Care and How-To

All About Amaryllis

Discover how to grow and care for amaryllis bulbs, from potting and forcing to after-bloom care. Learn about various types, colors, and cultivation tips!

Growing Green Beans

Discover the many types of beans, including green and wax varieties. Learn planting tips, suggested cultivars, and harvesting advice for a bountiful garden.

Ants Are Ecologically Beneficial

Discover the importance of ants in ecosystems. Learn about their diversity, adaptability, and positive impacts on the environment. Gain a new perspective on these often misunderstood insects.

Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are the most popular vegetable in the home garden.  There is nothing quite like a tomato fresh from your garden!

Learn all things growing tomatoes including planting, care, training, pruning, harvest, recommended cultivars, seed saving, growing in containers, and how to deal with common problems.

Turf-type Tall Fescue

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. 

How to Successfully Start Seed Indoors

Most seeds germinate when the soil temperature is between 68° and 86°F. Once germination occurs, the optimum growing temperature for the seedling is about 10°F cooler than the optimum germination temperature.

Cross-Pollination Between Vine Crops

Debunk the myth of cucumbers, squash, and melons cross-pollinating. Learn how pollination works in cucurbits and improve your garden's flavor!

A Brief History of the Rose

Explore the rich history of roses, from ancient fossils records to modern gardens. Learn about their cultural significance across civilizations and their evolution into beloved garden plants.

Propagating Houseplants

Propagation is the creation or growing of new plants.  When houseplants get large or more plants are desired, many can be easily propagated.  Many species are propagated at home utilizing techniques like cuttings, division, and layering. 

Step-by-step instructions on many of the different forms of propagation that can be used on houseplants are outlined below.

Proper Time to Prune Trees and Shrubs

The best time to rejuvenate large, overgrown shrubs is late winter or early spring (March or early April)

All About Hedge Apples

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.

How to Store Seeds and Test Germination Rates

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.

Cold and Freeze Damage to Garden Plants

In Iowa, the weather in spring is often erratic. Below-freezing temperatures in April and May can follow unseasonably warm weather in late March and early April. The cold spring temperatures can affect plants in gardens and home landscapes. The good news is that cold temperatures shouldn't affect most plants long-term. How to manage cold temperatures and the damage they can cause to trees, shrubs, fruit trees, spring bulbs, perennials, vegetables, and other plants is provided below.

How to Propagate by Air Layering and Simple Layering

Alternatives to cuttings are air and simple layering. Discover air layering and simple layering methods, timing, rooting hormone use, and suitable plant species. 

Growing Sweet Corn in the Home Garden

Sweet corn is one of our most popular vegetables. Learn more about this excellent summer treat and growing sweet corn the home vegetable garden.

How to Start Petunias from Seed Indoors

Learn how to grow petunias from seeds indoors. Tips on timing, containers, sowing, germination, and care for successful petunia seedlings before outdoor planting.

Iowa's Roadside Flowers

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.

Growing Shamrocks Indoors

Like many seasonal houseplants, shamrocks appear in floral shops, garden centers and other retailers for a short time.   While many seasonal plants are discarded after flowering, shamrocks can be long-lived houseplants with proper care.  

Growing Ferns in Iowa

Ferns are great additions to the Iowa shade garden.  They are often found in shaded, damp forests in both temperate and tropical areas of the world, but many have adapted themselves to survive in a variety of environments. The ferns that will grow in Iowa range in size from less than 1 foot tall to more than 3 feet tall.  Ferns can be used as focal points, or as background or filler plants in shady garden beds.

Small-stature Trees for Iowa

“What tree should I plant in my yard?” This is a difficult question to answer because the tree should be matched to its site.  Tree lists like the ones provided are a good first step, but they must be interpreted and understood.  So, if you see a species or cultivar that sounds interesting, do some research to find out what the tree needs in terms of space and growing conditions.  Remember, tree lists are not like restaurant menus.  Not every entrée or tree is suitable for every occasion.