In spring, the cool-season lawns common across much of Iowa turn a vibrant green. Occasionally, you will notice large "dead" patches of grass. Often the brown patch of grass seems to get larger every year. Upon closer inspection of the grass, one can see that there are no spots on the blades (from fungal fruiting bodies) or darkening of the roots or crowns (the part of the plant at the soil line). These brown spots are typically caused by a couple of different environmental issues.
Hardwood cuttings is a propagation method done while the plant is dormant from the shoots that developed during the previous growing season. Learn more about this type of vegetative propagation if you want to propagate any trees, shrubs, or vines in the home landscape.
The slender, tubular flowers are produced in 2- to 3-inch-wide flower heads in June and July. They perform best in moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Spent flower heads should be promptly removed to prolong bloom period.
There are many options for removing tree stumps, including grinding, natural decay, or digging. They can also be left for wildlife or turned into garden sculptures. Learn all about stump removal below.
Bumpy, rough, uneven lawns are annoying, difficult to mow, and potentially dangerous. Learn about the factors that cause rough, bumpy lawn and how to manage them.
During the cold, gray days of winter, most Iowans look forward to the vibrant colors of spring. The explosion of colors in the home landscape in spring include tulips, daffodils, Siberian squill, other spring-flowering bulbs, the greening of lawns, and flowering trees. The following are excellent small, spring-flowering trees for the landscape.
Commercial fertilizers, composted manures, and other fertilizers are applied to supplement a soil's natural fertility. The rate of material to apply varies according to past fertilizer use, crop grown, soil type, and other factors.
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.
A shrub that flowers in winter? That sounds unlikely but witch hazels do just that - even in Iowa! Witch hazels (Hamamelis) are a group of shrubs that typically have the first (or last depending on what you are growing) blooms of the season in the garden.
Daffodils (Narcissus) are a welcome sign of spring. Their bright, cheery blooms are some of the first to open in an Iowa spring. They are long-lived, winter-hardy, and relatively pest and disease-free, making them an easy addition to the landscape. Learn about daffodil selection, planting, care, and more below.
Overseeding improves lawn density by sowing grass seed into thin established turf. Best done in late summer or early fall, it involves good seed-to-soil contact and proper care post-seeding.
There are many annuals well-suited for the shady areas of your garden. Learn about the options you can use in containers, baskets, and flower beds in shade and part-shade locations.
Tall fescue is a popular, low-maintenance grass choice in Iowa. It has the highest heat, traffic, and drought tolerance of the cool season grasses. It is well adapted to wet soils, partially shaded sites, and is often used where a low-maintenance lawn is desired. This type of grass turns green in mid-spring and maintains color into late fall.
When selecting plants for the shade garden, don't overlook native woodland wildflowers. Woodland wildflowers are attractive additions to home landscapes and are easy to grow when given a favorable site.
When purchasing plants for those shady areas in the landscape, consider the following woodland wildflowers.
