Last week we talked about planting now for next spring. If you want some seasonal color now, try a fall-themed container garden. You can make your own decorative creation with traditional containers: a ceramic planter, a window box, or a hanging pot. Or get creative and upcycle things you’ve got in the garage, like an old wheelbarrow, metal bucket or tire. You can even repurpose a football or football helmet into an interesting centerpiece for your outdoor table. Before you…
The hottest days of the summer are over, and things should be cooling down soon. It’s a good time to add plants to our landscapes. Since irrigation systems will still be running for a couple more months, there’s time to water new plants and help them get established before winter. Planting now gives new plants a head-start on next growing season. When spring comes around, they’ll be established and ready to take off and grow. Choose the right plants. Look for plants that…
Want your harvest to continue into the fall? Start some leafy greens, herbs, broccoli and root crops now. These plants aren’t made for the long and intensely hot days of summer. Late-summer, with cooling night-time temps and shorter days with less sunshine, offers the right conditions. A note on root crops such as beets, carrots and radishesSince root crops take time to develop, read the seed packets and look for varieties that mature in 60 days or less. Root crops can…
Record-breaking high temperatures aren’t the best conditions for growing vegetables. The heat, and smoke from wildfires, aren’t good for the gardener, either. Take care of your garden and yourself with these tips. Caring for heat-stressed veggies Check soil moisture often and water so soil remains uniformly moist. If your plants wilt during the hottest part of the day, know that this is their way of coping with the heat. You should see them perk up in the evening as temps…
Recent hot days and precipitation are a perfect combination for insects in our gardens and landscapes. Keep an eye on your garden, especially edible plants, and act on pests as soon as you spot them. AphidsAphids commonly appear on mixed lettuce greens, radishes, broccoli and kale. Try planting marigolds and lemon thyme to help deter this messy pest. If you have roses of any kind, you might also see aphids on buds, tender new growth, and even stems. Be aware…
When your faucet drips, it wastes water. But when your irrigation drips, it could be using water wisely. Drip irrigation uses a low pressure, low volume method of applying water directly to the base of plants or at the roots. If you have a small landscape area, are setting up a container garden, or need to water individual plants instead of a large area of turf, drip might be the watering method for you. As mentioned a few weeks ago…
Emptying your grass catcher can be a hot, messy job in the heat of summer. Save yourself the work and improve your landscape in the process by grasscycling. Leaving your grass clippings on the lawn helps return nutrients to the soil and reduce evaporation from the soil. If you’ve got a mulching mower, you’re ready to grasscycle. Be sure the blades are sharpened, and your mower will cut your grass into lengths that are perfect for leaving on the lawn.…
Smart technology can help you save money, conserve water, and keep your landscape looking great. As we kick off Smart Irrigation Month, we’ve got a tip for using technology to do just that: water slowly. If water is applied too quickly, it can run off into the street or sidewalk instead of being absorbed into the soil and getting to the roots of your plants. Smart irrigation regulates pressure, ensuring water has a chance to soak into the ground. Using…
It’s getting warmer across Colorado, and our plants will need more water. But just because the drought is waning on the Front Range—for now—doesn’t mean we shouldn’t still try to conserve water. The Western Slope, which provides much of our water supply, is still in drought. And our own next drought could be just around the corner. We should give the plants the water they need but not waste a drop. One way to save water and dress up the…
There’s still time to plant some sunflowers in your landscape. The National Garden Bureau named 2021 the Year of the Sunflower, and with good reason. This cheerful plant is always a popular cut flower, and it’s easy to grow. Some facts about sunflowers: They are native to North America, so they are well-suited to grow here. They provide both nectar and seeds, making them a great plant for pollinators. The flowers move to face the sun, a process called heliotropism.…
