The hardy rose mallow, also known as perennial hibiscus, is a striking, cold-hardy plant that thrives in many garden settings. Hardy Rose Mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) is a plant you want to try! It features large, showy blooms, often in shades of pink, red, white, or bi-color, with a delicate crepe-like texture. This member of the hibiscus family is native to wetlands and coastal regions of North America, making it well-suited to damp soils, though it can also adapt to standard…
This fascinating TV segment explains why, and what some technology companies are doing about it. According to the televised segment on CBS Sunday Morning, the birds are just trying to migrate, but they get distracted by lights or reflections, and are unaware of the hazards posed by glass. Migration is a risky and exhausting time in a bird’s life. Birds migrate hundreds to thousands of miles – sometimes burning half their body mass along the way. Some architects are using new…
It’s a good time to put in some work to help your landscape stay healthy as it heads into dormancy for the winter. It’s still warm, but autumn begins next week and we look forward to cooler days ahead. A little care now will help make your lawn hardier so that it will return next spring as vibrant as ever. Here are some steps to consider. Be sure to talk with us about which of these steps are important for your…
Turf serves an important purpose: it provides recreation areas for adults, kids, and pets alike. But native grasses bring a character all their own, with the added bonus of being low-water and low-maintenance once established. Ornamental grasses can also provide height, varying texture, movement, and year-round interest. Consider adding them to your landscape this year. A few examples of Colorado native grasses for your consideration: Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis). Did you know that Colorado has an official state grass? It…
Toward the end of August and early September, conditions are prime to plant cool-season crops for fall harvest. These plants aren’t made for the long and intensely hot days of summer. Late summer’s cooling nighttime temperatures and shorter days with less sunshine offer the right conditions. Plants to consider: Green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, lettuce, collard greens, chard Beets Broccoli Carrots For best results, follow these tips: Look for seeds with packets that say they will mature in 60…
These suggestions are from the late David Salman of High Country Gardens, where they know a thing or three about growing in the hot and air southwest. Our irrigation mantra is “don’t water more often, water more deeply.” If you use irrigation on your garden/landscape, don’t increase frequency, increase the duration of the watering cycle. You want to make sure the water goes down at least 10″ to 12″ into the soil. Why? Water that stays only in the top few inches of the…
What happens to trees and plants that can’t escape a fire? The answer may surprise you. In this enlightening article from Colorado State University, you’ll learn how plants breathe, what makes smoke toxic even far from a fire, and what trees do when smoke is so thick (hint: it’s similar to what we do). According to the article, “As atmospheric and chemical scientists, we study the air quality and ecological effects of wildfire smoke and other pollutants. In a study that started quite…
What is too hot? This will depend on the plants – Cool season plants like pansies, snapdragons, and veggies like broccoli, lettuce, etc. don’t like temps above 75. You will see those veggies bolt, (Go to flower and seed). Warm-season plants like tomatoes, peppers, squashes, zinnia, impatiens, & annual vinca love & thrive in warm temps (75-90). But when we get in the mid and upper 90’s to 100 even those can slow production or suffer. Newly planted perennials, trees & shrubs too…
Easily identify which plants survive and thrive best in your zone Garden Design website has a wonderful new tool to assist gardeners in identifying (and seeing beautiful pictures of) plants that will survive winters in our Zone 3-4 and thrive too. USDA hardiness zones are based on average annual minimum winter temperatures, but doesn’t account for other factors like heat, humidity, rainfall, and soil conditions. Their new online tool provides some of the most popular perennials, shrubs, and trees to…
Many grass species enter a state of dormancy during periods of extreme heat. Letting your lawn turn brown in summer is not only acceptable but also a responsible and sustainable approach to lawn care, particularly in regions prone to drought or where water conservation is a priority. One of the primary reasons for allowing your lawn to go dormant during the summer is to conserve water. Lawns, especially those made up of cool-season grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass, require significant amounts…
