March is a great time to get out into your garden and lawn areas and assess what can be done now for the upcoming season. Garden Beds Remove leaves and debris from the garden and raised beds. Apply a pre-emergent such as Preen for weed control. If you didn’t cut back plants in the fall, now is the time to remove dead flowers and leaves.... 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. Now is the perfect time to nip it in the bud, figuratively and literally. Work extra hard now to control weeds and life will be a little easier down the road. In the Garden Pre-emergent – Preen Application Tips First remove any existing... Read More
Not only does it feel like spring, with the warm weather we are experiencing right now, it sometimes feels like summer is right around the corner. But wait a minute…we live in the Rocky Mountain growing region. What does that mean? Well, for all of you have lived in this area for some time, you know what that means…there is more cold, snow, rain and... Read More
Vegetables can be demanding plants. Whereas ‘weeds’ can scratch a living anywhere, vegetables require attention. Most need fertile soil, protection from wind, regular watering, and some help to defend themselves against pests. You cannot simply dig a hole in the ground, plant your veg, and expect it to thrive. A little planning before planting your vegetable garden will go a long way in helping to... Read More
“Hardening off” may sound like some sort of difficult preparation for a college exam. Take heart. It isn’t. It isn’t even hard! Hardening off refers to the process of acclimating plants from indoor temperatures to the outdoors. Because plants usually are grown in greenhouses (or, as seedlings in our kitchen window!), they’ve been pampered. They need to be introduced slowly to the elements of wind... Read More
Mother Nature has kept us primed with lots of beneficial moisture this winter. With beautiful spring-like days in between. But all seasoned Rocky Mountain gardeners know the nice weather we have is going to be mixed with cold and snow for the next several weeks. Let it snow now and send sunny skies in April and May when we really need it the most! Container... Read More
Plan to plant perennial plants and shrubs for landscape and Water Wise Gardening Now that you have a plan it is time to think about what you want to plant. Tree and shrub selection, perennials, and hardscaping. Creek Side offers over 400 varieties of perennials including sun/shade, hot/dry, pollinator plants, ornamental grasses and xeric plants. Considerations: *Sun or Shade, East, West, North or South, Wind... Read More
Houseplants bring a wonderful, lovely dose of nature indoors where you need it most, further helping us by purifying the air in our homes. At some point, you might notice some unwelcome visitors making your houseplants their home. Fungus gnats, also known as soil gnats, are small dark insects that look like fruit flies and live in the soil of houseplants. You might notice them... Read More
Rolling into the month of March, most of we avid gardeners are feeling like we are ready to get going in the garden. Best bet is to continue with garden clean-up and preparation. Cut back your ornamental grasses. Remove large pieces of garden debris. Add compost to the soil. But if you are anxious to be the first person on your block with flowers on... Read More
Plan & Design Consider Water Wise Plants Microclimates Color, Height, Seasonal Bloom Start a garden journal by jotting down layout ideas, plant material, etc. Consider what type of garden you would like. Familiarize yourself with the microclimates for YOUR landscape (hot, dry, shady, sunny, windy). Photograph the area you’re planning to design. Then research, analyze, question, and brainstorm ideas for the area. Draw a rough... Read More
