Top-Notch Shade Trees
These trees not only create shade for you and your family in your yard but also provide a habitat for birds and animals!
5 Tips for Planting Your New Trees & Shrubs
Trees are an investment in your property value. Set them up for success with these planting and care tips.
Using Iowa Natives in the Landscape
Native Plants are a vital part of the ecosystem; they provide food, shelter, and the perfect habitat for pollinators. And that’s only one of the many reasons to use native plants in your landscaping. Native plants are adapted to our climate, and so they still look beautiful during the hottest parts of the summer, when […]
Why We Need to Diversify Urban Landscapes: The Urban Forest
Bio-diversity is an essential feature of a healthy and thriving eco-system. Not only is diversity better for wildlife, but it’s best for plants and trees as well. In recent history, urban forests have been sadly lacking in variety. Urban forests, in the broadest sense, are the entire tree and shrub community within an urban area, […]
Small Shade Trees: Your Best Options for Small Spaces
You love those colorfully blooming trees that you see everywhere in spring, but your yard is fully shaded and surrounded by large trees. So can you add a smaller colorful tree? You definitely can. Several kinds of trees will perform well in shady places with lots of other trees around. First, you need to determine […]
How to Grow Citrus in Iowa
While an imported orange from Florida or California might hit the spot, imagine the satisfaction of biting into an orange from your own personal grove! Some citrus trees do very well as houseplants, so you can grow them yourself right here in Iowa! All you need to grow citrus is a little patience and care. […]
Top 5 Hardy Magnolia Trees for Iowa
Magnolia trees are not something that many people associate with Iowa. Most commonly, magnolia is associated with the Deep South, where they grow abundantly and perfume the air with their large, fragrant, tulip-like flowers. While it’s true that we can’t grow all the varieties that thrive in the warmer climates of the South, there are […]
The Best Backyard Plants to Provide Food for Birds in Iowa
Setting up a feeding station and water source for birds in our gardens goes a long way toward helping them flourish. However, there’s even more you can do that requires even less long-term effort. Planting a variety of plants that produce seeds and berries for Iowa birds is a great way to support the local ecosystem. There’s […]
The Best Colorful Trees and Shrubs for an Attractive Winter Garden
Sometimes it seems like winter in our gardens is very monotone: grey leafless trees and white snow, with a few evergreens here and there. But there are actually quite a variety of hardy trees and shrubs that can add pops of color, shape, and texture to give our gardens a beautiful aesthetic, all year long. We’ve got […]
Seasonal Needle Drop
We like to imagine that our evergreens will stay green forever, but that’s sometimes not the case. While your tree isn’t likely to go entirely bald in preparation for our chilly Des Moines winter like deciduous trees do, it isn’t unlikely to see a few needles shed to make room for new ones, especially in the fall. […]