Aaron Steil, host of “Gardening with Steil,” was the presenter for the latest Ask the Expert virtual series hosted by Friends of Iowa PBS. During his presentation, Aaron answered several questions about keeping your lawn, trees, and garden looking their best. Below are some of his favorite questions:
How do I grow grass in the shade?
Aarons' short answer is that you don't have to. Grass needs full sun, and in places it doesn't get it, the grass will be thin and more susceptible to weeds.
Aaron suggests:
If possible, trim tree branches to allow more sunlight in. Try a more shade-tolerant lawn species, such as creeping fescue, chewing fescue, or hard fescue. Plant non-lawn grasses (such as bugleweed, sweet woodruff, spotted dead nettle, foamflower, or vinca).
How can you reduce disease and pest problems in your vegetable garden?
Make sure your garden gets plenty of sun. Do a good fall cleanup and get rid of old plants. Try crop rotation – don't plant the same plant family in the same spot for 3-4 years. Make raised beds and use containers. Create pocket vegetable plantings in your garden (as long as they get full sun). Coordinate with family and friends to have each household plant one family of plants, and switch what you plant each year. This way you'll have a variety of vegetables in your garden instead of just one type.
Why is my tree dying?
Aaron says trees are an investment of time and money and are very sentimental, so when something goes wrong it worries him. There are many different reasons why trees die. Some are easy to see, like damage from lawnmowers or trimmers, or rot and deterioration, while others are harder to visualize.
Are your trees planted too deep? Make sure their bases are spread out over the lawn so they don't look like utility poles buried in the ground.
Is the tree species appropriate for your area? Have you put too much soil or mulch around the base of the tree, altering the slope around the tree? More than 3 inches can harm the tree's root system. You also need to keep the mulch away from the tree's trunk.
How can I keep deer away from my yard?
A solid fence is the best but most expensive option, and your fence should be at least 6 feet high because deer will graze from heights of less than 6 feet.
Try building a wire cage that's tall enough to cover the top of your garden or flowers — a closed top will make it harder for deer to eat your vegetables.
Would it be better to try a clover or pollinator lawn instead of grass?
Clover and grass go well together, so sow some clover on top of your lawn. Microclover creates beautiful texture, so be sure to sow it on your lawn in the spring.
When is the best time to prune a tree?
The best time is December to February when the tree is dormant. Be sure to prune properly. If you must prune outside of winter, cover the pruned branches with latex paint to allow the branches to breathe.
Have more questions? Aaron recommends these local online resources:
