August in Colorado generally means that your vegetable crops should be getting close to harvest. How can you tell? Here are some general guidelines to follow for harvesting your vegetables. Steps for Harvesting Ripe crops should be identifiable based on color, size, and texture. They will be firm but tender. Bigger is not always better. Pull crops such as zucchini, squash, cucumbers when they are between... Read More
Japanese Beetles & Control Japanese beetles are coming! They can be very damaging to plants, especially roses, grape vines, Virginia creeper vines. Adults feed on leaves, buds and flowers of many common garden and landscape plants. Feeding on leaves is usually restricted to the softer tissues between the larger leaf veins, which results in a characteristic feeding pattern known and described as ‘skeletonizing’. More generalized... Read More
What does Summer Sound Like? There is a definite sway and rhythmic beat to this sultry season. A simple arrangement of 8 notes has a magical quality of transporting one back to a time of endless days filled with youthful excitement and adventure. The melodies pouring through the airwaves evoke special memories. Was it a family road trip with everyone singing at the top... Read More
Adding flowers to the vegetable garden not only adds colorful interest but will help your garden stay healthy by attracting beneficial insects or discouraging harmful insects. While there are many good reasons to go natural in the garden, the resounding reason that every gardener can get on board with is that it just makes gardening easier and more abundant. When flowers are coupled with all-natural... Read More
If you already have your flowers, now is the time to make plans for keeping them happy and beautiful all summer long: Establish a routine daily watering schedule. Early in the day is best, but early evening is OK as well. Consider investing in a professional water wand or water nozzle. It will help make this job a little easier. We would be lost without... Read More
Tomatoes are easy to love and easy to grow. Here are a few tips for planting them, getting you on your way to this summer’s bumper crop. Get Off to a Great Start Choose healthy starts. Grow your own from seed or pick them up at Creek Side Gardens offering small, medium, large and extra-large plant selections. Know where you’re going to plant and prep... Read More
A low maintenance vegetable garden A vegetable garden isn’t a no-maintenance space, but with a little planning, soil care, good site selection, and smart crop choices it can certainly be a lower maintenance garden. If you’re new to gardening or just tight on time, keep it simple and keep it small. You can grow a lot of food in a single raised bed or a few... Read More
Aromatic. Spicy. Versatile. Downright addictive. That’s what we say about the incredible herb, basil. Whether you’re making pesto or tea, Italian or Thai food, Basil is so easy to grow at home, that you can always have some on hand. Grow from Seed or Transplants There is a bit of a misnomer that basil is hard to grow from seed – that couldn’t be more... Read More
Spring is the time to get your lawn ready for another season. Creek Side Gardens promotes the Fertilome® – 4-Step Lawn Care Program with the premise that regular fertilization, along with aeration, good mowing and watering practices, is key to maintaining a strong, healthy lawn. A healthy lawn is more resistant to weeds and disease problems. Step 1 – For All Seasons II –... Read More
Container gardening is very popular, especially for gardeners with no yards or limited growing area in the ground. All types of plants may be grown in containers. Annual flowers, herbs and vegetables work very well because their growing will be over at the end of the summer season. Your containers can then be replanted the following season with a fresh planting. Perennials, shrubs and trees... Read More
