Continue planting summer flowing bulbs like cannas, dahlias, and gladioli – if you plant a few gladioli each week in June, you’ll have continuous flowers blooming throughout the Summer. Fertilize your annuals and perennials with nitrogen-based fertilizer. Check your drip and lawn irrigation system for damage. Remove any sprinkler heads or emitters that are overwatering…
Conserve moisture and protect against weeds in planters and beds by spreading mulch around flowers and shrubs. Mow lawn to no-less-than 2″ in height, and never remove more than 1/3 of blades. Water all plants, shrubs, trees, and your lawn thoroughly, but infrequently. A week after the average frost in the Front Range (May 8th),…
April is National Lawn Care Month! Prepare to reactivate your sprinkler system for the Summer. Aerate and fertilize the lawn. Cut back perennials – except evergreen perennials (plants that stay green all year). Remove dead material all the way to the ground with a sharp pair of scissors. Prepare your soil for gardening (if you’re in…
Check evergreens for browning and deciduous trees and shrubs for buds that have died. If you didn’t rake leave or remove old fruit from deciduous trees last fall, do so now. Deep water trees and shrubs as needed this month.
Use dormant oils to control scale or aspen black spot this month. Old, overgrown deciduous shrubs should be thinned before they start to bud out or bloom. Gently brush snow from trees and shrubs after winter storms
Check to make sure mulch is still covering plants exposed to the south and southwest. All trees and shrubs (except maples) should be comprehensively pruned for correction, height, damage, and shape. Deep water trees, shrubs, and roses as need.
As the days shorten, reduce watering of plants. They may become over-watered if you continue to water the same amount as in the late spring, summer, and early fall. The earlier evenings in December are a great reason to add some lighting to landscaping.
Near the end of the month, or when the ground has frozen, mulch young or newly planted trees and shrubs to protect from cold. Purchase spring bulbs for forcing and indoor winter blooming. Cut back perennials planted last year for better blooming in the Spring.
Remove all leaves and other plant material that fell or was pruned during the fall, and put them in a “hot” compost pile or discard. Plant hardy bulbs for Spring blooming. Winterize (blow-out) your irrigation system to avoid damage from freezing during the winter.
Plant or transplant new perennials and evergreens before the weather turns cold in September. The average first frost in Longmont and the Colorado Front Range is around the end of September, so keep an eye on weather forecasts this month. During colder snaps, cover plants overnight. Continue to water as needed in September, but check…
August’s higher temperatures mean making sure that your trees and shrubs are getting enough water. Pay attention to your watering practices, and be diligent to thoroughly hydrate areas in full sun, or on south or southwest-facing slopes. Watch out for weeds this month! Make sure they don’t grow large enough to flower and drop seeds…
In July, mow your grass to no-less-than 2-12″ in height – remember to never remove more than 1/3 of your grass’ growth. Avoid using high-nitrogen fertilizers on trees starting in mid-July until February of the next season. Keep your garden well-mulched to protect plants from the sun in the heat of the day. Adjust your…
