The ground is warm, we shouldn’t have any more freezes (fingers crossed), sprinkler systems are turned on and nurseries are getting truck deliveries of new plants daily. Now is a great time to visit your local nursery or garden center and check out some of springs best “smart” plants. Local nurseries and garden centers do a great job of bringing in plants that are “smart” for this area, plants that have been shown to work in Colorado. In this dry…
The Merlin Bird ID app is a free bird identification tool developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This fun to use app helps gardeners (and other users) identify birds by sight, sound, photos, or by answering a few simple questions about the bird they observed. For Colorado gardeners, the Sound ID feature is especially fun during seasonal migrations when your garden may host dozens of species you never realized were there. The app is powered by the massive eBird database…
Many people live where they don’t have space for a garden. A container garden is the perfect solution for all ages and all abilities. Almost anything can be grown in a container, except a large tree. One of the easiest containers is a hanging basket. There’s so many available for Mother’s Day. You can purchase one already done, or you can customize it and put it together yourself. You can even grow vegetables like cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, or strawberries in a hanging basket.…
Miller moths are the adult form of the army cutworm and are a familiar sight across Colorado each spring and early summer. As Miller moths migrate westward toward the mountains, they often seek shelter in homes, garages, and gardens during the day, becoming a nuisance despite being harmless. They don’t damage plants as adult moths, and they DO serve an important ecological role as a food source for birds, bats, and other wildlife before continuing their journey to higher elevations,…
Coral bells (Huechera family) ‘Firefly’ is a winner in Colorado shade gardens Coral Bells is the ultimate versatile and colorful perennial for shady areas of the garden in our area. They sport multi-season interest and a long bloom time (especially the ‘Firefly’ variety). Firefly’ has a compact habit and deep green leaves and produces a profusion airy spikes of red-fading-to-pink bell-shaped flowers on wiry stems (great as a cut flower in a bouquet). Flower spikes are 12-18 inches tall. Looks great in borders, containers, shade gardens, under trees, and in mixed perennial beds. Light Preferences Best: Partial shade to dappled shade. Tolerance: Performs in full shade (color may fade) or morning sun/afternoon shade. Protect from strong afternoon sun to avoid leaf scorch. Soil & Water Well-drained, humus-rich soil; prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH. Moisture: Consistent but moderate moisture. Do not overwater…
There are those of us who don’t relish contact with insects and worms while working in the yard, but many of them are actually quite beneficial. For instance: Ladybugs and lacewings prey upon damaging aphids and whiteflies. Ground beetles eat caterpillars and Colorado potato beetles, so they may serve an important function in your garden. By establishing your landscape, you’ve created an ecosystem, and many of those insects serve a purpose. If pests are damaging your plants, you can consult…
Why plant native trees? 1. They are inherently adapted to this area. (Soils, temperature fluctuations, climate) 2. Once established, can it do without supplemental fertilization, watering, pruning? 3. Planting these types of trees and shrubs helps maintain BIODIVERSITY. These trees help birds, butterflies, and other wildlife that can be crowded out by urban development. Which native trees are recommended? Bigtooth Maple, Seedless Boxelder such as ‘Sensation’ Maple, Bur Oak, Gambel Oak, Rocky Mountain Birch, Native-collected Quaking Aspen, American Elm, Pinion Pine, Hackberry, Rocky…
Harvesting basil correctly is the secret to keeping plants lush, productive, and full of flavorful leaves all summer long. More basil please! With it’s aromatic scent and prolific growing habit (if tended correctly), basil is a beloved staple of the Summer kitchen. Instead of picking individual leaves here and there, use clean scissors or pruners to snip stems just above a set of leaves. This encourages the plant to branch out, creating two new stems where there was once one.…
Your peonies are likely blooming or coming into bloom about now, but what to do after they bloom? Do the following to keep the plant healthy and encourage future blooms: Two easy steps for great peonies next year: Remove the faded blooms (deadhead) to focus plant energy on root and leaf growth until Fall. Many peony die back to the ground once an Autumn frost kills the plant’s foliage. At that time, cut away the dead leaves. New growth will appear in the spring and you’ll have another gorgeous display. More detailed…
#1 – Wake up your lawn with a soak—not a splash—of water. Since the past winter has been very dry, we need to apply water like Mother Nature does during an ideal springtime. Spring rains, that soak in and rain again in seven-day to ten-day cycles, are great for the lawn. Soak the lawn well and allow the top ½ inch of the soil to dry out. Then soak it again. #2 – Aerate. After an early soaking, aerate the…
