24Nov

Water Your Colorado Landscape

Tip of the Week, Water

The Front Range continues to experience drought conditions. To avoid winter drought stress, we need to water our landscapes. Drought stress can dehydrate roots. Freeze damage can leave plants vulnerable to insects or other stressors later. Stressed lawns can attract pests like turf mites. By the time summer heat returns, your plants may no longer be strong enough to survive. Warm days during fall and winter dry out plants and roots. Supplemental watering during dry spells in the fall and winter can…

17Nov

Time for Tool Care

Maintenance, Tip of the Week

Are your garden tools ready for winter? Take some time now to clean them up and protect them from the elements. You’ll thank yourself next spring when they are ready and waiting when it’s time to get into the garden again. Once you’ve mowed the lawn for the last time this season, prepare it for sitting dormant. Disconnect the battery and spark plugs. Clean it up. If it is gasoline-powered, drain the gasoline. Consider changing the air and fuel filters if necessary.…

11Nov

Do Your Trees Need a Blanket?

Tip of the Week, Trees, Winter
snow covered tree in winter colorado landscaping do your trees need a blanket

Were you one of the many people who planted new trees during the pandemic? If you’ve got a young tree with thin bark, you should consider wrapping it for the winter. Why wrap a tree?Colorado’s big temperature swings can cause frost cracks or split bark. Our sunny winter days can cause sunscald on tree bark that is left exposed after leaves fall. Using a tree wrap can protect the vulnerable bark of young trees against the harsh Colorado climate. Trees like…

03Nov

Did You Plant Bulbs Yet?

Plants and Flowers, Spring, Tip of the Week
plant your bulbs for spring

If you haven’t planted bulbs yet for next spring, there may still be time. Planting now gives them time to develop roots before the ground freezes. It’s an easy project as long as you know a few things to do – and not do – when planting.  Do: Choose a location that is well-drained and gets plenty of sun. Plan your planting around bloom time. Daffodils and crocuses will appear early in the season, while tulips will come along later.…

13Oct

Compost Now for Spring

Fall, Sustainability, Tip of the Week

If you took a cue from last week’s tip and mulched your leaves, you might have some extra leaf mulch in your yard. Or maybe you cleaned up your garden and have some plant material left over. You can turn those piles of yard waste into “black gold” by composting them for use next spring. Combine those leaves with other organic waste from your home to build a compost pile that is a well-balanced mix of browns and greens: Browns…

06Oct

Mulch Your Leaves

Fall, Tip of the Week

Don’t hurt your back bagging leaves. There’s a better way—you might even be able to avoid raking altogether. But you can’t simply leave everything as it is or you risk suffocating your lawn by leaving it under a layer of leaves. Try mulching; it’s good for your landscape and easier on you. When the leaves have fallen and are dry—don’t mow wet leaves—try mowing your lawn without the grass catcher. If you’ve got a mulch setting on your mower, make sure…

29Sep

Stay Out Later as Days Get Shorter

Fall, Home & Hearth, Tip of the Week

Imagine yourself relaxing on the terrace with a mug of tea or apple cider as you enjoy the cooler nights of autumn in Colorado. But fumbling in the dark with a mug of hot liquid is not a good idea. And candles or torches can be a hazard in our fire-prone state. Despite continuing warm temperatures, shorter days can limit the time we spend outdoors this fall. One way to extend the time outdoors is with landscape lighting. It’s an investment…

13Sep

Time for a Color Change

Fall, Plants and Flowers, Tip of the Week
add more color to your Colorado landscaping with plants and flowers

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…

07Sep

Add More Plants

Plants and Flowers, Thoughts on Design, Tip of the Week

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…

25Aug

Start Late-season Crops Now

Fall, Plants and Flowers, Tip of the Week
various types of lettuce and leafy greens make great late-season crops

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…