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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…

Efficient irrigation is an often overlooked component of sustainable plant health and drought-awareness. Last month we provided you with a simple DIY irrigation set up to make watering easier, less expensive, and waterwise. The next step in having a working irrigation system involves two important tasks after set up: audits, and irrigation controllers. System Audits Irrigation systems that are not regularly checked and maintained can waste vast amounts of water while simultaneously harming the very plants they are meant to support. Regular inspections…

If you’re really feeling the itch to get out and garden, consider planting some cool-hardy pansies. When you go pick out your pansies: Check with garden center staff that the flowers you are purchasing are ready to plant. Pansies should be hardened off before putting them in the ground. If they have been kept outdoors at the garden center, they are probably hardened off and ready to plant. Be aware that pansies that haven’t yet been hardened off need some protected…

Gardening and landscape care can be a healthy hobby that helps us get outdoors and moving around. But proper form is important to avoid discomfort or injury. Vary activities and tasks frequently and include rest periods in between to help reduce the strain from repetitive motions. If hands start to tingle or the wrist and fingers hurt or feel numb, this is a signal to take a break and switch to a different task. Monitor positions and posture while gardening. Orienting the body incorrectly…

Children who grow their own vegetables are five times more likely to eat them, according to a 2015 study. Whether it’s at school or at home, gardening can benefit their health and wellbeing in many ways. Consider involving your children in planning your garden, and garden alongside them when it’s time to plant. Let them select veggies, herbs and flowers they would like to grow. Get them involved early in the process to increase their investment and help them learn. Planning a garden…

Unfortunately for all of us who want to get outdoors and start planting, it’s really too soon to plant perennials and to expect them to survive the recent snows and possible hard freezes ahead. Here’s what you need to know if you have bought plants already: Because these perennials have been in cold storage all winter, they have been kept dormant. But bringing them inside the store where it’s warm has forced them to break dormancy – and they will start…

Springtime in the Rockies is usually a roller-coaster ride of nice days with warmer temps and colder days that bring heavy snows. And March, as we all know, tends to be the snowiest month. For many plants, this transition time into spring can be the most challenging time of year. Snowfalls from this point forward tend to pack more moisture, and that added weight is more stressful on plants. Here are some coping strategies to help your plants: Deciduous trees: Damp…

The damage usually shows up as browned needles and leaves, dead branch tips, delayed leaf-out, or even dieback. Anatomy of a tree during too-dry Winters During dry spells, a tree’s anatomy works overtime to conserve water and survive stress. The roots are the first line of defense, stretching outward and downward in search of moisture; fine feeder roots absorb water, but they can die back quickly if soil stays dry, reducing the tree’s ability to hydrate itself. Inside the trunk…

Don’t count on Mother Nature and the hope of a big snow to get your trees and perennials through the winter this year.  Snowfall usually provides far less moisture than rain, and we don’t have to tell you that we’re in a particularly concerning dry spell right now, so you’ll want to supplement with some winter watering for your trees, shrubs, and perennials. Water long enough so that the soil is thoroughly soaked without run-off. Be sure to water areas…