Here are two color combos and the plants that pull them off in your choice of container.

Create color energy with chartreuse and shades of plum by combining:

• Big Blond Coleus
• White Osteospermum
• Trailing Plum Pudding Petunias
• Light Green Sweet Potato Vine

Cook up an edible patio combo with:

• Patio Tomato plant for height
• Basil to fill in the gaps
• Nasturtium for color and
• Variegated Oregano to spill over the container

For moms who like to cook, consider a very practical gift of an edible plant combo with her favorite flavors:

• Give her basil and tomato plants that are well suited as companion plants when placed close together in the garden, not to mention in the pasta sauce.
• Make a salsa garden with cilantro, tomatoes, chives, green onions and tomatillos planted in a big and bright south-of-the-border container.
• Does she drink tea? Get one of the tea-cup planters that are so popular and fill it with different types of mint–like chocolate, orange and peppermint–and sweeten the mix with a Stevia plant.

Water Feature

We just want to say we appreciate our readers!

Today we received an email from Andy in Kennewick, WA stating:

“I love looking at pictures trying to get ideas for our own yard. You do very beautiful work. Wonderful site. Thanks for posting so many pictures.”

Thanks Andy!

View our photo galleries here.

Denver Water declared Wednesday that the Denver area is officially in a Stage 1 drought.

Voluntary watering restrictions go into place immediately.

Here’s what they ask you to do:

MP Rotator

– Water only two days a week, and use a day of rain to skip watering
– Only water the areas of your yard that are dry. For example, if shady areas look fine, only water the dry areas that get the most sun exposure.
– Water early in the morning or in the evening to avoid evaporation.
– Adjust sprinkler systems throughout the summer, starting with using less water this spring. Don’t just set your sprinkler system once and forget about it.
– Water two minutes less.

Mandatory summer water restrictions go into effect May 1. Here are those rules:

– No lawn watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
– Do not water more than three days per week (there are no assigned days for watering).
– Do not waste water by allowing it to pool in gutters, streets and alleys.
– Do not waste water by letting it spray on concrete and asphalt.
– Repair leaking sprinkler systems within 10 days.
– Do not water while it is raining or during high winds.

We can recommend new heads for your irrigation system that will more efficiently water your landscape, keeping it green and saving you money!

Aeration builds a healthy lawn.  What is this process?
•An aerator is a machine that pulls plugs of soil and grass out of the lawn.  Ideally, these plugs should be 3 to 4 inches long.  Leave them on the lawn to be broken up by the lawn mower.
•Aeration is good for the lawn because the aeration holes open up the roots so that water, air and nutrients can get to the roots where they are needed most. 
•Aerating in the spring is the best time of year because this is when the roots are actively developing.  Fall is the second best time to aerate.
•For best results, make sure the soil is moist before aerating.  Aerating when the soil is dry can do more harm than good.

Fertilizer gives grass the nutrients it needs.
•Fertilizing the lawn 3-4 times per season gives turfgrass the nutrients that keep it healthy.  Like people, plants need good nutrition.
•When you shop for fertilizer, look for a slow release formulation with a balanced label of nutrients.
•The 3 big numbers always prominent on the bag correspond to the key nutrients:  nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K).  Nitrogen is a key element, but it has to work along with the other ingredients for best results.  If you need help sorting out the labels, ask the expert at the garden center or your maintenance contractor.
•A fourth nutrient in many fertilizers is iron (Fe).  If you use a formulation with iron, just know that if the fertilizer falls on your sidewalk and then gets wet, there will be stains on the concrete that won’t wash away. 

Water less often with a good soak – not a spritz.
•Watering the lawn long and less often is best in the springtime because it encourages the roots to grow deep in search of water.  Deep, water-seeking roots also build a lawn that is more drought tolerant.  This will pay off for you in the heat of July.
•After watering well, allow the top ½ inch of soil to dry out before watering again.    

Get your lawn off to a great start when the root structure that will keep it going all season long are developing.   That’s the best gift you can give your lawn.  And it’s good looks will come back to you all season long.

The string trimmer, a popular handheld outdoor power tool allows you to finish the job right and turn your lawn into a masterpiece.

To keep your trimmer running well, replace the string  once or twice per year, depending on your usage. Study your manufacturer’s owner’s manual in detail. In general, you should find that replacing the line/string is easy.

It is important to purchase a replacement line with the correct diameter size, which varies from 0.065 to .125 inches. Follow the manufacturer’s listed requirements.

There also are many different variations in shapes for each size of line. Line with a three, four or six-sided profile provides a faster, cleaner and noticably more professional cut than the standard round shape.

Cheap line breaks easily and could leave you with scattered fragments of plastic throughout your yard. Look for tougher, more durable line.

Keep in mind, string trimmers can be dangerous. Pebbles, dust and debris can be catapulted at surprising distances so protective eyewear is wise. Also, warn bystanders, especially children and pets, to stay a great distance away while the trimmer is in use.

water rebates

a)  Look at your water bill to learn the name of your water provider

b)  Contact your water provide directly to learn how to take advantage of the money and water saving rebates that are currently being offered.

Here are some of the local  rebate programs available.

Aurora Water

Aurora Water customers interested in Xeriscape as a landscape alternative may be eligible for a rebate of up to $1.00 per square foot by replacing their current highly watered turf grass with low water use plant material. An additional $.25 per square foot rebate may be available for hardscape materials. The maximum rebate is $10,000 for residential customers and $25,000 for commercial and large properties such as Homeowners’ Associations and multi-family dwellings.

Eligibility and approval must be obtained from the Water Conservation Office prior to beginning the project. click here for more info

Denver Water

Rotary nozzles ($2 rebate per nozzle)

• Rotary nozzle information.
• Eligible models include Hunter MP®, Rain Bird® and Toro® Precision™ rotary nozzles.
• Minimum purchase is 10, maximum is 100.
• One-time rebate per property.

Weather-based smart controller with rain sensor ($100 rebate)

• See information and qualifying model list.
• Limit one per residence.
• Requires rain sensor and weather-based technology. Must have both to qualify; may need to be purchased separately; qualifying model list applies for controller only.
• Prices vary depending on the model, brand and vendor.
• Equipment cost and labor must be separated on receipt.
• Be aware that smart controllers must not operate between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. In rare conditions, the controllers may operate more than three days a week.

Do You Have More Weeds Than Grass?

It’s been the perfect storm in Colorado with an early spring and just enough hand watering and natural precip to germinate weed seeds.  Dandelions are blooming their yellow heads off, bind weed is winding its way around the garden and thistle, mallow and other weeds are taking off.

Seven strategic bits of info:

#1 – Fertilizer needs to be in your arsenal.  According to researchers at CSU, weeds thrive even better in lawns that are not fertilized.  A healthy lawn wards off weeds and part of building a healthy lawn is with proper fertilization.

#2 – Drying out weeds won’t help you kill them.   Again according to CSU, drought-stressed weeds may look like they are about to die, but they aren’t.  The healthier the weeds, the easier they are to control because healthy weeds have a better uptake when weed-killing products are applied.

#3 – Know your weed before you pull it.  If the numbers are manageable, many weeds can simply be dug out with a dandelion digger, a hoe or similar tool. Be sure to get out all the root or it will grow back.   Other weeds like bind weed and thistle should NOT be pulled because their roots grow deep.  Pulling these weeds activates their regenerative root systems to start more growth.  Pull just one weed and you’ll trigger more to show up in its place.

#4 – When you apply a weed treatment, know its limitations.  Here are two critical distinctions with weed-zapping products:

• Selective products are effective because they’re designed to select traits they work on like “broad-leaf weeds.”  These products are effective on dandelions (broad leaves) in the lawn because they deal with the dandelions without harming the grass (thin blades/leaves). 
• Non-selective products will zap any plant they contact.  So if you use a common product like Roundup or one of the newer horticultural vinegars, you need to know that they will zap BOTH the dandelion and the lawn if you apply them on turf weeds.   

#5 – For any product, follow the label.  Find out what the product is good for and where it might do more harm than good.  If you use a product that requires mixing with water, don’t assume more is better.  According to USDA scientists who do testing, using more product is usually less effective than the recommended amount.  

#6 – Is there a breeze?  Whatever treatment you  use, beware of it drifting even in a slight breeze.  Many gardeners can tell you sad stories about when they sprayed dandelions and the breeze drifted the product over to the daisies.   

#6 – The best strategy in the weed war is always the offense.  The more proactive you are in the battle against weeds, the better your success.  Treating weeds early and effectively gets the best control. 

For early-season weeds like dandelion and mallow, removing or treating them before they develop and disburse seeds gives the best long-term control.  Deal with weeds before they can go to seed that reproduce whole new crop!

Courtesy of Colorado based ALCC.

MP Rotator

Make sure you turn your sprinkler clock to off.  Cover the  back flow  with a hefty bag, towel or insulation.  Since it is not going to get that cold tonight, just barely freezing, you don’t have to blow it out.  However, keep an eye on the forecast, in case temperatures are predicted to get lower than expected. Then,  you may need to blow out your sprinkler system.

Haven’t turned on your system for the season yet? Contact us about our spring cleanup special and receive a complimentary sprinkler system start up.

#1 Curb appeal that you can cash in

Landscaping Your Colorado Home Increases Home Value

Landscaping can add as much as 15% to the resale value of a building and speed up its sale as much as 6 weeks.  Each dollar spent on landscaping can return up to $1.35 when the home is sold.  Conversely, homes with poor landscapes can expect a sales price 8 to 10% below equivalent homes that have good landscape appeal.

#2 Cost cuts that keep you cool

• Carefully selected and placed trees around your home can lower cooling costs as much as 25%.
• Shading the air conditioning unit can increase its effectiveness by 10%.
• Planting ground covers, shrubs and lawns reduces the heat reflected from the ground and onto walls and windows for a cooler indoors and more energy savings.

#3 Energy that comes back
Water and maintenance used to keep plants healthy doesn’t go down the drain.  Did you know that:

• An average tree absorbs 26 lbs. of carbon dioxide from the air each year.  That quals 11,000 miles of car emissions.
• The front lawns of eight houses have the cooling effect of about 70 tons of air conditioning. That’s amazing when you consider that the average home has an air conditioner with just a three or four ton capacity.
• Turf grass also serves as a natural filter to reduce pollution by purifying the water passing through its root zone.

#4 Veggies bring two kinds of pay back

• The amount spent on growing a veggie garden brings back 7 to 10 times the initial investment in your own locally-grown produce.
• You can burn as many calories in 45 minutes of gardening as in 30 minutes of aerobics.
• Weed for just one hour and you burn 300 calories!

#5 The rewards of being outdoors

• Studies have shown that women recover from breast cancer surgery quicker if they spend time in a garden.
• Children with Attention Deficit Disorder have been found to have better focus and concentration when they are allowed to play outdoors in green spaces.

And on the purely personal level found in your own back yard, there’s no better ambiance than dining al fresco, especially, if you grew the salad and used your own home-grown herbs to flavor the main course.  That value is priceless!