Cover crops or “green manures” have gone hand in hand with agricultural practices for a long time. Cover crops naturally re-enrich soil, protect it from erosion due to rain or wind, improve its texture, and feed soil organisms, which maintain a healthy ecosystem in the soil, breaking down minerals and nutrients that feed plants. As gardeners, our success is directly tied to the soil in... Read More
As August comes to an end, here in the Creek Side Gardens gift shop we shift from summer scents, such as lavender, to the smell of Spicy Apple and Pumpkin Spice. When you visit the gift shop this time of year, these scents will hit your nose, and you will know that a new season has arrived. Come shop for a new fall candle and... Read More
Lavender is a terrific mid-season summer perennial in our Colorado climate. Loves the sun, the heat and a little opportunity to dry out in between irrigation applications. Enjoy the flowers and share with the pollinators. And/or harvest the flowers to create scented crafts. Lavandula angustifolia is a small shrub native to the Mediterranean, despite its common name of “English lavender”. Lavender likes cool winters and... 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
Not as much of a problem in Colorado, due to our hot, dry conditions. But slugs are one of the most common garden pests, though unlike most other chewing critters you find in your garden, they aren’t insects. Instead, slugs are land-dwelling mollusks that are more closely related to clams than beetles or caterpillars. Facing a slug infestation is serious business, filled with slime trails,... 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
2024 Colorado Farm Fresh Directory As a Colorado agricultural producer and grower, Creek Side Gardens is a Colorado Proud member, representing an elite group of Colorado growers promoting a vast array of agricultural products. From flowers to fruits, vegetables to grains, cattle to chickens, Colorado growers and their families share their labor of love with Colorado consumers. Creek Side is honored to once again be... 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
