Planting depth varies with the size of the bulb (corm). Large corms should be planted 4 to 6 inches deep and 6 inches apart. Small corms should be planted at a depth of 3 inches. Gladioli require well-drained soils and perform…
Plant spring-flowering bulbs at a depth equal to 3 to 4 times their maximum bulb diameter. Accordingly, tulips and daffodils should be planted 6 to 8 inches deep, crocuses and grape hyacinths 3 to 4 inches deep. Large bulbs, such as…
Mulches, such as wood chips and shredded bark, help to conserve soil moisture and control weeds. Mulches also simplify maintenance activities around trees and shrubs and reduce the risk of mechanical damage to plant materials from errant…
Cucumbers and other vine crops are monoecious. Monoecious plants have separate male and female flowers on the same plant. Male and female flowers are similar in appearance. However, the female flowers have small, immature fruits…
Grapefruit and several other types of citrus can be grown indoors in Iowa. Indoors, place citrus plants in a sunny south or west window. Water plants regularly when growing in spring and summer, less often in winter. In spring…
Place the jade plant (Crassula argentea) in a sunny window where it receives at least 4 hours of direct sunlight. The jade plant is a succulent which stores water in its foliage and stems. Overwatering (watering too…
Place gardenia in a brightly lit, cool location. The location should receive bright light, but not direct sunlight. Ideal temperatures are 55 to 65°F during the night and 65 to 75°F during the day. Check the potting soil…
The umbrella tree (Schefflera actinophylla) is native to rainforests in Australia and New Guinea. In the home, place the umbrella tree in bright, indirect light near an east, west, or south window. Allow the potting soil to…
Garden geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) are attractive flowering plants for beds, borders, containers, hanging baskets, and window boxes. Geraniums are easy to grow and provide color in the garden from May to frost.…
Ornamental grasses are low-maintenance perennials. Most thrive in sunny sites and there are species that can grow in dry, well-drained, or wet soils. While small in the nursery, many can get quite large in just a couple of years, so check the…
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…
Raised beds may be permanent or temporary structures. Temporary raised beds are shallow beds (6 inches or less in height) constructed within the existing garden. After the garden is tilled in the spring, the loose soil is raked into raised beds.…
Cabbageworms are greenish caterpillars that eat large, irregular holes in the foliage of cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts. Cabbageworms can be controlled with biological or chemical insecticides. Bacillus…
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…
The best way to prevent crabgrass infestations in lawns is to maintain a thick, healthy lawn through proper mowing, irrigation, and fertilization. Crabgrass will have a difficult time germinating and surviving in a dense stand of turfgrass…
Mealybugs on houseplants are difficult to control. Unless the plant is particularly valuable, it’s often best to throw away the infested plant before the insects spread to other houseplants. The standard remedies for houseplant pests…
Nimblewill (Muhlenbergia schreberi) is a warm-season perennial grass. Nimblewill is a thin, wiry grass that is pale green or gray-green. It spreads by aboveground shoots or stolons, often forming circular spots in the lawn.…
Wild onion (Allium canadense) and wild garlic (Allium vineale) are perennial weeds most noticeable in spring. These tough-to-kill clump-forming weeds grow quicker than the surrounding turf and have a distinctive onion smell.…
Perennial broadleaf weeds die back to ground level in fall but send up new growth in spring. These weed species have leaves that are wider and are typically botanically classified as eudicots (dicots). Perennial weeds reproduce by…
Perennial grassy weeds die back to ground level in fall but send up new growth in spring. These weed species have long thin leaves with parallel veins. Perennial weeds reproduce by seeds or may spread by creeping above or below ground…
Perennial grassy weeds die back to ground level in fall but send up new growth in spring. These weed species have long, narrow leaves with parallel veins. They are often in the Poaceae (grass) family or a closely related family and…
Control of wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) and poison hemlock (Conium maculatum) is the same. Safely removing these weeds from the landscape is important as both species can be toxic to humans and animals.
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a native vine common to woodland areas but found frequently growing in gardens and along fence lines. This vine causes an allergic reaction (dermatitis) in most people when their skin comes in…
“Water grass” is an ambiguous name. Several plants are occasionally referred to as water grass. Two common lawn weeds that are sometimes referred to as “water grass” are crabgrass and yellow nutsedge.
Weeds compete with asparagus for light, water, and nutrients and will reduce asparagus yield and quality if not controlled. Cultivation and hand pulling are the best ways to control weeds in an asparagus planting. Hoe or…
Keeping ahead of weeds and controlling them when they are small is essential for good weed management. This requires persistence throughout the entire growing season to remove weeds as they emerge. There are essentially two types of weeds in our…
Weed control is essential to insure optimal plant growth and fruit production. Weeds compete with the strawberry plants for water, nutrients, and sunlight. Weeds also reduce air circulation which results in fruit and foliage staying…
Control of weeds in the vegetable garden is important. These unwanted plants are strong competitors for available water, nutrients, and sunlight and can reduce yields when not controlled. Reduced air circulation created by tall weeds…
