Author: Brook E. Mark
-
Cover up plants in early warm weather
With the unusually warm weather we’ve been having lately, bulbs and other spring plants are starting to grow. Yet we could easily have snow and sub-freezing temperatures in March, which could kill tender sprouts. Help these little ones by covering them with pine boughs or mulch with autumn leaves. The shade will keep them cooler,…
-
DIG IT: Simple care will help your houseplants thrive
Question: I’ve had my first houseplants for a few months and they look dusty. Do I need to clean them? Answer: A clean houseplant is a healthy plant. Dust and dirt that collects on plant leaves filters the sun’s rays and interferes with respiration. Dirty leaves dramatically inhibit a plant’s ability to use chlorophyll to…
-
Simple care extends the life of cut roses
Red roses are for love … what better gift for Valentine’s Day? A few stelps will help you get the most out of these beauties. As soon as you receive roses – an this goes for most cut flowers – cut 1 inch off the bottom of the stem. Remove any low leaves that might…
-
Don’t forget to water in the winter
Our dry winter weather inspires most Colorado gardeners to water their trees, shrubs, perennials and lawns. Colorado State University Extension recommends that we water at midday, on days when temperatures are above 40. So, on a warm day, about every two weeks, hook up the hose and sprinkler, giving special attention to newly planted shrubs…
-
DIG IT: Give plants right light
Indoor gardening can give plant lovers their start at all kinds of gardening. As a bonus, house plants have been shown to clean indoor air and to be calming. Where to get started? You can find most common kinds of house plants at garden centers and supermarkets. Our local nurseries are a great source for…
-
Packet info can help you choose wisely
As seed catalogues arrive in mailboxes and displays in stores pop up, you may wonder how to choose the best type – or “cultivar” – for your garden. The information on the packet can help. The front of the packet will have the brand, the seed count and a picture of the plant at maturity.…
-
Service offers seedlings for sale
The Colorado State Forest Service has started offering tree-seedling sales for its 2009 conservation program. The program sells seedlings at nominal cost, encouraging landowners to plant forests and natural windbreaks. In order to participate, you must own 2 or more acres of land and not resell the seedlings or use them commercially. The Colorado State…
-
Trees add value to your property, so choose them carefully
DIG IT Question: I’ve been thinking about planting a tree in my backyard. What kind to you recommend?Answer: Fall is a great time to plant trees, and many nurseries offer a discount this late in the season. Trees add significant value to our properties in Colorado, so it is important to carefully consider what kind…
-
NOW APPEARING: Ice plant spreads delicate beauty in gardens
ICE PLANTDelospermaAPPEARANCE: With its long-lasting, brilliant daisylike flowers, ice plant, or Delosperma spp., garners attention as the prima donna of xeriscape gardens. Originally from South Africa, this low-growing perennial ground cover is a vigorous spreader, forming a dense mat, with full sun and welldrained soil. Tiny leaf hairs that sparkle like ice crystals give this…