Hardy perennials, grown outdoors or in cold frames can theoretically be planted whenever you can work the soil. Actively growing plants from greenhouses are best planted after the danger of frost has passed in the spring, or no less than one month before the first autumn frost. Plants that are marginally hardy, or are situated…
REMEMBRANCE® Columbine (Aquilegia ‘Swan Violet & White’) is a hybrid derived from Colorado’s state flower. REMEMBRANCE® is a registered trademark of FTD® The petals and spurs of this perennial are an incredibly rich, shining violet-blue. The name honors the memory of the students and a teacher lost in the shooting at Columbine High School. Proceeds…
As people encroach further into deer habitat, deer naturally wander into lawns and Gardens. While deer resistant plants are helpful, if deer persistently browse your landscape, you may need to use fence or deer repellents. Wire mesh fences are more effective than wood, although not generally 100 percent effective. Vertical wire Garden fences should be…
When food sources dwindle, voles (small mouse-like animals, 4 to 8 inches long) damage woody plants by chewing on the bark layer of a tree which interferes with the tree’s flow of nutrients. This girdling damage can be identified by gnawed strips of irregular, clearly defined tooth marks, about 1/16 to 1/8-inch wide. Occasionally stems…
Woodpeckers, primarily sapsuckers, occasionally damage trees by boring a series of 1/4- to 3/8-inch closely spaced holes in the limbs or trunks of healthy trees. They feed on sap oozed from the holes. The tree wounds may attract insects, squirrels, or porcupines and can serve as entrances for diseases and wood decaying organisms. Occasionally, girdling…
Rabbits often ravish trees and shrubs in many Front Range gardens during the winter. The deep snow covers normal food sources and provide a platform for rabbits to reach the bark high on woody plants. Win the bunny battle by excluding them from desirable plants. Place chicken wire or rigid polypropylene plastic tubes around tree…
Use seed tape for uniform spacing. Experienced gardeners know that the quality of veggies you get out of the ground is directly related to what you put in it. Everything that happens down in that dirt is what makes plants grow–or not! So starting from the ground up, get the real scoop on your soil–and…
The most common plant abnormalities show up as curled or cupped leaves. insects, mites, disease organisms, herbicides and weather events can lead to malformation of leaf, stem, flower and fruit tissue. Examination of the leaves is the first step in diagnosing the problem. Insects, such as aphids, can be seen unaided, but viruses and mites…
Many Coloradoans live in areas where deer regularly visit. While it’s not hard to understand why deer consume the same vegetables that humans eat, additional “deer salads” include annual and perennial flowers as well as trees and shrubs. Deer-resistant plant lists have been put together but the problem is that deer in different areas appear…
Wet, cool springs and early summers promote prolific growth of two legume family weeds in lawns, white clover (white flowers) and black medic (yellow flowers). Leguminous weeds can be both common and competitive in lawns that have not been fertilized adequately with nitrogen for a couple of years. Regular fertilization, especially late season (September-early November)…
Deer tend to avoid some plants and relish others. While no plant can be guaranteed to be “deer-proof,” some types of plants are less tasty to a deer. Try planting the following kinds of plants which are less attractive to deer. Tree suggestions include white fir, Colorado spruce, pinyon pine, common juniper, Rocky Mountain maple,…
One of the most popular questions in July is “Why are the blossoms falling off my tomatoes?” High temperatures particularly when coupled with drying winds interfere with pollination. Un-pollinated flowers dry and won’t remain on the plant. Tomato pollen is transferred within the same flower by shaking of the plant and is not wind or…
