Mar
09

5 things you can do tomorrow in your Colorado yard

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Here are 5  things you can do tomorrow to get your yard set for spring

  • Cut back last season’s growth on ornamental grasses.  Getting the old growth out before the new shoots emerge is an easy job.  But if you wait and allow the new growth to come up amid the old growth, it will be difficult to separate the two.
  • If you left perennials like Echinacea standing for winter interest or for the birds to have seeds, cut them back and clean them up now.
  • Rake the lawn to remove dead grass, twigs and debris that have collected over the winter.  This is good prep for the first mowing.  And while you’re thinking of the mowing season, get your mower serviced and ready to mow, too.
  • Plant early season veggies–carrots, peas, lettuce, spinach, radishes–if the ground is workable.
  • If you have steel edging in the yard that has popped up during the winter, pound it back in place.

While you’re doing these early-season chores, look around and think about what you like best–and what you might like to change in your yard.

Courtesy of ALCC

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Mar
09

Identify your 2012 landscape projects

by admin

Great yards have to work in a practical way just as much as they make us feel good. When you look at your yard from both perspectives, you can make a plan that deals with problem areas and adds the amenities you will enjoy.

Here are some questions to help identify 2012 landscaping projects:

  • Are there ongoing problem areas like low and mushy areas that always give the dog muddy feet?
  • Are there pretty places where you would love to sit if only there was shade or some privacy from the neighbors?

    Enjoy Your Backyard!

    Enjoy Your Backyard!

  • Would the earth elements of fire and water add some drama to your outdoor scene?
  • Is the sprinkler system not much more than a hit-or-miss operation?
  • Is the overall ambiance a little drab and in need of colorful plant pizzazz?
  • Would an outdoor food prep area near the grill save lots of steps?

As these questions reveal, making a yard work for the people who live there is partly pragmatic and partly ambiance.  All the pretty flowers in the world won’t solve the aggravation of the mud hole in the corner.  And just fixing the mud hole won’t add the feel-good rush that you get from seeing a swath of bright pink petunias.

Courtesy of ALCC – Landscape Connection is a member of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado.

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Feb
24

Wet soils + high winds = fallen trees

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Fallen Tree

Evergreens

, due to their dense foliage and in some cases more shallow root systems, are very susceptible to these conditions.  If you are planting new trees in your Colorado yard this year, think about placement.  The east side of a property, for example, is generally more protected from winds.

Deciduous trees, even without their leaves, can still blow over when wet soils and high winds create the perfect storm.  Trees that have not had their crowns properly thinned, or trees that naturally have more branches and twigs, will be more susceptible to blowing over because they have more mass for the wind to push against.  For these trees, the wind is blowing more against them than through them.  Reducing the mass in the crown to help prevent blowing over is a major reason to keep deciduous trees pruned properly.

Other factors:

  • Leaning.  Trees that are leaning from previous winds or other factors will be more likely to blow over.  If you have leaning trees, take precautions if their falling could create damage.
  • Retricted root areas.  Trees planted in small areas, such as between a sidewalk and curb, often have little space for their roots to spread and take good hold underground.  That can increase likelihood of falling.  When selecting trees for tight areas, get professional advice on varieties that are best suited to a small growing space.
  • Slopes.  Trees planted on slopes that lean away from the wind are also more susceptible to blowing over.  Be aware of risks if trees on slopes could fall on buildings or other property.  When planting on slopes, take this factor into account.  

Blog entry courtesy of ALCC

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Feb
21

Jump start your Colorado garden now

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Get outside and prepare your garden for the season!

Compost

spinach

Spinach

If you didn’t compost last fall, throw fresh compost over the garden — even if it’s snow covered. It will settle over the soil and you can work it in right before planting.

Get seed
You can plant cool season crops as soon as the ground can be tilled (March, April).  Purchase your seed now so you are ready. Carrots, spinach, lettuce, beets, green onions, radishes  and peas are veggies to plant soon.

Plan your garden
Rotating plant placement each year is a good practice in order to avoid insects and diseases that can overwinter in the soil and attack specific veggies. Tomatoes and corn should be moved to a new place each year.

Rototill
Before planting, till  the ground.

Want to really jump start the garden?
After working the soil, place black plastic over it. This will warm up the soil and give a two to three weeks head start on growing. Pinch holes in the plastic to plant seeds. The plastic can be left as mulch during the growing season.

Courtesy Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado.

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Feb
03

Should you remove heavy snow from trees and juniper bushes?

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According to the  CSU/Denver County  Extension Master Gardeners, the best way to remove heavy snow from trees and juniper bushes is usually to let the snow or ice melt from the plant.

If  you are concerned about branch breakage, newly fallen snow may be gently swept from drooping boughs. Use gentle upward strokes with a soft broom to loosen the snow.

 

Never try to shake ice off any tree or shrub.

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Jan
20

Does Icemelt Harm Your Colorado Lawn and Plants?

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tree with salt damage

Last week  the city plowed our streets – no complaints!  But… they dumped a large quantity of salt on the street.  We have sand dunes of salt now.  
You may have also used icemelt on your driveway and walks.  This is almost a necessity in Colorado’s climate, but it can seriously harm our plant materials.  Here’s why.

 

Almost all ice melt products are salt-based and salts are damaging to plants.  The salt from ice melt not only gets into the soil, but will also build up over time to become an ongoing problem.  Season after season of using ice melt will continue to bump up the salt levels in the soil.

 

What happens?  Just like when people eat salt and become thirsty, overly-salted plants will also get thirsty and dry out.  Flushing the area with water sometimes helps, but may not be completely effective. 

 

Tips to minimize salt damage:
  • Use ice melt products sparingly.  You need to play it safe on walks, of course, so pay attention to how much product it really takes to get the job done.  Less may be enough.  
  • When ice is melting, avoid sweeping the puddles of salty water into planting areas.  Instead, let the moisture evaporate, sweep up any product that remains and dispose of it. 
Through moderation and careful clean-up, you can reduce the amount of damaging salt that travels to the root zone of your plants.  

 

When you have an area that absolutely requires ice melt and it’s next to plants, you may need to alter the planting area to accommodate your needs to melt the ice.  You can consider adding mulch over the area affected by ice-melt accumulation and placing container plants on top of the mulch.  Dealing with ice that results from other issues, like poor drainage, will require solving the problem that causes ice to accumulate in the first place.    

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Dec
30

Get Your Outdoor Spaces in Order for 2012 Colorado Entertaining

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Commit to “getting your house in order” in 2012 so that you are ready when opportunity knocks.  And that means spending some time planning for small changes that can make a big difference in your enjoyment of your Colorado outdoor spaces.  Common ideas include adding a fire pit, creating a garden. Firepit

This is the time to start making fire pit plans, in the sense that you are looking for the right kind, or you are simply thinking about making plans to create a fire pit from.

Think about the coming months, imagine how your could spend the evenings.

Think about how you want your garden or backyard to look this summer and how much time you would like to spend there.

Imagine that you could add a feature to your outdoor areas that you could use every day of the year.

Are you someone that:

 Wants more than a Barbecue in your Garden?
 Is tired and Fed Up with cheap fire pits?
 Wants To Add a Unique Feature to The Garden?
 Wants to Improve Your Firepit experience? (No more smoke!!)
 Has a New Years Resolution to Host Parties and enjoy your backyard?
 Wants to Be Proud Of your Garden?
 Is looking for a Pit That Lasts?
 

Before you know it you will start thinking of the parties and barbecues you will be having in your gardens and backyards, some of us that are lucky enough to have a large garden might even start considering a sitting corner with outdoor furniture and tables, maybe some features for the kids as well.

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Dec
22

Are Poinsettia Plants Poisonous to Animals?

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Poinsettias are not poisonous, according to the Animal Poison Control Center (www.aspca.org/apcc). Apparently the idea that poinsettias are deadly traces back to a story from early in the last century, when a young child was said to have been killed by eating a poinsettia leaf.

Since the taste of poinsettia leaves is reportedly very unpleasant, it is unlikely that an animal who attempts to eat or chew the leaves will continue to do so after the first taste.  According to the POISINDEX information source, an animal who weighed 50 lbs. would have to eat over 500 poinsettia leaves to reach an even potentially toxic dose of compounds in the poinsettia plant.

Mistletoe should be avoided, however. According to the APCC, the common holiday decoration can, if ingested in sufficient quantities, cause a severe reaction that may include difficulty breathing, seizures, coma and even death. Other holiday plant eating hazards for your pets include some Lillies and Holly .

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Dec
13

Colorado Winter Watering

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 Quick Facts About Colorado Winter Watering from CSU Extension…

 
Water trees, shrubs, lawns, and perennials during prolonged dry fall and winter periods to prevent root damage that affects the health of the entire plant.
Water only when air and soil temperatures are above 40 degrees F with no snow cover.

Established large trees have a root spread equal to or greater than the height of the tree. Apply water to the most critical part of the root zone within the dripline.

Read the entire article – click here.

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Dec
05

Your Colorado Garden Can Save Lives

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During our Colorado cold snaps, you will almost certainly notice more birds coming into your garden to seek sanctuary from the harsher environment  – particularly if you provide food on a regular basis. The variety of species may increase and you may be lucky enough to attract unusual visitors.

Finding a regular source of high-energy food such as a garden feeding station is a real lifesaver for birds.

Birds will become dependent on the food you supply, so it is important to make sure your feeders are kept topped up to prevent them from having a wasted visit. Providing a fresh, ice-free supply of water is another cold weather essential – drinking and bathing is a vital part of the daily routine of birds.

Want to have lots of birds and other wildlife in your yard this winter? Here are some tips:

1.Put out different types of bird feeders. Fill each with different bird treats, such as black oil sunflower seeds, thistle (Nyjer) seeds, peanuts, and suet. Why not keep a list of what kinds of birds visit your feeders?
2.Add a birdbath. Keep it filled with clean water. In freezing weather, add a birdbath heater.
3.Hang a house. Birdhouses make great shelters for all sorts of small creatures, not just birds.
4.Plant native trees and shrubs. Many can provide winter berries.
5.Leave dead flower stalks, grasses, and vines standing.
6.Let summer flowers go to seed for seed-eating birds.

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