Fort Collins Nursery

By Jesse Eastman

I set out to write an article about the benefits of this drenching spring snow, and as I sit here wishing for warmer weather and beautiful spring flowers, I simply can’t bring myself to do it. Sure, all this moisture will do wonders to slake the powerful thirst afflicting our soil, but if you stepped outside into the deep slush on May 1^st you probably figured that out. Plants will explode following this snow, but that’s what happens when you water plants – they grow. You don’t need to be convinced of the importance of moisture in spring, especially in the midst of such an extended dry spell.

Instead, let’s talk about science, about botany, about averages, and common sense. To me, this snow is a perfect reminder about the fantastic ability of plants to adapt to an inconsistent world. Here on the Front Range, our last average frost date is May 15. That means that for all the years we don’t see frost any later than mid-April, there are many other years when a frost strikes well after that golden date. Despite this dramatic variation, plants still manage to thrive. They bloom, they produce seeds, they reproduce, and then, wonder of wonders, they do it again the next year.

You see, plants are incredibly versatile. They adjust to their conditions. In dry climates they might put down deeper roots to seek out limited moisture. If they receive less light than they are accustomed to, they consume less water. There is almost always more than one correct way to treat a pest problem, more than one proper way to nourish growth. On a practical level, there are very few exact answers in horticulture, and this is what makes it beautiful. If variety is the spice of life, Mother Nature brings the flavor. When we garden, we try our best to shape the natural world to meet our practical, aesthetic, emotional, and spiritual needs, and She does her best to surprise us.

If you’re anything like me, you’re ready to say goodbye to snow and hello to spring. You’re ready to plant tomatoes in the ground, hang up a hammock, and stop worrying about whether or not the peach trees will lose their summer crop to a late frost. A little consistency in spring weather would be a welcome comfort. On the other hand, can you imagine if every spring had identical weather? Human nature has some deeply ingrained desire for the thrill of uncertainty, a lust for surprise. So embrace the snow – it’s just a small part of what makes life interesting.

By Cortney Moore

I am a vexillophile. I almost can’t believe there is a word to describe my obsession. It all started when a friend from Chicago told me about flags and their popularity in the windy city. She showed me pictures and it was official.

I am in love with flags! And not just any flag, the garden flag.

There are cute ones adorned with frogs in sunglasses sipping lemonade, colorful flip flops, bright cheery birds tweeting “Celebrate the Day!” or a bright motif simply stating “Live Happy!”.

Whichever strikes my fancy I will be buying lots of them, one for each season and more when they fade. Rain boots with ladybugs, popsicles screaming summertime, hummingbirds and dragonflies. Yes, please, I’ll take one of each.

Flags will flutter in the wind and welcome you to my garden. Flags will haunt the neighborhood in October with jack o lanterns and witches. Flags with smiling snowmen will cheer guests in winter when all life is buried under a blanket of snow. Flags will bring Christmas joy with Santa and stockings.

Vexillology is the scientific study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension any interest in flags in general, according to Whitney Smith, founder of the Flag Research Center.

And a vexillophile is any person who likes, admires or enjoys flags. Yep, that’s me, and my garden flags will symbolize the carefree nature of my garden as well as be used to catch the eye of any passerby. Who can deny the lure of a fluttering flag, especially a garden flag with a quirky frog princess or wise owl staring back at them?

Ok, I might be taking this flag thing a little too far, but I truly do love them and I would say they are a must for any garden. This is coming from a seasoned vexillologist or someone who studies flags. I have run the gamut on these garden flags; performing studies on their durability, visibility and cuteness.

I personally prefer the appliqué flag style. It really stands out in any garden. It appears to handle moisture better too. But nothing flutters like the suede garden flag so once again I am torn. And I’ll just have to have 1 or 5 of each!

Maybe some of you will join me as a vexillophile and help me make garden flags as popular in Colorado as they are in the windy city.

by Jesse Eastman

I come to you with a request, nay, a plea. I know it will be a dry year, and most likely a hot one, too. The City of Fort Collins has announced that starting April 1, 2013, Level 1 Water Restrictions will go into effect (More info here: http://www.fcgov.com/utilities/what-we-do/water/water-supply-demand/water-restrictions). In spite of all this, I am begging you PLEASE do not give up on your garden!

Of course, this may sound a little biased, a nursery owner telling you to keep on gardening even when water is tight, but here’s the thing: The best gardens in the world highlight plants that thrive in the local environment. You won’t see botanic gardens in Hawaii showcasing bristlecone pine, and you won’t see an arboretum in Moscow growing mango trees in their best demonstration garden. Nonetheless, both Hawaii and Moscow host incredible displays of horticultural wonder, and they do this by accepting the environment in which they exist and then reveling in it.  Here in Colorado, we live in a high plains desert, and if we embrace that fact, we can have truly awesome gardens and yards, even in a dry year.

Level 1 Water Restrictions do not impact landscape watering. They do limit lawn watering to two days a week. If the variety of grass you have in your lawn is chosen wisely, you can have a vibrant green lawn this year despite the restrictions. There are many blended lawn varieties that are well suited for a hot dry climate like ours such as Tuff Turf (Perennial rye, hard fescue, and Kentucky Bluegrass) and Front Range Classic (tall fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass). These blended types still achieve the rich lush green for which Kentucky Bluegrass is so well known, but maintain strong growth even under heat and drought stress thanks to the ryes and fescues blended into the mix. Water your lawn early in the morning to minimize water loss to evaporation. This allows the grass leaves to dry out as the sun warms up, reducing the risk of fungal and bacterial problems that can run rampant when water is applied in the evening and then left to sit on the leaves all night.

With no restrictions on landscape watering, good watering practices are more critical than ever. Take advantage of the opportunity to keep your landscape plants healthy by watering with a slow trickle, allowing time for the water to penetrate the soil and reach those roots deep in the ground. If you see any water pooling up on the surface of the soil or running off, slow down the flow and give it time to sink in. This is important both for new and established plants. For new plants, this will draw the roots deep, minimizing the risk
If you are considering adding plants to your landscape (and I hope you will), I encourage you to take a look at the multitude of beautiful drought-tolerant plants that are available. Ranging from the traditional options like Russian Sage and Yarrow to the more unique and exciting options such as Red Hot Poker and Chieftain Manzanita, drought resistant plants will surely be the highlights in this year’s gardens, and can dramatically reduce the cost of watering and maintenance, even in future years when drought is not a concern. of dry surface conditions. For established plants, this may be the only way to get water to the roots, as they should have already put down nice deep roots.

With all this in mind, consider for a moment the consequences of giving up on your yard. If you’re anything like me, you’ve invested a pretty penny in creating a landscape that should last for years to come. As you are probably aware, there is no such thing as a “set-it-and-forget-it” landscape, and this year is no different. The cost of maintaining your yard through a dry year pales in comparison to the cost of recuperating a yard that has been left to languish in extreme conditions. Even well-established trees and shrubs need a little extra help sometimes, and losing them can set your yard back significantly, not to mention your check book. So please, I implore you, for the sake of your yard and your wallet, don’t give up. Giving your landscape a helping hand through the upcoming dry season may be the best thing you’ve ever done for yourself!

By Jesse Eastman

As I sit down to write, the thermometer reads 43 degrees, although it feels much warmer. The sun is shining and the birds are making a ruckus. I’ve already met one customer wearing shorts. What happened to winter?

I think back on my childhood, and specifically, my birthdays. I was born in the heart of December. It was actually so cold outside when I was born that the hospital wouldn’t let my parents leave with me for a few days until it warmed up a little (in the week following my birth, the high temperature was a balmy 16 degrees. The low was -16). I can clearly recall December snowstorms that left more than enough snow for me to simply lie down and disappear, floating on the ground in an icy cloud of white). One year, when I was maybe 7 or 8, there was a picture on the front page of the Coloradoan of a man wearing cutoff jeans and no shirt playing tennis on my birthday, and I can remember the shock, the outrage I felt that nature had somehow cheated me of my usual arctic birthday traditions.

Now, as my birthday approaches once again, it seems ridiculous to hope for snow. I figure if I’m lucky it will at least stay below freezing for more than 12 hours at a time. I’ve been watering my landscape periodically (and you should be, too!) so that my trees, shrubs, and perennials don’t suffer the serious damage that a warm dry winter like this can inflict. I’ve barely even had to scrape frost from my windshield!

Without getting into a political debate on the causes of global warming, it is clear that we are experiencing dramatically decreased precipitation accompanied by dramatically warmer temperatures. Gone are the days of ‘set-it-and-forget-it’ winter landscape care, where we could count on Mother Nature to provide the adequate moisture and sustained cold temperatures our landscapes need to safely survive the winter. We have to monitor soil moisture, especially for newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials. We have to make sure our mulch is generously applied. We have to wrap delicate young tree trunks to protect their bark from our drying winds and brilliant sun.

This may sound like extra work, and to be honest, it is. I promise it will be worth it. You are reading this because you are someone who deeply understands the glory that is a beautiful landscape. You get thrills watching flowers bloom. You know that the tastiest tomato is the one you grew, and the most relaxing shade can be found under the tree you planted. Chances are good your neighbor isn’t as in touch with the awesome power of plants as you are, and you probably won’t see them doing much this winter in terms of outdoor plant care. If only they knew how much better your yard will look in the spring thanks to your small efforts now.

Earlier this week I heard a radio DJ say that anyone who was hoping for snow this winter needed to just “…get over it, it ain’t happening.” As I work through the grieving process, mourning the loss of my glorious December birthdays blanketed in frigid white fluff, I have only one request. For my birthday, I want you to water your landscape. Once or twice a month should do, and run your hose at a trickle – no need to let water runoff into the street. If I can’t feel like a Snow King on my birthday, I should at least be able to enjoy a beautiful spring, despite Mother Nature’s best efforts. That’s not asking too much, right?

Want to know a gardening secret about the yards and gardens that really shine in the spring and summer? Those gardeners don’t stop gardening in the fall. In fact, a little preparation in the fall can be all the difference between a good garden and a great one. Use this check list to take your yard to the next level:

• Autumn Clean-up: This is the time of year to clean up the garden in anticipation of winter and a carefree spring. Save fallen leaves to use as mulch or to add to the compost pile. Add the last few rounds of grass clippings to the pile, they’ll help add nitrogen. If you want to encourage wildlife, leave seed pods, berries and rose hips on plants. A water source is also appreciated. Ornamental grasses can be trimmed to a height of 4 inches, or they can be left until early spring to provide some structure throughout the winter months. Read more…

• Mulch beds / use a compost dressing: Protect your garden beds from the harsh winter sun and winds by covering them with a layer of mulch. This will help the soil to retain some moisture and protect the micro-organisms living in the soil. You can also add a compost dressing to garden beds, preparing the soil for the spring season. Compost placed as a top layer dressing on existing beds will allow nutrients to leach into the soil during the winter months and with some easy turning in the spring, you are ready to plant. Read more…

• Winterize your lawn: Fall fertilization, or winterization, can help your lawn develop a healthier root system, which will mean a dense, green lawn in the spring. In Northern Colorado, lawns can be fertilized right up to Thanksgiving (late November). Read more…

• Plant Fall bulbs: Every Autumn, our garden shop is taken over with a diverse selection of bulbs for spring color! Tulips, daffodils, iris, crocus and more are available in a rainbow of colors. These bulbs can be planted up until the soil freezes, but shop early for the best selection! It is best to plant bulbs early in the fall so that the bulb root has time to get established, prior to the ground freezing. Bulbs prefer sandy or clay loam soil. In general, bulbs should be planted at a depth of three to four times the diameter of the bulb. If planting in a sandy soil, plant two inches deeper. Small crocus bulbs should be planted more shallowly; large allium or daffodil bulbs will be planted more deeply. Information courtesy of CSU. We also offer amaryllis and paperwhite bulbs that can be forced to bloom in the winter months. Call or stop by for availability, and chat with one of our knowledgeable staff for how-to tips.

• Use rose collars: Rose collars help to protect the grafts on grafted roses (hybrid tea, floribunda, grandiflora, and many other specialty varieties) from freezing by placing the rose collar around the base of the rose plant and filling it with clean leaf debris, mulch, or compost. Remove debris from the base of the roses, and use a rose collar to hold soil, compost, straw or bark over the rose crown. We carry rose collars, which can be reused year after year. Read more…

• Wrap your trees: Sunscald can occur on the side of young deciduous tree trunks. A typical Colorado winter day may be sunny and up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, causing the living layer under the bark to come out of dormancy and become active. If Temperatures drop below freezing it kills active cells and conductive tissue. Young, thin-barked deciduous trees, such as honey locusts, fruit trees, ashes, oaks, maples, lindens and willows are at highest risk. Commercial tree wraps made of crepe paper insulate bark and are an effective way to prevent sunscald. In late October or early November, wrap trunks upward from the base of the tree to a point just above the lowest branches. Overlap about 33 percent with each turn. Secure the wrap with tape, but be careful not to attach the tape to the tree bark. Be sure to remove tree wrap and tape the following April to avoid girdling and possible insect damage. Information courtesy of CSU Extension.

by Beverly Henke – Garden Shop Manager

What does the word pumpkin bring to your mind? I think of holidays, and pie, and of my own somewhat pitiful, but very sincere and prolific pumpkin patch. I think of all the pumpkins I’ve carved, both as a child, and with my own children and the memories that were created from those fun pumpkin moments. I saw a PBS special once on people who can best be described as obsessed with growing the biggest pumpkin in the history of the world. They cover their monstrous pumpkins with blankets and sleep with them at night, to make sure nothing bad happens, and I can’t leave out; “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown!”

I discovered years ago, much to my delight, that cucurbits, (pumpkins, other squash and melons) actually love our alkaline soil here in Fort Collins. I don’t believe everything I read or am told, I have to test things out for myself. So naturally I had to plant some New England pie pumpkins, to see if it was true. It is! My first attempt yielded more than two dozen from a total of two plantings with 2 vines in each planting. I ended up with more than sixteen quarts of delicious pumpkin puree. That created a problem with how to use it. I had basically only thought of pumpkin as something to make pies or pumpkin bread from. I now know you can make; scones, pancakes, granola, cookies, and even curry with it. Oh, and my dog LOVES it! He had a near death experience and spoonfuls of pumpkin were how I got him to take his pills.

To grow pumpkins you need to have some compost amended soil, pumpkins don’t like cool ground, so I start them indoors in big peat pots. I also put a big square of black landscape fabric down where they will be planted for a couple weeks before I plant them. This helps warm up the soil. I don’t bother planting them in hills; that is only necessary where there is a lot of rain. They need regular watering and I step up the watering when the squash start to form. You can make “compost tea” by soaking a shovelful of compost in a 5 gallon bucket for a week. Use it to water and feed your pumpkins every now and then. In late summer you will get powdery mildew on the leaves of the vines (it makes them look silvery white), don’t worry about it. This is just a sign that summer is near an end. Start removing any new pumpkins that are trying to form, this will send the plants energy into making the ones that are already growing, bigger. When it starts to cool off water less and let the vines die. Do not remove the pumpkins until the vines are looking pretty bad and the shell is too hard to dent with a fingernail. Cut them off the vine with pruners, leave the stem on to prevent rotting. Take them in the house and let them “ripen” for a couple weeks.