Construction of buildings, patios, garages, driveways, sidewalks, and roads often compromises the growing environment of nearby trees. The majority of a tree’s roots are located in the top 12 to 18 inches of soil and often extend well…
Herbs grow best in the same conditions as most vegetables. Plant in full sun with at least six hours of sunlight a day. While not ideal, some species will grow in part-sun, receiving two to four hours of direct sunlight each day. Herbs will grow…
Many home gardeners choose to avoid the use of herbicides in vegetable gardens since they are growing edible crops. In certain situations, however, a gardener can use herbicides to supplement other weed control strategies. Most…
Grapevines can be grown on a wide range of soil types. Best growth and yields are obtained in well-drained soils. Avoid soils that are persistently wet during the growing season. Highly fertile…
Tomatoes perform best in fertile, well-drained soils. Avoid heavy clay soils and poorly drained sites. For best yields, tomatoes need at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. To discourage Septoria leaf spot, early blight, and…
Cedar-apple rust is likely responsible for the yellow spots on the crabapple leaves. Cedar-apple rust is a fungal disease. The fungus requires both a crabapple or apple and a cedar (juniper) to complete its life cycle. Crabapple…
Thatch is the layer of dead and living plant material that forms between the soil surface and green vegetation. It is composed of shoots, crowns, and roots. Thatch, to some degree, is present in all lawns. However, when thatch…
Periodical cicadas emerge in 13- or 17-year cycles depending on the brood. These broods emerge in specific geographic regions. Occasionally, two broods will emerge in the same year, and more rarely, there can be some overlap in the geographic…
Kentucky bluegrass and other cool-season grasses thrive in the cool weather of spring and fall. Hot, dry conditions in summer are stressful for cool-season grasses. Kentucky bluegrass lawns should be mowed at a height of 3 to 3½…
Sweet corn performs best in fertile, well-drained soils in full sun. Standard sweet corn (su) varieties may be planted in late April in central Iowa. It’s generally recommended that sugar enhanced (se) varieties be planted 1 week…
We often use the words herb and spice interchangeably. Herbs and spices are obtained from plants. (Salt is neither a spice nor an herb. It is actually a mineral.) Herbs and spices are used primarily for adding flavor and aroma to food. And both…
Ground ivy and creeping charlie are two different common names that refer to the same plant (Glechoma hederacea). Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is a different species that looks similar. It is important to tell them…
The small, blue-flowering plant is probably Siberian squill (Scilla sibirica). Siberian squill is an early spring flowering bulb. Plants typically bloom in early to mid-April in Iowa. Bright blue flowers are produced on…
Do not mow shady areas less than 3 inches in height. Because of the lower photosynthetic rates in shady areas, the turfgrass plants need a large leaf surface to manufacture adequate amounts of food. The recommended mowing height for…
Gooseberries and currants are small to medium-size shrubs that may reach a height of 3 to 6 feet. Gooseberries and currants should be planted 4 to 5 feet apart. Rows should be spaced 6 to 8 feet apart.
Tomato varieties are classified as determinate or indeterminate. Spacing of tomato plants depends on the growth habit of the variety and the training system employed.
Deadheading or the removal of faded flowers is done to encourage additional bloom on hybrid tea and other repeat-flowering roses. Hybrid tea roses usually have one or two 3-leaflet leaves immediately below the flower. Next (lower down…
Muskmelon and watermelon are usually planted in hills. Plant 4 or 5 seeds per hill at a depth of 1 inch. Later, remove all but 2 or 3 healthy, well-spaced plants per hill when seedlings have 1 or 2 true leaves.
Plant tomatoes in the garden after the danger of frost is past. In central Iowa, it’s usually safe to plant tomatoes around May 10. Gardeners in southern Iowa can plant one week earlier, while those in northern counties should wait an…
Most lawns in Iowa require 1 to 1½ inches of water per week. When watering the lawn, apply this amount in a single application or possibly 2 applications 3 or 4 days apart. Avoid frequent, light applications of water which promote…
The growth in your perennial bed is probably a slime mold. Slime molds are types of fungi. Slime molds feed on bacteria and other organisms in the mulch. They do not harm plants.
Slime molds are usually a temporary nuisance. Within a few…
Foliar diseases like leaf blotch and powdery mildew can discolor or spot peony leaves. Peony leaf blotch (Cladosporium) causes irregular brownish-purple spots on peony leaves in summer…
Clean, weed-free straw and chopped cornstalks are excellent mulches. Leaves, however, should not be used as they tend to mat down and don’t provide adequate protection. Apply approximately 3 to 5 inches of material. After…
