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
Herbs have long been revered for both their medicinal and culinary value. They may cure colds, help you sleep and add flavor and zest to dinner. Fortunately for home gardeners, herb gardening is relatively easy. They thrive in just about any type of soil, do not require much fertilizer, and are not often bothered by insect or disease pests. Defined as a plant without a... Read More
Microgreens and sprouts are trending everywhere from cooking shows and magazines to fancy restaurants and food trucks. But here’s the secret—you can grow microgreens and sprouts right in your kitchen for pennies! Microgreens are young, leafy vegetables or herbs that are harvested just above the soil line when the plant is 1–2 inches tall. Microgreens include the first pair of leaves, called cotyledons, and the... Read More
We covered Poinsettia, Amaryllis, Paperwhite and Christmas Cactus blooming plant care last month in November Plant Pointers. Following, please find a list of other popular blooming plants and their care for the holiday season. Azalea Care Azaleas as houseplants do best at cooler temperatures, ideally around 60-65 F. (16-18 C.). Cooler temperatures will also help the blooms last for several weeks. Keep them well lit,... Read More
Cold frames are an invaluable tool for season extension in a vegetable garden. Cold frames allow us to jump-start the spring harvest months before most gardeners begin to sow seeds and stretch our harvest throughout winter. Read on for tips on how to garden with a cold frame. By definition, a cold frame is an outdoor structure consisting of a bottomless frame and a glass/plastic top, which... Read More
‘What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.’ ~ William Shakespeare As the temperatures begin to dip towards the freezing mark and below, it’s an excellent time to prepare the rose bed for a long winter’s nap! Here are five basic steps from the Denver Rose Society’s publication, “Growing Roses in Colorado,” which will help get... Read More
Keep an eye on the weather, especially overnight lows. The Denver metro area has experienced a light freeze which may have affected tender annuals, perennials and vegetables. Until the ground is frozen perennials, trees, shrubs and bulbs may be planted. Don’t forget to water in any new plantings. Make a note on the calendar to provide winter watering to any new plantings monthly through the... Read More
Lawn Care Fertilize with lawn fertilizer now, and then again in October. Fertilome Winterizer would be an excellent choice. Aerate your lawn to open up the root zone to accept more water. Water the lawn well a day or two before aerating the lawn. It should be moist a couple of inches deep, but not soggy. Flag any sprinkler heads to avoid damage. Consider seeding... Read More
“You may delay, but time will not.” ― Benjamin Franklin Labor Day Weekend is growing dim in our memories and most believe this is the end of the gardening season…not yet! The average first frost in the Denver metro area is the first week of October (caveat: it can be as early as mid-September or as late as the end of October). Keep some lightweight... Read More
Elm Leaf Miners are active now! Leafminers are insects that feed within a leaf, producing large blotches or meandering tunnels. Although leafminer injuries are conspicuous, most leafminers produce injuries that have little, if any, effect on plant health. Leafminers are insects that have a habit of feeding within leaves or needles, producing tunneling injuries. Areas mined by insects die and dry out. Although injuries produced... Read More
