Mills County Extension Plant Wise 415 Main St., Suite 2, P.O. Box 430 Malvern, IA 51551 712-624-8616 http://www.extension.iastate.edu/mills

Prepared by Nancy Crews, Mills County Horticulture Assistant October 2014

Colorful Fall Foliage outstanding fall foliage. Its foliage is often bright red in fall. Other possibilities include ‘Moraine’ sweet gum By Richard Jauron and (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Moraine’) with foliage that Willy Klein varies from yellow to red to purple, yellowwood Horticulture Department (Cladrastis kentukea) with yellow fall foliage and ginkgo Iowa State University (Ginkgo biloba) cultivars ‘Autumn Gold’ and ‘The President’ with golden yellow fall color. There are many things such as temperature, Which shrubs have colorful foliage in fall? moisture, rain, wind and the availability of Several deciduous shrubs have colorful fall foliage. The sunlight that impact the winged euonymus or burning bush (Euonymus alatus) quality of fall color – but having the right trees, shrubs, has red foliage in fall. The fall foliage of fothergilla vines and perennials will add to colors in the home (Fothergilla spp.) varies from yellow to orange to red. landscape each fall. Common witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) has yellow leaves in fall. In autumn, the foliage of Virginia Which shade trees have colorful fall foliage? sweetspire (Itea virginica) varies from yellow to orange to reddish purple. Spicebush (Lindera benzoin), staghorn Shade trees that possess excellent fall foliage include sumac (Rhus typhina) and blackhaw viburnum Freeman maple (Acer x freemanii), Norway maple (Acer (Viburnum prunifolium) have yellow, red and reddish platanoides), red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple purple foliage respectively. (Acer saccharum), white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra) and black gum (Nyssa sylvatica). Are there any perennials with attractive fall foliage? Freeman maples are hybrids of red and silver maples. Their leaves vary from orange to red in fall. Widely sold Most perennials are grown for their colorful flowers. Freeman maples include Celebration®, Autumn Blaze® However, several perennials have attractive fall foliage. and Sienna Glen®. Easy Street™, ‘Emerald Queen’ and Perennials with yellow Parkway® are Norway maple cultivars with yellow fall foliage in fall include blue foliage. The red maple cultivars Red Sunset® and star (Amsonia spp.), Redpointe™ have dark red foliage in fall. balloon flower (Platycodon spp.), hosta Sugar maples are native to eastern Iowa. Their fall (Hosta spp.) and foliage varies from yellow to orange to reddish orange. monkshood (Aconitum ‘Commemoration,’ ‘Legacy’ and Fall Fiesta™ are spp.). The sensitive fern excellent sugar maple cultivars. (Onoclea sensibilis) and royal fern (Osmunda In fall, the foliage of white oaks is often reddish brown, regalis) also develop while red oaks have wine red foliage. Black gums are yellow fall color. The Pigsqueak (Bergenia cordifolia) not widely grown in Iowa. They are somewhat difficult to foliage of pigsqueak transplant and prefer moist, well-drained, acidic soils (pH (Bergenia cordifolia) 6.0 to 6.5). However, the black gum possesses often turns burgundy red in fall. The foliage of many hardy geraniums (Geranium spp.) is yellow, orange, red Calendars are available for $6.00 each - online at or purple in autumn. www.store.extention.iastate.edu/ or through the Mills County extension office. Several ornamental grasses also have striking fall color. Switchgrass (Panicum spp.) cultivars with colorful fall Selecting and Planting Spring-Flowering foliage include ‘Rehbraun’ Bulbs (reddish brown), ‘Rotstrahlbusch’ (burgundy red) and By Cindy Haynes Department of Horticulture ‘Prairie Fire’ (wine red). In Iowa State University fall, Miscanthus cultivars ‘Purpurascens’ and ‘November Sunset’ have As the garden season orange-red and golden winds down for the year, orange foliage now is a great time to respectively. Little select and plant a few bluestem (Schizachyrium spring-flowering bulbs for scoparium) has yellow to next year. Spring-flowering bulbs offer reliable color and burnt orange fall color. fragrance to the garden before many other plants wake Big bluestem cultivar from their long winter's nap. Gardeners can choose from ‘Blaze’ has orange to traditional spring-flowering bulbs, such daffodils, tulips, reddish purple fall color, and hyacinths, or the unusual like squill, crown imperial, giant onion, or guinea-hen. A small investment of time while ‘Blue Heaven’ Switch Grass "Prairie Fire" develops a burgundy red and money this fall will reward you with beautiful flowers color in autumn. next spring.

Are there vines with colorful fall foliage? Selecting Bulbs

Vines for fall color include Virginia creeper After deciding which types of flowers you want in the (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), Boston ivy spring, select only firm, solid bulbs for planting. Avoid (Parthenocissus tricuspidata) and American bittersweet bulbs that are shriveled or lightweight. Bulbs that are (Celastrus scandens). Virginia creeper is native to Iowa. discolored by mold or that contain soft spots should also It’s palmately compound leaves turn purple-red to be avoided. crimson red in fall. The autumn foliage on Boston ivy varies from yellow to orange to red. Virginia creeper and Size matters when selecting bulbs. The bigger the bulb Boston ivy are woody vines that climb objects via the better the flower display. Smaller bulbs often bloom adhesive-tipped tendrils. American bittersweet is also but you get more bang for your buck with the larger native to Iowa. It’s leaves turn yellow in fall. Female bulbs. plants also possess attractive reddish orange fruit clusters in fall. American bittersweet is a twining woody Planting Bulbs vine. October is a great time to plant spring-flowering bulbs. 2015 Garden Calendar Available The soil temperatures in early fall are ideal for Gardens bring tasty good root development. food, delightful However, some bulbs color, refreshing like tulips may emerge fragrance, rustling in the fall if they are leaves, and planted in September enervating prickles before the soil and tickles. temperatures begin to Sometimes they cool. Procrastinators even tickle the can plant spring-flowering bulbs as late as December if fancy. the ground remains unfrozen.

This year's calendar Select the planting site as carefully as you selected the captures the sense of playfulness found in many gardens. Take a whimsical journey through the seasons in bulbs. The soil should be fertile and well drained. Bulbs photography, verse, and quippy garden quotes. planted in wet sites will often be short-lived. Amending poor soils will go a long way in ensuring dependable Makes a great gift and a handy garden journal too! blooms for the spring and every spring thereafter. The 2 more suitable the site, the longer the bulbs will last in the desired arrangement or pattern and then carefully garden. backfill with soil.

Most bulbs prefer a sunny site as well. Bulbs are often Fertilizers like 5-10-5, Bulb Booster, or Bone Meal can successful beneath a high branched deciduous tree be incorporated into the soil at the time of planting. Bone because they usually flower before the tree fully leafs meal is often slower acting and more expensive than the out. After the bulbs have finished flowering, many can others. These fertilizers are more important for the tolerate the light shade from trees. development of next year's bulb than they are for the upcoming flowers of this year's bulb. Bulbs are generally planted along the foundations of homes or in beds or borders for unobstructed views of After planting be sure to water the area thoroughly to the blooms. Consider planting them with ornamental provide plenty of moisture for root growth. The addition grasses and other perennials that will hide the foliage as of a light blanket of mulch on top of the soil will moderate it yellows. Plant bulbs in large groups for maximum soil temperatures. This will allow the bulbs a little more visual impact. Bulbs planted alone or in rows like time for root growth before the ground freezes. The soldiers are not nearly as effective as large sweeps or mulch layer will also conserve moisture in the soil the drifts of color. For a naturalized look, simply toss following summer. handfuls of bulbs in the garden and plant them where they land. The smaller bulbs should be planted in large Many garden centers and garden catalogs offer a wide groups (20 or more) or elevated in a berm or rock variety of spring-blooming bulbs for sale. With a little garden so they can be seen easily. Bulbs with different planning and effort this fall you can be enjoying their bloom times can be mixed together for a long-lasting cheery blossoms next spring. display.

Proper bulb depth is another important planting Upcoming Horticulture requirement. The general rule is to plant the bulb at the depth of 2 1/2 Events of Interest: to 3 times the height of the “Fall Chrysanthemum Show” bulb. Tulips, daffodils, and Date: October 4 – November 23 hyacinths are Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM often planted Place: Lauritzen Gardens 6-8 inches Cost: Adults: $10 deep. The - Children ages six to 12: $5 smaller bulbs - Children younger than six years: no admission fee like squill, - Lauritzen Gardens members: no admission fee snowdrops, and crocus are Experience a fascinating fabrication of flowers at the often planted 3 garden’s annual fall chrysanthemum show. Bold mums to 4 inches combine with vibrant colors, rich fabrics, diverse textures deep. Larger and other exotic design elements- representative of the bulbs can be spaced 4-6 inches apart while a 2-3 inch east Indian culture. For more information visit: spacing is more suitable for the smaller bulbs. http://www.lauritzengardens.org

Don't forget to plant your bulbs right side up. This means “Winterizing Your Garden Workshop” planting the pointed end up for bulbs like tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, squill and many others. For some of the more Date: Tuesday, October 28 unusual bulbs or bulb-like structures it can be harder to Time: 10:30 AM tell which end goes up. If no roots or buds are apparent, Place: Sump Memorial Library, Papillion you can plant some bulbs on their sides. The bulb will (3rd & Washington/ aka 84 th St across from Runza.) find the sun and bloom normally with only a little extra Cost: Free effort. Douglas/Sarpy County Master Gardeners are conducting the workshop. Topics that will be covered include care of There are a number of tools made for planting bulbs. roses, tool maintenance, shrub maintenance and Bulb planters, trowels and auger attachments for electric perennial maintenance. There will be handouts for drills are available to assist the gardener in bulb planting. attendees. The workshop is free and open to the public. For a mass plantings of bulbs in an area, remove the soil to the proper depth with a shovel. Place the bulbs in the

3 Preserving and Displaying a Hornet's Nest suspended in a dry location where it will not be damaged by handling or vibration.

By Donald Lewis Department of Entomology Will new hornets emerge from eggs that hatch after Iowa State University the nest is hung indoors?

The Baldfaced Hornet is No. Hornet eggs laid inside the nest by the queen hatch a social wasp found in into grublike larvae that must be fed and cared for by the the familiar large, gray, workers. If any eggs hatched indoors the tiny larvae paper nests attached to would perish. a tree branch, shrub, utility pole or house. The Fall and Winter Care of Water Gardens paper-like nests are made of chewed wood fiber mixed with saliva. By Sherry Rindels Hornet nests are Department of Horticulture frequently displayed in nature centers, schools, and Iowa State University natural history museums. They can also be displayed in the home as a conversation piece! Below are answers to the most common questions about displaying a hornets Many gardeners are nest. enjoying a renewed interest in water How is the nest collected? gardening. Water adds a special effect The easiest method of collecting a nest is to wait until to the landscape and fish are easy to care for pets. A after the hornets have abandoned the nest in the fall properly functioning water garden takes care of itself (after the first hard freeze or by late October). Hornet naturally throughout the growing season. Submerged nests are annual; they last one summer and all plants and scavengers help keep algae populations from occupants freeze or die of old age in the fall. Collect the getting out of hand. However, water gardens do require nest as soon as possible because exposed, unprotected late season attention for their survival. nests are subject to destruction by wildlife and weather. Collecting a nest in summer requires a degree of Stop fertilizing water garden plants when the daytime boldness. During the coolest part of the night and with water temperature drops below 60 F. This will give the least disturbance possible, rapidly slip a large plastic plants the opportunity to go dormant. As the leaves of bag over the nest. Close the bag around the limb above hardy plants yellow or are frozen, cut the leaves off back the nest. Tie the bag shut and cut the limb from the tree. to the crown. The short, small leaves produced late in Kill the hornets by placing the entire bag in a freezer the season should remain attached. Lower hardy plants overnight. to the bottom of the pool where they will survive the winter. If there is danger of the pool freezing solid, Will I get stung from hornets that emerge from a remove the plants in their containers from the pond and collected nest? place them in a non-freezing area. Put the containers inside a plastic bag and cover with moist material such There will be few, if any hornets in a nest collected in as newspapers or peat moss to retain moisture. late fall. If you feel the need to be extra-cautious, leave the nest in a garage or porch where it will be protected Tropical water lilies and other non-hardy water plants from the weather until mid-winter. Then bring the nest can be over-wintered in various ways. The goal is to indoors. keep the plant alive, but not growing vigorously. Plants can be kept in Will the nest smell bad? a washtub, tank or even in The carcasses of hornets and larvae that remain in a an aquarium in collected nest may produce a mild odor before they a greenhouse completely dry up. If this is unacceptable, leave the nest or under in a protected outdoor location as mentioned above. artificial lights. Light the Does the nest need to be treated with varnish to plants for 12 to preserve it? 18 hours. The water No. It is not necessary to treat the collected nest in any temperature way. The nest will last almost indefinitely if it is should be maintained around 70 F. Plants which form tubers such as tropical water lilies can also be stored as 4 a dormant tuber. The plants should not be fertilized after the pond water. Release your fish and scavengers into August. This forces the lily to form a tuber. Allow the the pool. Divide and repot those plants that need it and plant to remain in the pond until all leaves are killed by put them back in the pool or store them in a frost free frost. A hard tuber must be present in order for the plant area for winter. to survive. Once tuber formation is complete, remove it from the container and wash it off. If the tuber has roots Water gardens are a beautiful addition to the home or stem tissue attached, let it air dry for a few days and landscape. However, they are not a low maintenance then break the roots and stems off. Place the tuber in a addition. For a lower maintenance water garden, select jar filled with distilled water and store it in a cool (55 F), only hardy species and install a pond that is deep dark location. Check the container regularly and replace enough for overwintering plant material. Installing a the water if it is discolored. In the spring, place the water heater is also an excellent alternative. container in a sunny warm location. When sprouts form, plant the tuber in sand. Place the planted tuber in a container of water so that developing leaves can float. Ask the ISU Extension When the leaves have grown to the water's surface and white feeder roots can be seen, remove the plant from Gardening Expert the tuber and plant it into a standard container. Place the lily in the outdoor pond when the minimum water What should be done with Roses to protect them in temperature is 70 F or more. the winter?

Keep falling leaves and twigs out of the pond to prevent Most modern roses, such as hybrid teas, floribundas, injury to the fish. Prevention is also easier than having to and grandifloras, require winter protection in Iowa. clean the entire pool in the fall. Netting stretched across Exposure to low temperatures and rapid temperature the pool is an easy preventative to catch leaves or use a changes injures and often destroys unprotected roses. skimmer to remove leaves on a regular basis. An excellent way to protect modern, bush-type roses is by hilling or mounding soil around the base of each If your pond contains fish, be sure to feed them extra plant. Begin by removing fallen leaves and other debris food beginning when temperatures cool and continue from around each plant. Removal of diseased plant until the water temperature drops below 45 F. This debris helps reduce disease problems next season. allows the fish to Then loosely tie the canes together with twine to prevent build up additional the canes from being fat stores for whipped by strong winds. winter survival. If Next, build a chicken wire the fish are to fence around the roses remain in the pond and then mound soil 10 to throughout the 12 inches high around the winter, it is canes. Finally, place necessary to keep additional material, such an area free of ice as straw or leaves, over throughout the the mound of soil after the ground freezes. winter. This allows the exchange of gases such as Prepare roses for winter when plants are dormant after carbon dioxide, methane, and hydrogen sulfide which exposure to two or three hard freezes. Normally, this is are produced from decaying organic matter. The build up late October to early November in northern Iowa, mid- of these gases is toxic to fish. A one foot diameter November in central areas, and mid- to late November in opening per 100 square foot of pond surface area is southern counties. adequate. What should be done in the Strawberry patch to protect the plants? If the pond has an inch or more accumulation of silt, leaves or debris, the pond requires cleaning. Place some Strawberries should be mulched in the fall to prevent of the original pond water into a holding tank for the fish. winter injury. Excellent mulching materials include clean, Cover it so fish don't jump out. Remove the remaining weed-free straw and chopped cornstalks. (Leaves are water from the pond. Remove and cover plants with wet not a good mulch for strawberries. Leaves tend to mat newspaper or other moist material and place the plants together and do not provide adequate protection.) Apply in a shady location. After all the water is removed, scrub 3 to 5 inches of the material. After settling, the depth of the pool floor with a stiff brush and water. Leave the the mulch should be approximately 2 to 4 inches. algae growing on the side of pool. Rinse the pool and Allow the strawberry plants to harden or acclimate to the drain once again. Fill the pool with fresh water and allow cool fall temperatures before mulching the bed. In the chlorine to evaporate and water temperature to northern Iowa, strawberries are normally mulched in late stabilize. Blend the new pond water with water in the October to early November. Gardeners in central and holding tank until its water temperature is within 3 F. of

5 southern Iowa should mulch their strawberries in early to  To initiate flowering, begin exposing poinsettias mid-November and mid- to late November, respectively. and holiday cacti to short days. Refer to ISU publications RG 308 and RG 316 What fall chores should be done in the Vegetable Garden?  Plant spring flowering bulbs.

Fall is an excellent time to clean and till the vegetable  Inspect all plants before bringing them back garden, especially if you experienced insect and disease inside for the winter. Look for insect pests and problems. Many plant pathogens overwinter in the disease. Treat as needed. garden on infected plant debris. Removal and destruction of diseased plant debris helps in disease  Continue to mow your lawn until the grass stops control. Removal of the plant debris also eliminates growing – when temperatures are consistently hiding places for some insects and helps reduce insect below 50°. populations.  Leave stems, flower heads, and seedpods Additionally, a fall-tilled garden dries out and warms up standing for winter interest. quicker in the spring and permits early spring planting of the cool season crops.  Leave asparagus growth in place over winter.

 Harvest all full-sized tomatoes and peppers OCTOBER before frost.

GARDENING Resources for Horticulture information

TO D0 LIST ISU’s Hortline at (515) 294-3108 (Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-noon, 1-4:30 p.m)

 Keep plants, especially newly planted trees, ISU/Mills County Extension: 712-624-8616 shrubs, and perennials, well watered until the www.extension.iastate.edu/mills/yardgarden.htm ground freezes.

 Remove plant debris from the vegetable garden Iowa State University Publications to protect next year’s planting from insect and disease build-up. PM 2079 Flowering Plants for the Late Summer Garden  Carefully blow or rake tree and shrub leaves off RG 604 Water Gardens: Aquatic Plants your perennial gardens. Large leaves get wet, RG 606 Water Gardens: FAQ’s mat down, and provide poor insulation for your PM 2097 Ornamental Water Features for the Midwest plants. RG 316 Poinsettia Care RG 308 Growing Holiday Cacti  Shred fallen leaves and use them as a soil RG 328 Growing Amaryllis mulch or amendment for new plantings. Or rake PM 1943 Deciduous Shrubs and bag them for use in next year’s garden. PM 731 Harvesting and Storing Vegetables RG 320 Growing and Over-wintering Garden  Stop fertilizing house plants. Geraniums

RG 304 Late Season Perennial Flowers  Remove stakes and supports as plants decline.

Clean them and store them properly for next year’s garden. HorticulturePublications on-line https://www.extension.iastate.edu/store/ListCategories  Dig dahlias and cannas after a killing frost. Iowa State University Extension programs are available to all  Remove pumps from water features to prevent without regard to race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, sex, marital status, freezing. disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Compliance, 3280 Beardshear H  Save pumpkin seeds and roast them for a all, (515) 294-7612. crunchy, healthy snack.

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