Author: By Fredricka Bogardus Colorado Master Gardener
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Year-round gardening: Take time to divide perennial plants
Starting in mid-July and through the fall is a time of the year when even the most inexperienced gardener can practice vegetative propagation of new plants from existing plants. For most gardeners, it is sheer joy to turn a thriving plant that you love into several new plants to thrive and love! Plant division can…
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Year-round gardening: Lamb’s ear wonderful or weedy, cultivars might help
The plant commonly identified as lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) can be a controversial choice for your garden. This native of Turkey is treasured for it silver, gray wooly foliage and tall stalks of pink-purple blooms. The reason for the controversy is its ability to spread by seed, perhaps a bit more vigorously than your neighbors…
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Year-round gardening: Add color around your Colorado home with holiday cactus
Once gardens become dormant, Coloradans could long for flowers to brighten their homes during the holiday season. Holiday cactus (Schlumbergera sp.) is a great choice. These natives of Brazil grow in the crotches of trees but are not parasitic. Because they’re understory rain forest plants, they will get enough light near a sunny window. Holiday…
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Year-round gardening: Autumn is an ideal time to examine deciduous trees in your yard
Once leaves have dropped in autumn, there is a great opportunity to examine the deciduous trees in your garden and determine if some pruning is needed. November through March is an ideal time to get that work done. Evergreen tree pruning should be deferred until early spring. The reasons for pruning include: • Managing damage…
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Year-round gardening: Is it time to clean up your Colorado garden? Well, it depends.
The need for seasonal garden cleanup can be a controversial subject. How much to do in autumn, and how much to leave for spring, is a question best answered by, “It depends.” Questions to ask yourself include: • What are you growing? • What insect and animal pests do you want to manage? • What…
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Year-round gardening: Consider this before adding artificial turf to your Colorado landscape
It seems like a dream solution. No more watering, mowing, fertilizing, aerating or raking. Seems environmentally friendly, saves water. Best of all it is green all year! If you think this is a great solution, there are a couple of things you might want to think about before replacing your turf with plastic carpeting (aka…
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Year-round gardening: Prostrate weeds a July nightmare
All of the sudden, you see them. They might be taking over bare spots between plants, or even under them. They can grow in the spaces between brick or paver pathways. They sprawl out at astonishing speed. Prostrate or spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata) is a very low-growing plant, native to Eastern North America. The entire…
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Year-round gardening: Dealing with deer can be difficult
Deer can be a challenge to gardeners in our region. Physical barriers such as fences can be quite effective as long as they are tall enough that deer cannot clear (6-10 feet tall). Smaller barriers can be useful if you make the error of planting in a deer path. Several years ago, I planted a…
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Year-round gardening: Pruning at the proper time pays big dividends later
Shrubs and trees can be pruned to improve structure, maximize blooms and/or fruit production, or to remove damaged or diseased branches. Such branches should be removed as soon as possible. They provide portals for pathogens to infect or infest the tree. Do not use a wound sealer, as this causes more harm than good. Pruning…
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Year-round gardening: What’s up with turf?
If you love your bluegrass lawn, you might feel a bit pressured these days. Water shortages are leading many to replace turf with less thirsty options. It might be helpful to rethink why and how we use turf to maximize the benefit provided by lawns, and not use grass where it isn’t a good choice.…