Be a Habitat Hero!

Does your garden supply habitat for songbirds and pollinators? If so, you can apply for Habitat Hero designation. A Habitat Hero garden meets these five objectives:

• Creates diverse layers, plus shelter and nesting opportunities for wildlife
• Is waterwise, energy-efficient, and uses few or no pesticides
• Provides natural food in different seasons, based at least partly on native plants
• Offers water for drinking and bathing
• Controls invasive species

Top 2018 New Year’s Resolutions for a Great Garden in Colorado by Carol King

Photo Wikipedia Commons

Having a thriving garden in Colorado can be a challenge with our erratic, weather, water restrictions, and heavy clay soils.  However making these seven resolutions will give you a much greater chance for a successful garden.

1. Get a soil test from a reputable soil testing lab before adding any amendments. Adding amendments without knowing what your soil needs is, at best a waste of money and at worst harmful to the soil and your plants. The Soil Testing Laboratory at Colorado State University is a great place to start: http://www.soiltestinglab.colostate.edu

2. Use mulch in the garden to suppress weeds and hold in moisture.  Mulches also improve water penetration and air movement; control soil temperature fluctuation; protect shallow-rooted plants from freeze damage and frost heave and improve soil structure and nutrient availability. This CSU fact sheet will help you choose the most appropriate mulch for your garden: http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/mulches-for-home-grounds-7-214/

Plant Select® to the Rescue! by Donna Duffy

Amosonia jonesii, Colorado Desert Blue Star

Even though it's still cool outside, it won't be long before soaring temperatures will take a toll on our yards; particularly perennials, shrubs and trees. As you are planning your gardens, consider replacing those temperamental plants with others that thrive in Colorado’s challenging growing conditions. But where do you find these hardy plants?

There’s a Caryopteris in my garden! By Joyce D’Agostino

Caryopteris x clandonsis photo by Joyce D'Agostino

Yes, I am lucky to have a Caryopteris in my garden (Caryopteris x clandonsis). I know, it sounds like a long extinct dinosaur but it actually is a lovely landscape scrub that bursts into purple blooms each August. The bees love the flowers and seem to be on this plant from sunrise to sunset.

Also known as the Blue Mist Spirea, this relative of the mint family is a deciduous woody bush that has green leaves from spring until late summer when it flowers. It actually has not been in the US that long. It is native to eastern and southern Asia and first came to our country in the 1960’s. It’s a nice addition to your landscape if you have limited room because it grows to a manageable size of about 3 – 5 feet tall and has gray-green sword shaped leaves. The name is derived from the Greek word karyon which means nut and pteron which means wing because the airy flowers have petals that resemble wings with the seeds tucked inside.

Planning for Spring: What Kind of Mulch Should I Use? by Donna Duffy

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The benefits of mulch are so well known that the question no longer is “Should I mulch?” but “What mulch is best for my landscape?” For die-hard gardeners, mulching is one garden task you can do any time of year – even in the winter.

Gravel mulch at Kendrick Lake Gardens in Lakewood

A mulch is any material that provides protection and improves the soil when applied to the soil surface. Mulches can:

• reduce surface evaporation;
• improve water penetration and air movement;
• control soil temperature fluctuations;
• protect shallow-rooted plants from freeze damage;
• improve soil structure and nutrient availability.

Thirsty Lawns and Gardens; Watering Responsibly During Drought by Steve Sherwood

As we all know, Colorado is a dry state, averaging only 15 inches of precipitation a year.  According to Denver Water http://www.denverwater.org/SupplyPlanning/WaterUse/, the average single family household uses approximately 130,320 gallons of water per year.  Of this total, approximately 55 percent or 65,000 gallons is used to water lawns and gardens, and for other outside needs.
With the continuing drought, water restrictions have already been announced so how and when you water your lawn and garden is very important.