Dale Miller, Marion County program director and equine educator with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, offers some reminders about winter horse needs for good ventilation, feed and water management, and exercise.
As the temperatures start to drop, some gardeners wonder how to prepare their garden and plants for the winter months. All plants need attention going into winter and there are many methods to provide winter protection. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach give tips and suggestions on how to prepare the garden for an Iowa winter.
Evergreen trees are built to survive the cold weather, but they still need care and preventive measures during the colder months of the year. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists offer tips on how to help evergreens survive winter.
While winter is not growing season for strawberries, taking care of strawberry plants remains vitally important. Here are some tips from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach on the ins and outs about mulching strawberries for winter.
If planning for next year’s garden includes finding new plants for shady areas, consider the recommendations of Iowa State University Extension and Outreach horticulturists while paging through and ordering from garden catalogs this winter.
An excellent way to brighten the winter landscape is to plant trees and shrubs that possess ornamental characteristics, such as colorful fruit or exfoliating bark. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach describe shrubs and trees that add color to the winter landscape.
Having 2 percent of the total pond surface open throughout the winter will help pond owners avoid fish kills, according to ISU Extension and Outreach fisheries and aquaculture specialist Allen Pattillo.
It’s time to think about protecting strawberry plants from the winter elements. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach explain how to properly mulch strawberries to provide protection against winter injury.
Birders around Iowa are being treated to a rare treat this year, an inundation of Snowy Owls from the tundra! However, movement of the birds into Iowa isn't a treat for them.
All evergreens, and particularly broad leaf evergreens such as boxwood and rhododendron, are susceptible to winter desiccation. Winter desiccation also is referred to as winter burn or winter browning. Desiccation occurs when the evergreen's foliage loses moisture due to the bright winter sun and harsh winter winds. In winter the plants are not able to absorb enough additional moisture from the soil to replace the water that evaporates from the foliage and stems. In addition to making sure the plants are well watered before the onset of winter there are a few other measures homeowners can take to protect the plants.
