Growing small fruits such as raspberries, blueberries, grapes, blackberries, gooseberries or even patio citrus trees are often overlooked as a sustainable addition to your garden.  Most varieties do well here in Colorado but often require certain growing conditions for each different fruit. Raspberries, Blackberries and Boysenberries Ever-bearing or Fall-bearing raspberries seem best-suited for the Front Range, according to tests conducted by Colorado State University. Creek... Read More

Powdery mildews are one of the most widespread and easily recognized plant diseases. They affect virtually all kinds of plants.  In Colorado, powdery mildews are common on lilac, grape, roses, turfgrass, vegetables (such as cucumbers, squashes and peas), crabapple and Virginia creeper, among others. Identification Powdery mildews are characterized by spots or patches of white to grayish, talcum-powder like growth. Tiny, pinhead-sized, spherical fruiting structures... Read More

Aphids Commonly found on trees, shrubs, and garden ornamentals. Aphids feed by sucking sap from a plants new leaf growth. When populations are severe the damage can cause wilting, leaf curling, and dieback of shoots and buds. The sticky honeydew (aphids waste material) is an attractant for ants, yellow jacket wasps, flies, and bees which can be as much a nuisance as damage done to... 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.  Most perennial plants flower for two to four weeks, but the longest flowering perennials, like coneflowers and catmint, measure their flowering period in months, not weeks. The Longest... Read More