Author: Debra Stinton Othitis
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Year-round gardening: Tour of seven gardens in Colorado Springs promises something for everyone
By Debra Stinton OthitisColorado Master Gardener This year’s highly acclaimed Colorado Springs Garden Tour will be the 15th of its kind. The tour, which started in 2011 and skipped only the COVID-plagued year of 2020, will highlight seven gardens by the Colorado Springs Country Club and nearby neighborhoods that display a wide variety of styles…
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Year-round gardening: Compost is ‘black gold’ for gardeners. Here are tips for starting your Colorado mine.
By Debra Stinton OthitisColorado Master Gardener Composting is the natural, accelerated decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms (bacteria, fungi) into nutrient-rich soil conditioner. It is a relatively simple and rewarding procedure. Compost-amended soil improves soil structure, enhances moisture retention, and promotes healthy microbial activity, fostering robust plant growth and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.…
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Year-round gardening: Peas and carrots belong together
By Debra Stinton OthitisColorado Master Gardener Found in stone age settlements dated 8,000 to 10,000 years ago, peas are the oldest known vegetable. It’s believed the first carrots, ranging from red and purple to black, came from Afghanistan and Iran in the 12th century. The idiom “like peas and carrots” is defined as two things…
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Year-round gardening: Trees to avoid planting in Colorado
By Debra Stinton OthitisColorado Master Gardener National Arbor Day is always celebrated on the last Friday in April. However, Colorado observes Arbor Day on the third Friday in April because it is better suited for local planting. If you plan to commemorate this holiday by planting a tree, it’s important to know that some trees…
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Year-round gardening: Common mistakes for Colorado gardeners
While preparing your garden for winter, it’s a good time to reflect on what worked well this year and what you might improve upon next year for a more successful and enjoyable gardening experience. Here are some of the most common mistakes made by Colorado gardeners. Watering: Overwatering is the most common mistake. Once a…
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Year-round gardening: Take these steps to ensure dahlia blooms next season
Dahlias are not winter-hardy in our climate so they must be lifted for repeated use. The success of this process involves careful digging, curing, and storage to prevent the fleshy tubers from freezing or rotting.After the first frost, the dahlia foliage will turn black and wilt, indicating the plant has entered dormancy. The following steps…
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Year-round gardening: Elevate your gardening experience with a journal
Gardening can be more than just growing plants. It is not only a hobby, but an opportunity to learn new things, connect with nature and grow as a person. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, keeping a garden journal can significantly enhance your gardening experience. A garden journal provides many benefits —…
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Year-round gardening: Plant nostalgia often influences choices in Colorado gardens
People garden for a multitude of reasons: beautification of their property, satisfaction of growing their own food, therapeutic benefits of connecting with nature, and the sense of accomplishment when plants thrive. Gardening also provides an opportunity to express creativity and personal style through designing landscapes and arranging plants. A garden can be all that and…
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Year-round gardening: Selecting seeds for success
With the holidays behind us, our mailboxes are overflowing with seed catalogs. The multitude of varieties can be overwhelming, but choosing good-quality seeds is important for successful gardening. Consider these tips when choosing seeds to increase the likelihood of success in your garden. • Know your local climate. Colorado State University posts climate summaries that…
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Year-round gardening: Extending the life of cut flowers
Legend has it that the origins of St. Valentine’s Day lie in the ancient Roman fertility festival Lupercalia. During the festival, young women would place their names in a large urn. The young men would draw a name from the urn and then be romantically linked with that young woman for the following year. Rituals…