By John Ashworth, CSU Extension – Denver Master Gardener since 2014 In the metro Denver area, Japanese Beetles (JB) are unfortunately here to stay. They have steadily spread from the southern fringes of the metro area to Denver and the surrounding suburbs. It’s not too soon to develop a plan of attack for JBs in this year’s garden. Start by understanding the life cycle of the Japanese beetle and how you can interrupt it to reduce the numbers in your yard. This image shows that life cycle. Credit: (uky.edu) CSU Extension has published this excellent fact sheet, which covers the life cycle ..read more

By: Molly Gaines CSU Extension-Denver Master Gardener since 2019 Last week’s snow covering forsythia starting to bloom. Photo: Molly Gaines Signs of spring are everywhere in Denver. Daffodils, crocus and other spring flowers in full bloom one day; covered in ice and snow the next. Oh, to be a gardener at 5,280 feet! While it’s too early to spend a lot of time planting, it’s a perfect time to prepare your soil, garden beds, tools, pots and lawn for the 2024 growing season. Below are a few gardening activities to consider before Mother’s Day, May 12 (around the safe zone from hard frosts) for pl ..read more

By: Margerie Hicks, CSU Extension-Denver Master Gardener since 2010 Vertical garden. Photo credit: Supersmario Gardening can be a therapeutic and enjoyable activity for people of all abilities. Whether you have limited mobility, strength, perception, or dexterity, there are tools and methods available to cultivate your green thumb and create a vibrant garden oasis. Below are a few potential tools and designs to make gardening more comfortable and enjoyable for those with physical challenges. Adaptive Garden Equipment  Some of the following equipment can be found in metro Denver garden cen ..read more

By: Valerie Podmore CSU Extension-Denver Master Gardener since 2020 Snowdrops popping up through the snow (photo by Pixabay) Hey friends, remember when it was January, and we were all lamenting how it seemed to never end? And then February was unseasonably warm and short, but Punxsutawney Phil did tell us early spring!  Well, celebrations are in order because it’s MARCH! This is one of the best months for watching new growth come up and reigniting that gardening bug. Of course, there are other, more “productive” tasks to perform as well, so mark your calendar to get these gardening to-do ..read more

By Molly Gaines, CSU Extension – Denver Master Gardener since 2019 Begonia in the Cozens family since the late 1800s. Photo: Molly Gaines On a recent visit to the Cozens Ranch Museum in Fraser, a red and green-leafed begonia in a windowsill, flooded with afternoon sunlight, caught my eye. I walked over for a closer look, and a sign next to the plant shared its special history. It was propagated from an angel wing begonia plant that had been in the Cozens’ family since the late 1800s!  In the late 1990s, when my husband and I were moving into our first home, my husband’s grandma gave us a ..read more

By Margerie Hicks, CSU Extension – Denver Master Gardener since 2010 Blue fescue grass poking through snow at Denver Botanic Gardens. Photo: Margerie Hicks February is one of the best months to enjoy the interesting patterns, textures, and shapes that dried grasses and perennials form in contrast to the snow. It is also a time to read or otherwise educate yourself about gardening trends and ideas. And finally, it is a time to complete the few but important tasks needed in February to prepare for the coming growing season. Winter Interest Autumn joy sedum keeps its color and form. Photo: M ..read more

As we start the new year, we want to extend a huge thank you to all of our readers. We appreciate every comment you’ve left and story you’ve shared. 2023 welcomed a lot of new readers to our blog, and we want to check-in and hear your thoughts on the content we share. We’ve put together a Denver Master Gardener Blog survey that should take less than five minutes to complete (depending on how detailed you want to get in your responses). Everyone is welcome and encouraged to take it. The survey closes on February 18th. Take the Denver Master Gardener Blog Survey Thank you for your time and willi ..read more

Early January at the Denver Botanic Gardens Photo: Linda McDonnell By Linda McDonnell, CSU Extension – Denver Master Gardener since 2013 It may be tempting to kick back and think there is nothing much to do in the garden this month. And while it is not the busiest time, taking a few steps when needed will set plants, trees, and lawns up for future success. Winter Watering – January’s Most Important Task It’s important to water trees, shrubs, perennials, and lawns during extended dry periods of 2-4 weeks. Supplemental water provides root systems with moisture that is critical to long-term plant ..read more

By Linda McDonnell, CSU Extension – Denver Master Gardener since 2013 It’s too late for fall planting, too soon to start next year’s seeds. For the next few months, especially after the holidays, gardeners are likely to get restless. With gardening tasks mostly on hiatus, it’s an ideal time to dive into a great garden book to learn something new, hone your skills, or dream up your next project. Here are some titles to check out, recommended by members of the CSU Extension and Master Gardener community. All are chock full of information, presented in interesting, useful ways. Hope you find some ..read more

By Molly Gaines, CSU Extension-Denver Master Gardener since 2019 Grasses left uncut provide great visual appeal throughout the winter months. Photo: Molly Gaines A few snowfalls have already blanketed Denver, making old man winter feel official. This, and the fact that the holiday season is upon us, probably means garden to-dos are not top-of-mind for you. Yet, there are still some important tasks to consider, along with a handful of indoor activities, as we head into these darker days and colder months. December’s Checklist  Trees, Shrubs and Perennials  When there is no snow cover ..read more