Care and How-To - Insects
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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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Swarming occurs when a large group of honey bees leaves an established colony and flies off to establish a new colony in response to crowding within the colony. Swarming usually occurs in late spring and early summer and begins in the warmer hours of the day.
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Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable crop to grow in the home garden. Many diseases, disorders, and insect pests can affect tomatoes during the growing season.
Learn more about managing the common problems found with tomatoes in the home garden including blights, wilts, blossom end rot, viruses, fruit cracking, tomato hornworm, and more.
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Discover how to care for succulents and prevent common issues like overwatering, insufficient light, and pests. Early detection ensures healthy growth!
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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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There are many species of ants that occur in lawns or along and under sidewalks. Most ants are beneficial and do not require control. However, ants may become a nuisance by constructing mounds or small hills in the lawn, landscape, prairie planting, pasture, CRP field, roadside, or on the sidewalk or patio, or by invading the home in search of food.
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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.
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Roses have a number of potential problems that can make them more difficult to grow. Planting them in a good garden location and selecting a winter-hardy and naturally disease-resistant cultivar is the best way to avoid many problems.
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Growing indoor plants is a rewarding hobby that yields beautiful results. But when problems arise with your indoor plants, it can be difficult to determine how to fix them.
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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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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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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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Late summer is the time of year when wasps become most noticeable in Iowa. Unfortunately, one of the places they are noticed is in the orchard and vineyard where they feed on the ripe fruit. This creates two problems: w
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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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Vine crops (cucumber, muskmelon, watermelon, and squash) are some of the most popular vegetables in the home garden. While vine crops are easy to grow, home gardeners are occasionally disappointed in crop yields. Poor fruiting of vine
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One of the familiar pests of the garden is the Colorado potato beetle, also known as the "potatobug." It's interesting to note that potatobugs were very familiar to Iowans through the first half of the 20th century but that they seemed to disappea
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How to help pollinators
One of the many benefits of gardening is the opportunity to provide resources for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Luckily, there are some simple steps every gardener can take that help these beneficial
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Raspberries are easy to grow in Iowa but face pests, disease, heat, weeds, and pruning issues that can reduce yields. FAQs cover common problems.
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Hedge apples, from the Osage-orange tree, are yellow-green fruits popular for decoration. They are often touted as being an effective pest deterrent but in reality this myth doesn't hold up well.