One of the most distinctive aspects of celebrating the holiday season is the look, feel and fragrance of holiday greens used in decorating our homes. There is nothing like the smell of fresh evergreen boughs to remind us that the holiday season is fast approaching. The most familiar use of holiday greens is of course the Christmas tree. Why so many of us continue the... Read More
Poinsettia Select plants with uniformly green foliage and no lower leaves missing. Moderately moist soil; water thoroughly whenever the soil feels dry to the touch. Ideal temperatures are 60F to 70F. Poinsettia plant parts are not edible, but they are not poisonous when eaten. Those whom are sensitive to latex, may develop a rash when handling poinsettias. Christmas Cactus Let the plant dry out slightly... Read More
Take time to sit back, relax and enjoy your late summer garden in all its glory! Gather your family together and celebrate this beautiful summer season as it draws to a close. Invite friends and neighbors over to show off your beautiful creations and celebrate all your hard work! If you can’t sit back and relax…there is plenty to do…. Looks like August is going... Read More
Hot Weather Tips When temperatures are over 90 degrees, check flowers twice daily for water, in the morning and again in the evening. Some pots/beds may require additional water applications to fight the heat. Don’t get caught over-watering when temps cool down again. Flowers that may be struggling in the heat should be moved to a protected location to take off the stress. When it... Read More
When we think of eating healthy, what may come to mind, is the thought of eating organic produce or fresh home-grown organically grown vegetables. Mainly because we may prefer to know where our food comes from and that it has not been sprayed with chemicals. But this notion of organic gardening does not fully encompass the full scope of what organic gardening really means. Organic... Read More
While planning your spring garden, consider adding native plants and more diversity to make your yard a haven for pollinators and wildlife. As agriculture has intensified and our populations have grown, a lot of habitat has been lost, so even a pot of flowers on the front porch can make a big difference by supporting hundreds of pollinators. If you’re adding plants with pollinators in... Read More
A well-designed garden provides interest from early spring through late autumn, and beyond if you also select plants for winter structure. But, for the main growing season, much of that interest comes from flowering and foliage plants. Gardeners who want a lower maintenance landscape would be wise to look for perennial plants that are both easy-to-grow and offer a long blooming period. Most perennial plants flower... Read More
Are you planning to build and/or install a raised bed? Raised beds can go anywhere that gets six to eight hours of sunlight a day. And they can be any size you like. This article is mainly about the standard rectangular raised beds that are generally built from untreated wood or concrete blocks, as well as what you might want to think about when preparing a raised... Read More
A little understanding of our weather conditions and working in our dry, limiting soil properties will help you improve your garden soil and make smart plant choices this gardening season. Soil is a fascinating mixture of microscopic to larger forms of life (earthworms are good), plus varying amounts of air, water, decomposing living matter, aka organic matter, and different-sized soil texture particles or pores (there... Read More
Gardening in Colorado can be challenging. Hot and Dry Due to the high elevation, sunlight is frequently of high intensity and the humidity generally is low. This will require more frequent water applications to your lawn, landscape and flower pots. Poor Soils Most population centers are on heavy clay soil. These soils have poor aeration that limits root growth. The best solution is to improve... Read More
