For 2020, The Pantone Color InstituteTM has chosen Classic Blue (PANTONE 19-4052) as its Color of the Year. This classic color is meant to evoke thoughts of the night sky and a feeling of dependability. Right now, you might not see a lot of bright color in your landscape, but why not think about how to incorporate this trendy hue into your environment next spring? Talk with your garden center or landscape professional about Plant Select©, which develops plants that…
You don’t have to leave outdoor containers looking sad and empty. Nor do you have to put them in storage until spring. Your dormant landscape might need a pick-me-up for the winter, and that’s where those containers come in handy. If you choose a colorful container, that alone can add a pop of color. Use it to add some interest to your porch or stoop. Follow the same guidelines (thriller, filler, spiller) that you would in summer to combine materials.…
In the past, holiday lighting could be a complicated, even dangerous undertaking. But improved technology has made lighting up your landscape and home for the holidays safer and more energy-efficient. LED lights use a fraction of the energy that traditional incandescent bulbs use, and they often last 30 times as long, according to the US Energy Information Administration. They don’t get hot like incandescent bulbs either, which lowers the fire hazard. Check your lighting at home to see if the…
While the word recycling may make you think of soda cans, plastic bottles, and electronics, don’t forget that recycling can happen in your landscape, too. You can mulch your leaves and use them on your roses and garden beds to help soil retain heat and moisture. Pinecones, twigs, and branches can become rustic décor for your home. Instead of buying them in a craft or home decorating store, save money, fuel, and plastics packaging by collecting them during fall cleanup…
As the seasons change in Colorado we see drastic changes in colors outdoor, including our own gardens landscapes. What was green and even lush mere months ago is now brown and yellow with occassional pops of green thanks to evergreens. One of the questions posed often to Camelot Design this time of year is how to keep the landscape looking beautiful despite cold, less light, and harsh winter conditions. I like to incorporate trees, shrubs, and groundcovers that can withstand…
The general rule of thumb has been to wrap young trees in late November and remove the wrapping in April. But here in Colorado we know that weather patterns don’t read calendars. Freeze can, and recently did, occur early in the fall. But don’t despair if your tree got caught without a “blanket” in October. If you planted a new tree this fall or have a young tree in your landscape, it’s not too late to wrap it. Despite the…
According to some predictions, Colorado could see a colder, snowier winter this season than we’ve seen previously. The Front Range got a sneak preview with a snow storm just before Halloween, and much of the state saw frigid temperatures. The storm this week was an early reminder to have a plan in place to keep your sidewalks and driveways safe. Here are some snow shoveling basics: Shovel your sidewalk after it snows. It’s the right thing to do, and in…
What if we told you that you can actually improve your landscape by not bagging your leaves for trash pickup? Instead, you can mulch your leaves and leave them on the lawn. Mulched leaves will bio-degrade, providing nutrients to the grass roots, micro-organisms, and worms in your landscape. They also help regulate the soil temperature when it gets cold, retain moisture in soil on dry days, and can reduce weed propagation next year. But you can’t simply let leaves sit…
Here in Colorado we are lucky to enjoy outdoor living even when there’s a chill in the air. The key to extending outdoor enjoyment beyond the summer is to harness the elements of fire and light. Start a (safe) fire! A cozy fire feature brings people together, prolongs a good conversation and adds ambiance to your outdoor living space. For young people, it can mean one more campfire and round of s’mores to enjoy. Stay warm on a chilly fall…
The growing season is definitely winding down, and it’s time to take care of fall landscape chores. Hopefully you winterized your irrigation system or got your sprinkler blowout done ahead of our big storm on Thursday. Now let’s think about getting our trees ready for winter. Prune shade trees so they will be better prepared to handle wind and snow. If there are dead or damaged branches from yesterday’s (or even last year’s) storms that have not been pruned, they…
