Our bare feet enjoy it. The dog rolls around on it. The soccer kids kick it. But as long as it’s pretty much green and mowed, we’d rather smell the flowers! Another great article on Fall tips from the ALCC. Even though we tend to take the lawn for granted, it is plant life that…
Petunias are getting less perky as they head into the down side of the growing season. Read this ALCC Tip giving great ideas on how to spruce up your landscape with color. With fall in the air, it’s time to think about replacing them with something more seasonal. Fortunately, there are many colorful plants…
This year, we have had a good share of sunny hot days in our State. Read on to learn about the drought cycles in Colorado. You can’t always count on unlimited water at the tap. If you look at the history of the state, you’ll see that droughts are regular visitors to Colorado. In the…
Dead and dying branches in the upper half of pine trees signal Zimmerman pine moth infestation. Austrian pines are most commonly infested, although Scotch and ponderosa pines are also damaged. This insect has become established along the Front Range in recent years. Infested branches typically break at the crotch, where they join the trunk. The…
Trees, like humans, get sick. They “catch a bug” and often it’s literally a real bug–an insect or spider. The ALCC has written this timely article on how to diagnose plant problems. If you think your plants may be needing that extra help to recover, call us or your trusted arborist. As with people, the…
During the hot days of July and August, container plantings can begin to look unsightly. Read ahead to learn how to improve the look of your container plantings. Improve the appearance of a container by pruning back overgrown plants or removing dried out, weather-damaged, or non-blooming annuals. Replace them with heat-loving annuals such as: Angelonia,…
Hot weather can be as hard on plants as it is on people. Staying hydrated is as critical to our plants as it is to us. Of course, we don’t want to use any more water than is necessary in the process. That’s why adding mulch to beds is one of the best ways to…
We thank the ALCC for this great article on tree maintenance. Trees: They are often quite stately standing next to our homes and offices. They shade our homes and our picnics. But they usually don’t grab our attention like the lawn does every Saturday morning because unlike the lawn, they don’t clamor for weekly maintenance.…
In the next few posts, we will share a report from the Master Gardener Program notes 711, CSU Extension, covering the topics of soil management and fertilization for your vegetable garden. In the garden, managing soils to improve tilth and garden fertilization are related but not necessarily the same process. For example, compost or manure…
Learn how organic amendments improve the soil of your vegetable garden and how to apply such soil soil amendments. Our next post will covers precautions to take when applying soil amendments, so visit our site or page tomorrow to learn more. In the vegetable garden, the routine addition of organic soil amendments such as compost will optimize…
Follow these precautions when using compost and manure and learn what the release rates are for these soil amendments. Precautions When Using Compost and Manure Manure, compost made from manure, and bio-solids may be high in salts that will interfere with crop growth. Do not add more than one inch per season without conducting a…
CSU Extension Master Gardeners Notes 711 explains when Phosphorus and Potassium application are needed. Continue reading for details. A soil test is the best method to determine the need for phosphate and potash. With a fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphate and/or potash, the application rate is always based on the nitrogen percentage because nitrogen…
