Honeybees have been in existence for over 30 million years. Honeybees are the only insect that produces food eaten by humans. Honeybees are the only creatures that do not have to kill or maim to live. Eight (8) fl oz of honey takes 570 honeybees, visiting 1,000,000 flowers! Each honeybee produces 1/12 teaspoon of honey in its lifetime It requires eight pounds of nectar to... Read More
Weed/wed/ noun a wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants. A plant out of place. The hard work of plant selection and planting for the season is finished. The lawn is growing. Perennial flower beds are filling in. Vegetable gardens are just beginning to grow. And what happens? The weeds begin to grow as well. Now is the... Read More
Finally, the snow has ended (really?), and summer is upon us. And the Creek Side Courtyard of Annual flowers and the Backyard of Perennial flowers, shrubs and trees and the Frontyard of Roses looks like summer! Beautiful, colorful flowers and soothing greens all around. Just imagine what your patio will look like? Our Annual Hanging Baskets love the warm temperatures and long days and show... 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 vegetable gardening truly means.... Read More
A little planning before planting your vegetable garden will go a long way in helping to create a productive and manageable garden space. Focus your resources on planting only enough of what you would like to eat and enjoy. Vegetables may be grown in containers as well as in a traditional ground bed. Follow these tips to success. Sunny Location All vegetables need direct sunshine... Read More
Early spring is a wonderful time of the year to begin gardening. Go with what Mother Nature offers and the types of plants that appreciate the early, Cool Season Gardening conditions in March and April. Don’t worry about your warm season plants like geraniums and tomatoes until mid-May. Plant any of the following suggestions for cool weather gardening success. Improve your soil Whether you have... Read More
Asparagus crowns Asparagus grows best in deep, well-drained sandy loam soil. Improve Colorado soils with organic matter like compost to increase drainage. Make a trench 8“deep, in rows 4’ apart. The asparagus crowns are then laid in the trench 8-12” apart. Cover the crowns with 2-3” of soil. Once the asparagus begins to emerge in the furrow, gradually fill in and cover small weeds. Eventually... Read More
Site Selection – choose your garden location before designing it. Site selection is the first step in planning a successful perennial garden. Evaluate the location for sun and shade, wind, soil type and irrigation options. Also consider ease of access, proximity to outdoor living areas, and visibility. Locate the perennial garden so that if possible, it can be accessed from two sides. This makes it... Read More
A little understanding of our weather conditions and working in our drier, sometimes 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... Read More
Garden & Landscape Clean Up Hints and Tips Lawns Hand rake lawns to remove debris and encourage air movement in roots (usually no need to power de-thatch) Top dress with uneven spots with top soil and/or peat moss. Reseed bare spots. Aerate lawn with a minimum of 2” plugs (not too dry). Leave plugs on top of lawn. Apply pre-emergent herbicide to control crabgrass, dandelions,... Read More
