Care and How-To - Annuals
-
Reusing plastic, clay, and other containers is a great way to save money and reduce the amount of plastic waste that goes into landfill. Plastic containers cannot be recycled in traditional single-stream home recycling programs and, unfortunately, programs to collect and recycle plastic pots are not common.
Proper cleaning and disinfecting of pots requires just a minimum amount of effort, yet can mean the difference between the success or failure of containerized plants, plus it allows you to reuse containers and reduce plastic waste. Follow the steps below to clean and disinfect used containers.
-
Learn how to protect plants from frost and freeze damage in fall and spring. Get tips on covering plants, using cold frames, and when to bring plants indoors for the season.
-
Ideal for adding color to shaded areas in your garden, learn how to care for impatiens, from planting and watering to managing common issues like downy mildew. Explore different varieties, including New Guinea impatiens and double impatiens, and understand their growing conditions. Perfect for containers, hanging baskets, and beds, impatiens are a versatile choice for any gardener.
-
Germination requirements (light and temperature) vary among the different annuals and vegetables. The various crops also differ in the length of time from seed sowing until the seedlings are planted outdoors. Below is germination and growing information for commonly grown annual flowers, herbs, and vegetables.
-
Hanging baskets are a great way to decorate porches, decks, and other outdoor areas of the home. They make great gifts and are readily available in garden centers every spring. Whether your hanging basket has just one or many blooming plants, care is required for the best blooms throughout the growing season. Below are some tips for growing and maintaining hanging baskets.
-
Proper storage conditions for seeds are essential to maintain viability and good germination at planting time. You can test the germination rate of your seeds to be sure they are viable and worth the time to sow and grow. More information about storing seeds, testing seed germination rates, and the expected viability of common vegetables can be found below.
-
Learn how to grow petunias from seeds indoors. Tips on timing, containers, sowing, germination, and care for successful petunia seedlings before outdoor planting.
-
Driving through Iowa, you'll find many eye-catching native and non-native plants thriving along roadsides. Here are some of the common species you'll find.
-
Impatiens thrive in shady areas, making them perfect for flower beds and containers. Learn how to grow these versatile annuals from seeds!
-
Discover the versatility of annual geraniums! Learn about types, care tips, and pest management for vibrant blooms in your home landscape.
-
There are several Hibiscus species that grow well in Iowa. Growing hibiscus can be confusing to Iowa gardeners because the three most common species vary greatly in flower, habit, and cold hardiness.
-
A healthy garden has properly spaced plants. Use this guide to help determine how many plants you need based on their recommended spacing.
-
Organic mulches serve several important functions in gardens and landscape plantings.
These many benefits make the use of mulch very beneficial in a wide range of garden settings. When choosing which organic mulch to use, consider availability, cost, appearance, function, and durability.
-
Each spring, home gardeners buy bedding plants (annual flowers and vegetables) from local garden centers and greenhouses. To help ensure a successful start to the gardening season its important to select good plants, harden them off, and plant them properly. Learn more below.
-
Container gardens are an excellent way to grow plants in limited spaces and to add variety and interest to the landscape. Container gardening is relatively easy but there are several things to know before you get started. Included below are several resources to help with container gardening.
-
There are many different options for containers that can be used to start seedlings.
-
Drip irrigation is a water-efficient method for vegetable gardens, delivering moisture directly to roots, saving time, and reducing disease risks.
-
Bring garden flowers indoors for bouquets in spring, summer, and fall. No experience needed. Condition flowers to keep them fresh and vibrant.
-
Begonias are a beautiful and diverse group of plants. There are about 1500 different begonia species native to tropical regions worldwide. All are tropical plants that prefer warm, humid conditions. All are sensitive to cold temperatures. While wax begonias and tuberous begonias are common landscape plants in Iowa, the rest are more commonly grown as houseplants.
-
Sprinklers are frequently used by home gardeners. Learn about the many different types and how to use them efficiently.