Perennials that Suit the Iowa Landscape

Jake Kruse is an entrepreneur in Salem, Iowa, who maintains a business as dog breeder and also guides K & E Landscapes, Inc. Working closely with home and business owners, he coordinates landscape design and yard maintenance services that add to curb appeal. In particular, Jake Kruse is knowledgeable about perennial plants that thrive across Iowa’s four seasons.

When it comes to perennials in sunny areas of the yard, daffodils brighten up the garden in the early spring. Often paired with tulips, creeping phlox can be incorporated in rock gardens and along slopes, offering a loose groundcover that can be kept full and compact simply by shearing after blooming. A native of the Iowa prairies, echinacea purpurea has distinctive purple petals and is hardy enough to survive nearly any climate. Attracting butterflies and bees, it is also favored by bird species such as goldfinches when the flowers are allowed to go to seed.

When it comes to shady, moist areas of a property, a number of native ferns add verdure. These include intermediate wood fern and northern maidenhair fern. Woodland native plants such as goats-beard, which can reach a half dozen feet, and ligularia “the rocket” add striking floral elements to the mix. These perennials thrive with a couple inches of mulch material, which helps to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Mulching a Tree or Larger Plant

Based in Salem, Iowa, Jake Kruse is an established dog breeder and the president of K & E Landscapes, Inc. Jake Kruse has an extensive knowledge of mulching and maintenance strategies that help ensure the health of trees and plants throughout the year.

When it comes to mulching, organic materials such as bark, leaves, and wood chips tend to work the best in helping recycle and replenish nutrients in the soil. In addition to preventing evaporation-related moisture loss, mulch insulates the soil and provide the roots with protection from extremes in seasonal temperatures. Inhibiting plant disease in aerated, well-drained soil, mulch also provides a barrier to the growth of weeds. Because mulch breaks down over time, it does need to be replenished on an annual basis.

When it comes to larger trees and shrubs, a key is identifying the dripline, which should encircle the trunk at a point that matches the branch circumference. This is where rain will drip from the tree and the ideal placement for a 2- to 4-inch deep mulch ring. The appearance of the mulch should be like a donut around the trunk, rather than a volcano. Depending on conditions, the volcano shape can retain too much moisture in the root zone, which can cause rot, or it can keep water from penetrating the soil and nourishing the root system.

Integrating Hardscapes into Landscaping

Based in Salem, Iowa, Jake Kruse is an established dog breeder and the leader of K&E Landscapes, Inc. Jake Kruse works with homeowners to incorporate hardscapes that include paved walkways, patios, outdoor fireplaces, fountains, benches, or gazebos,

Large, flat flagstones are popular hardscaping elements. Homeowners can use the stones as traditional stepping stones or flooring for a fire pit or rustic patio.

Brick chips in brown and red are inexpensive, versatile options for lining the sides of walkways and driveways. Marble chips add a luxurious touch to the yard while functioning as mulch when placed around flower beds and trees. However, homeowners should not use them around plants that prefer lower temperatures since marble retains more heat than wood mulch.

Low-maintenance pea gravel is a popular option for patios and paths and filling gaps in the hardscape. River rocks are aesthetically pleasing elements that can serve as dry creek beds to drain water away from the house when it rains.

Selecting an Ideal Cool-Season Grass

Jake Kruse is a Southeast Iowa dog breeder and the owner and president of K&E Landscapes, Inc. For his landscaping clients, Jake Kruse selects grasses that will help a lawn thrive throughout the year.

Perennial ryegrass is a popular choice among families with high-traffic lawns. Durable and able to withstand heavy use, ryegrass spreads quickly to cover bare patches. However, ryegrass can be slow to recover from damage and is not suited to temperatures below freezing.

Kentucky bluegrass creates a dense turf tolerant of shade and sun and performs well in Iowa’s climate. This grass possesses rhizomes that allow it to repair root systems easily. Disease- and weed-resistant, Kentucky bluegrass does require abundant watering throughout the growing season. After it is established, the grass responds to temporary drought conditions by going dormant, which helps protect its integrity in hot summers.

A third popular choice for grass is fine fescue, which is drought- and barren soil-tolerant. Not requiring as much watering as its counterparts, fine fescue is vulnerable to too much water and intense heat. For many families, this grass works best in shady areas without much traffic.