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.…
What is a weed? It’s any plant that grows where we don’t want it. Often they are non-native, potentially invasive plants that can outgrow and crowd out the plants we put in our landscape on purpose. To avoid a big problem in the height of the growing season, take some time to stop weeds as soon as they appear. The key is to get rid of them before they flower or go to seed. There are two basic methods of…
Bindweed might look like a miniature version of morning glory, but it is a nuisance that seems like it can take over a garden almost overnight. It is very difficult to control once established in your landscape. Colorado Department of Agriculture has categorized bindweed as a noxious weed. Luckily, the department offers a tool to help you fight it. Request a bug Through the “Request-A-Bug” program, homeowners may purchase a biological pest control to deal with bindweed in their veggie…
After recent snows gave them a dose of moisture, and with temperatures heating up along the Front Range, early spring bulbs are popping up in landscapes and giving us a hint of the color to come. Crocuses, hyacinths, even some daffodils and tulips can be spotted in gardens and flower beds. The warm days might inspire you to add some color to your landscape. Keep in mind that April in Colorado could still bring us heavy snowfall or even a…
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.…
Create a more sustainable landscape! t’s too early to start planting, but it’s a good time to make a plan for a successful landscape this year. Recent heavy snowfall was much-needed, but it has not eliminated drought in the state, so be sure that your landscape plans are strategic and water-wise. Planning a water-wise landscape Start with the sprinkler system. When water is scarce, sprinklers need to be at maximum efficiency so that every drop you use and pay for…
