In Colorado, we love our landscapes and we are spending more time outdoors where we can enjoy them. With so much of our state in drought conditions and under water restrictions, we are reminded we need to look for plants that are easy to grow, can handle summer heat-and don’t need a lot of water. If you are looking for more water-wise ideas for what to plant this year, here are some plants you might want to bring home to…
We have so many plant choices in Colorado, it’s easy to lose track of plants that have always grown here. Yet, there are good reasons to have a few native plants growing in our yards. The No. 1 reason to plant natives is that Colorado is NOT an easy place to grow plants. We have wild temperature swings, hard freezes, a dry climate and harsh winters. We can and do grow non-natives here, but non-natives can take more work, develop…
Successful gardens don’t have to be complicated or exotic. A great garden grows, is harvested and enjoyed by a gardener who knows and follows 10 basic steps. As in most endeavors, keeping the process simple and grounded in the basics pays off. Select smart. Know about how many plants you can grow in the space you have and avoid the temptation to over purchase. Count the days. Make sure plants have time to grow to maturity. Seed packets tell the…
Many property owners are wondering if their lawns just didn’t wake up this spring from their long winter nap – and many lawns did not. Patches of dead lawn are prevalent along the Front Range due to turf mites. They thrive in dry turf conditions and consequently, are a major problem this year due to lack of winter snow cover and moisture. Lawns that did not receive supplemental water over the winter probably suffered more. Most of the mite damage…
Lawn mowing and outdoor maintenance season is upon us and that means getting equipment in good running order. If you have not yet started the mower or are teaching a young family member to mow the lawn, take a time out to review important info about fueling up the tank and safety practices. Here are important reminders: 1 – How old is the gas in the tank? Don’t start that mower or other equipment if the gas has been in…
Frost appears to be out of the forecast which makes Mother’s Day a great time to give mom plants she can enjoy outside beginning right now. Hot 2018 trends in flowers are the Pantone Color of the Year which is Ultra Violet plus bright shades of orange and yellow. Every year the Color of the Year shows up in furniture, décor and fashion as well as in spring flowers. This year we see Ultra Violet and shades of purple in…
If you’ve gardened for even a few weeks in Colorado, you probably have a serious dislike for bindweed. It looks like a miniature version of morning glory that seems like it will take over a garden, lawn, and landscape almost overnight. This vining and flowering plant starts out growing along the ground until it finds a vertical structure such as a tomato cage, trellis or fence to grab. Then it shoots upward grabbing and wrapping itself around the vertical form…
Spring is prime time for planting new trees. It gives them a long growing season to get settled into their new home. Before you select a tree or two and start planting, weigh the expert advice of Keith Wood, urban and community forest manager for Colorado State Forest Service. His number one recommendation is to plant a diversity of trees in your yard, throughout a neighborhood and within the community. Wood’s wisdom, shared by all dedicated arborists, now applies more…
Mowing lawns less frequently is practical, time saving and economical when it comes to having a pollinator friendly yard. These are the findings recently published by the U. S. Department of Agriculture based on research conducted in residential yards in western Massachusetts. Researchers found those who mowed lawns every 2 weeks, rather than weekly or every 3 weeks, created “more abundant flower resources” – namely flowering weeds – which, in turn, will attract and nourish bees. That said, do you…
If you’re spending more time at home and in your yard, you might be tempted to water the lawn often—but don’t. This is a critical time for your grass; spring is when it grows its feeder roots that capture water all season long. Resist the urge to spoil your lawn. Don’t let its roots get used to over-watering, or it can have negative effects for the rest of the season. Over-watering can cause turf roots to remain shallow in the…
