Care and How-To - Disease
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Whenever sprays are applied, it is important to follow label directions. Often the product label will direct to spray at certain developmental stages in the tree’s annual growth cycle. Many of the most effective management steps occur in spring, well before the apples form and ripen.
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Diseases on houseplants can cause much concern. Houseplant diseases are often caused by poor environment and care. Address primary issues like overcrowding, low light, and overwatering to prevent diseases.
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Mosses are common in many lawns, especially during wet years. Mosses are small, thread-like plants that form green mats on the soil surface. Mosses are adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions. Mosses can be found in moist and dry sites, sun or shade, and in acidic or alkaline soils.
Control of mosses is discussed below.
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Oak trees are valuable assets in the home landscape. Occasionally oak trees need to be pruned for health, safety, and appearance reasons. Pruning oaks makes them more valuable to infection from the fungus that causes oak wilt. By pruning oaks properly, you can reduce that risk and keep trees healthy.
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Wood chips and shredded bark are commonly applied to landscape areas to control weeds and conserve soil moisture. Wood chips and shredded bark are organic matter. The decaying organic matter provides an ideal environment for some strange-looking fungi or fungal-like organisms when weather conditions are favorable. Fungi that occasionally grow in landscape mulches in Iowa include stinkhorns, slime molds, and bird’s nest fungi.
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Several factors cause branch dieback on trees. Correctly diagnosing the problem(s) is the first step in managing an unhealthy tree. Below are some common causes of branch dieback on trees in the landscape. Use this guide to evaluate your tree and determine the likely cause of the branch dieback.
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Roses have several disease and insect issues. When a problem comes up, identifying it accurately is the first step.
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Growing transplants at home requires good seed, proper temperature, moisture, light, and care. When things don't go right, follow best practices to avoid poor germination, spindly growth, and other issues.
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While easy to grow, tulips do occasionally develop problems. Early emerging foliage, browsing from deer and rabbits, and bulb rot are a few common ones. Below are potential problems encountered when growing tulips in the landscape and how to manage them.
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Pesticides can be beneficial, but safety is paramount. Identify pests first and use only as directed on the label. Learn how to apply pesticides responsibly below.
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Keep your trees healthy and vibrant through the cold months! Discover tips on preventing winter browning of conifers, sunscald injury, and animal damage.
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The Colorado spruce does not do well in the less-than-ideal growing conditions of Iowa's hot, humid summers. Here are alternatives to consider.
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Home gardeners face various problems growing potatoes, including green tubers, frost damage, scabs, cracks, and pests. Effective care and proper storage can ensure a healthy, productive harvest.
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Lilacs are suffering from Pseudocercospora leaf spots and other diseases due to humidity and stress. Fungicides are not warranted. Good pruning and care are key to managing these issues.
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Overall, lilacs are easy to care for and problem-free shrubs. Occasionally, problems arise like failure to bloom, flowers opening out of season, powdery mildew, and other disease or insect issues.
More information about common lilac problems and how to manage them is presented below.
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Hostas are typically easy to care for with few pest and disease problems - but that doesn't mean they don't have any. Learn about the common insect, wildlife and disease issue that face hostas.
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After planting a new tree, sometimes you will see decline, dieback, or even death of the young tree. When trying to determine the primary cause of the problem, several factors need to be given consideration.
Learn about the factors that you need to investigate to determine why a newly planted tree is failing.
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When tree health problems like dieback, leaf drop, bark splitting, and overall decline arise, it can be difficult to determine what is causing the issue. Use this information to evaluate and manage problems with your trees.
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Identifying mushrooms can be challenging when compared to identifying trees, birds, or butterflies. Challenges of identification stem from the lack of information collected in the field or lack of distinguishing features on the mushrooms collected. Fungi guides often rely on details that may be easily overlooked in the field or require microscope observations. But don’t let these challenges stop you from trying to identify that mushroom.
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Peonies are easy-to-grow, long-lived, and reliable performers in the garden, but they occasionally have issues. The most common issues with peonies, such as failure to bloom, powdery mildew, and flopping over, are listed below.