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…
Cultivation and hand pulling effectively control most annual weeds. It is very important to destroy these weeds while they are small before they produce thousands of seeds, guaranteeing a weed problem for many years in the future.
Weedy vines are fast growing plants, getting very large in a relatively short amount of time often climbing and covering other garden plants. If left to grow, they can smother other plants blocking out light and killing the desirable plant.
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…
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…
Trapping is the best way to get rid of moles. Trapping isn't easy, but it does work. Patience and persistence are required. Traps can usually be found in hardware stores and garden centers. When using traps, carefully…
Mosses in lawns are usually a sign of poor growing conditions. Turfgrasses have a difficult time growing in heavy shade, compacted soils, or other poor sites. However, mosses are adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions.…
Mushrooms are the reproductive or fruiting structures of fungi. Their appearance in the lawn usually indicates decaying tree stumps or roots in the soil. In garden beds, mushrooms can appear because they are associated with decaying organic…
Snap beans (also called green beans, string beans, or wax beans) should be harvested frequently and thoroughly. Leaving mature pods on the plant decreases yields as the bean plant puts its energy into seed development rather than additional…
Soil testing services are provided by neighboring universities and private laboratories. Information on how to collect good soil samples for testing and recommendations for how to find testing laboratories can be found at …
Annual weeds grow rapidly, flower, set seed and die in a single season. New annual weeds germinate from seeds each year. Before they die, most annual weeds produce large quantities of seeds.
Two closely related insect pests, the asparagus beetle and the spotted asparagus beetle, occasionally attack asparagus plantings in Iowa. When asparagus shoots appear in spring, these beetles emerge from their sheltered, overwintering locations…
The squash vine borer is a common pest of squash and pumpkins in home gardens in Iowa. Damage first appears as wilting of the vines. Eventually affected plants may collapse and die.
In windy, exposed areas, straw mulches can be kept in place by placing wire or plastic fencing over the area. The fencing can be held in place with bricks or other heavy objects.
Female cicadas lay eggs on small twigs and the damage can cause some twig die-back (also called flagging). For a large tree this is not a concern, but if possible you can protect small or high value trees and shrubs.
Proper cleaning and sanitization of pruners and other garden tools is important to prevent the spread of disease issues. At minimum when removing disease-infected plant material, pruners should be disinfected between plants. Ideally,…
Birds are the biggest threat to the blueberry crop in the home garden. If not controlled, hungry birds may devour most of the crop. Scare devices are sometimes helpful. However, netting is the most effective way to protect the…
Red raspberries sucker freely. If not confined, plants will spread rapidly. Red raspberries are most productive when grown in 2-foot-wide hedgerows. If the raspberry planting is several feet wide, plant rows need to be…
As soon as bearded irises are done blooming, remove the spent flowers. Removal of the spent flowers improves the appearance of the plants and prevents seed pod formation. Bearded irises require little care during the summer months.…
When sufficient materials are on hand, build a pile that is at least 3 feet by 3 feet square and 3 feet in height, but no larger than 5 feet by 5 feet square and 5 feet in height. Use a mixture of garden debris, leaves, grass clippings and other…
Early spring is the best time to plant dormant, bare-root blueberries. Soak the roots of bare-root plants in water for about an hour before planting. Prune back the plants by half by removing the small side branches and by heading…
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…
A June-bearing strawberry planting can be productive for 4 to 5 years if the bed is given good care. One important task is to renovate June-bearing strawberries immediately after harvest. The renovation process involves leaf removal,…
The frequency of watering may vary considerably from container to container. Watering frequency depends on the size and type of container, composition of the potting mix, plant species, and weather conditions. Some plants, such as…
Cherries are short-lived trees in Iowa, especially in poor sites. Sweet cherries seldom live beyond 10 to 15 years. Sour or tart cherries may survive for 20 to 25 years. When selecting a planting site, be sure to choose a well-…
June-bearing strawberry plantings that are well-maintained and renovated annually should remain productive for 4 or 5 years. Poorly managed beds may be productive for only 1 or 2 years. It’s time to plant a new strawberry bed when…
