demanding than many other perennials, the Lenten rose (Helleborus x hybridus) can be successfully grown in Iowa. The Lenten rose requires a fertile, well-drained soil in partial shade. Also, choose a site…
Most hostas do not need winter protection if they have been in the ground for at least one full growing season. However, a winter mulch is often beneficial to hostas planted in late summer or early fall. Repeated freezing and thawing…
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…
Before filling raised beds, remove the grass sod, if possible, and work up the existing soil with a rototiller or spade. Add a few inches of the soil mix, then incorporate it into the existing soil. Continue to add and incorporate…
Sour or tart cherries are self-fruitful. Self-pollination occurs when pollen is transferred from the anther to the stigma on the same flower, from another flower on the same plant, or from a flower on another plant of the same variety.
Grass clippings contribute very little to thatch development because clippings are primarily cellulose and decompose quickly. There is no need to remove grass clippings when lawns are mowed properly. Infrequent mowing of tall grass…
Turfgrass plants utilize light, water, and nutrients to manufacture food. In fall, lawn areas beneath large trees are often completely covered with leaves. The leaf debris prevents the turfgrass plants from manufacturing and storing…
Tree peonies are small woody shrubs. Unlike herbaceous peonies, the stems of tree peonies do not die back to the ground in fall. Tree peonies can be successfully grown in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8.
Many of our houseplants enjoy a “summer vacation,” spending the warm summer months outside in a location with full or partial shade. If you placed some of your indoor plants outside for the summer, you will need to move them back indoors before…
In certain situations, a gardener can use herbicides to supplement other weed control strategies. Several factors limit the usefulness of herbicides in the home garden. Most home gardens contain a variety of plants in a small area. This restricts…
Occasionally a florist or garden center will have vibrant blue moth orchids (Phalaenopsis) for sale. Blue is not a color that naturally occurs in orchids. These orchids are typically white flowers dyed to achieve this unique…
Flame weeding is the use of intense heat, usually produced by a propane torch or other fuel-burning device, to kill weeds. This organic option for weeding causes the water and sap inside the plant cell to boil and expand rupturing the cell…
Before applying any herbicide, carefully read and follow label directions. When applying liquid formulations, potential spray drift problems can be avoided by following simple precautions. Don’t spray when winds exceed 5 mph.…
Powdery mildew is a common disease of garden phlox (Phlox paniculata). The fungal disease produces a grayish white coating on the leaves. Infected leaves eventually turn yellow and then brown. Initial symptoms appear on…
Squash bugs can be serious pests of summer and winter squash. Squash bugs have piercing-sucking mouthparts. Heavy feeding causes entire leaves to wilt, turn brown, and die. Several methods can be used to control squash bugs in…
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…
Gather the fruit (capsules) of the buckeyes as soon as they fall to the ground. Dry the fruit for 1 or 2 days at room temperature until the capsules split, then remove the shiny, brown seeds.
Collect the pods on a redbud when the pods turn brown in fall. Remove the seeds. Redbud seeds have hard, impermeable seedcoats and dormant embryos. The seedcoats must be broken and dormancy overcome before the redbud seeds can…
The bright reddish orange seeds of the saucer magnolia need to be exposed to cool, moist conditions before they will germinate. This can be accomplished by planting the seeds outdoors in fall. Plant the seeds 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep. The cool,…
Collect walnuts after they fall to the ground. Remove the husks, then place the nuts in water. The nuts that float are not viable and can be discarded. Good, viable nuts will sink to the bottom.
Determining the identity of an apple variety is difficult as there are hundreds of potential cultivars or varieties of which it could be. Iowa State University does not offer apple variety identification services.
The most effective way to prevent damage to the sweet corn crop is to encircle the area with an electric fence. A two-wire fence with one wire 4 to 6 inches above the ground and the other at 12 inches should keep the raccoons out of the…
