Trying to stake them after this happens makes them look weird and unnatural. A:  Stake tall growing flowers that are prone to water and wind damage, like the ones you mentioned, should be staked while they're still short and before they need the support.  Once a plant has been allowed to blow over, it never looks quite right again.  At the garden center you’ll find many types of support structures available at a wide range of price points.  Being a penny pincher myself, I save small branch trimmings (2-3’ long) off my trees and shrubs during the year and stick them into th ..read more

A:  Houseplants scheduled to spend the summer outdoors should be kept inside until late-May or early-June when night temperatures stay above 55F.  Move them out gradually and into the shade since the foliage will not be accustom to outdoor light intensity, wind, temperatures and humidity.   Move high light plants into their sunny summer location gradually and expect some temporary leaf drop and burning.  Tropicals are fast growers and therefore should be fed regularly.  Weekly weakly is my method.  Show them some love.  They are depending on you for ever ..read more

A:  While there are no guarantees, mid-May is typically a safe bet but be prepared to cover newly planted, greenhouse grown roses if the temperature threaten to drop below 35F.  Roses are a long term investment so don't scrimp on the soil preparation.  Plant the graft union 2-3” below the soil surface.  Fertilize monthly with a high quality rose food until early September for the best results. Keith Funk is handling our Q & A this year. You may have visited one of Keith’s Denver area gardens on a tour or know him from his years at Echter’s and now at Nick’s Gar ..read more

By Keith Funk A:  Seed tender annuals like marigolds, zinnias, and cosmos directly into the garden by mid-May.  Most all annual transplants and bulbs can be set out by mid-May.  Impatiens, begonias, cannas and other warm loving annuals will prefer you wait until the soil is warm and night temperatures are above 50F. before planting. Keith Funk is handling our Q & A this year. You may have visited one of Keith’s Denver area gardens on a tour or know him from his years at Echter’s and now at Nick’s Garden Center. For 30 years he’s been heard every Saturday morning fr ..read more

By Keith Funk A:  April and May are excellent months for controlling Japanese Beetle grubs that overwintered from last fall.  My personal choice is Phyllom Grub Gone granules.  It’s a bacterial product, very specific to scarab beetle grubs only.  This means the product will not harm beneficials like bees, butterflies, and ladybugs. It’s even approved for organic vegetable gardening.  Keith Funk is handling our Q & A this year. You may have visited one of Keith’s Denver area gardens on a tour or know him from his years at Echter’s and now at Nic ..read more

I am loving this so-far cool, wet spring. The bees are visiting all the cheerful blue chionodoxia flowers that have spread around in my beds. I’m also partial to early Jetfire daffodils that bloom at the same time. These are one of the most commonly available, inexpensive, smaller narcissus. They’re also sturdy. Mine were already blooming during the recent snowstorm  and they bounced right back. If only I’d planted the two together!  Birds are also incredibly active right now since April is mating and nesting season. Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’re probably awa ..read more

By Keith Funk A:  My first application of plant food on my perennials is in early April.  I prefer a granular fertilizer with an analysis of 10-5-5 or something in that ballpark. that I can apply with a spreader and then water in thoroughly.  Any reputable brand of organic flower garden fertilizer will do.  Just follow label directions and repeat as often as recommended.  I feed monthly from April through September.  I’ve even used organic lawn food on my perennials in a pinch because I know organics are slow-release and won’t burn the foliage. Keith Funk who ..read more

By Keith Funk A:  Yes. There are several cold-tolerant annuals and perennials that will flower beautifully during our cool/cold spring weather. Violas, pansies, stock, wallflowers, snapdragons, brunnera, hellebores, creeping phlox and alyssum will easily tolerate light frost and even snow. If the plants are purchased from inside a warm greenhouse, be sure to gradually acclimate (harden off) your new babies to outdoor conditions before planting them. Garden centers often keep these durable plants in an outdoor sales area so they can be planted out right away.   ..read more

By Keith Funk A:  Remove spent flowers but keep all the foliage to rebuild the bulb’s strength to rebloom again next year.  Show them some love with an application of a general purpose flower garden food watered in thoroughly.  Once the foliage turns yellow it can be cut off at the soil surface.  DO NOT PULL the foliage off.  You run the risk of pulling the bulbs out or damaging the bulbs where the foliage attaches below ground, encouraging the bulbs to rot at the point of injury.   Keith Funk who is handling our Q & A this year. You may have vis ..read more

By Keith Funk A:  Shrubs that flower before Memorial Day can be pruned immediately after flowering.  These shrubs include lilac, forsythia, mock orange, snowball bush, and flowering quince to name a few.  Pruning before  will remove this year’s flowers.   Shrubs that flower after Memorial Day, like Rose of Sharon, Butterfly Bush and Blue Mist Spirea can be pruned as early as late winter.  You’ll want to finish pruning these shrubs by the time they start leafing out. Keith Funk who is handling our Q & A this year. You may have visited one of Keit ..read more