A garden is only as good as the soil. It is really, really important to use good soil and soil amendments in your planting beds and before laying sod or seeding grass. The purpose of adding an amendment to the soil is to increase soil fertility, improve soil structure, or both. Organic matter, such as compost, is used to increase soil fertility. Compost that is rich in plant-available nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium gives the plant a real boost when first planted. Once the plants are established, microorganisms become active in the soil and the plants can generate some of these nutrients t ..read more

Love this! I caught a picture of this big Bumblebee enjoying the crocus on my front yard earlier this week. I love the early blooming Crocus as much as the bees! Growing Up! The Daffodils (Narcissus spp.) are popping up, too! I specifically planted the “late blooming” varieties because I hate when the blossoms are destroyed by snow.  If you had some Daffodils in bloom, the snow might freeze the flowers, but it won’t kill the plant. Working on it I tried to over-winter this Non-stop Begonia (Begonia x tuberhybrida ‘Fire’). I was really loving it last summer on my back ..read more

You may have been led to believe that roses are high-maintenance and delicate, but there are so many choices in color, size and petal count, that they are worth the effort. Roses of all types – shrub roses, tea roses, or climbing roses – can actually tolerate a lot of abuse and neglect, but you’ll have more flowers and prettier plants if you regularly give them some attention. In late fall (November), cut back the long canes on shrub and tea roses so they are about 2 to 2-1/2 feet tall. This way when/if we have a heavy snow storm, the canes don’t break at the crown which can be detrimenta ..read more

Crisp, cool evenings. Downright cold mornings. Chilling winds and swirling leaves. Fall has definitely arrived here in Northern Colorado! The temperatures will continue to dip lower as we head into winter. Preparing the plants and lawn for winter is rarely anyone’s favorite task, but care at this point in the year can make a big difference in next year’s plant health.  Here’s a to-do list to help you prepare for the changing season. Important Preparations: Empty (or partially empty) and protect your pottery for the winter. Terra cotta planters will disintegrate if left in a sno ..read more

Clearing up the fallen leaves isn’t exactly mentally straining, but there are ways to make the chore a bit easier. Consider where you want the leaves to end up. Don’t rake all the leaves to the back fence and then have to drag them through the front gate. Rake them toward the gate. Rake with the wind and rake downhill. Really, it’s best to postpone raking on a windy day. Use a leaf blower instead of a rake. Battery powered leaf blowers have really improved in the past few years and are very convenient. It’s worth the investment if you have large trees. Shred the leaves with your lawnmo ..read more

Whether we like it or not, the seasons are changing again and cold winter nights will soon be here. Some gardeners prefer to clean up their garden in the fall, and others let things go a little until spring. For the most part, the plants don’t care one way or the other. However, there are a few tasks that you should not delay, and a few others that are easy to procrastinate. Be on the watch for a frost or freeze! The extended forecast predicts a nice, long and mild autumn, but that could change at any time.   Fall Chores: Now is a good time to plant spring-blooming bulbs. This include ..read more

We’ve had such unusual weather this year here in Northern Colorado. In a typical August, our lawns have gone brown and dormant by now and we are crying about our water bills. Although this year is different, we should not stop trying to conserve water and be water efficient. Did you know only 3% of our overall water supply is spent on landscaping?  Yet it seems that landscaping is always the scapegoat for water conservation. This is because water used on landscaping is very difficult to reclaim. Sure, it recharges groundwater and eventually makes it’s way back to a river or water basin ..read more

Hopefully your yard and garden are flourishing! Here’s a few jobs to tackle now: Monitor your water use. Instead of relying on your irrigation timer, take cues from the plants for the water needs. Plants can be tricky though! They will wilt when they need water and also when they have too much water. Check the soil with your finger before assuming they’re dry. Plant cool season vegetables such as peas, lettuce, and spinach, if you want a fall harvest. Watch for Japanese Beetles which infest Roses, Raspberries, Grapes, Virginia Creeper, Linden and Elm trees, among other host pl ..read more

Unfortunately, you are likely to have some uninvited guests in the yard as the summer progresses. There are certainly intruders in my garden! Birds and squirrels eating the apples, powdery mildew covering the peonies, and weevils destroying my roses– ugh!  I try to follow a protocol known as IPM (Integrated Pest Management). IPM seeks to solve pest problems while minimizing the risks to people and the environment. This means I try the least impactful option first, rather than immediately grabbing the chemicals. It does not mean I will not use chemicals of any type. IPM means trying a vari ..read more

No one loves chores, but your plants need a little attention this summer. Water! Don’t let your plants get dehydrated in the sun! In June, in rained more than double our average, but by mid-July, the plants are needing some supplemental water. Check your irrigation system. Since we had all that rain in June, you may not have done a good system check yet this year. Turn on the zones and walk the system looking for leaks, breaks or misaligned spray heads.  Remove the spent blossoms (deadhead) your flowers, both the annuals in containers and the perennial flowers in the yard. Not su ..read more