So your trees suffered damage in a snow storm, and things are looking rough. Whether trees were in full leaf and held the heavy wet snow to the point of breaking, or evergreens bent and snapped under the load, or the snow was simply too much weight to bear, even on dormant deciduous woody plants, […]
Category: Seasonal Tips
Start seeds now for strong, healthy plants
The winter months are an excellent time to get a head start on your garden! Seeds are a wonderful and cost-effective way to try new varieties of vegetables. After choosing your seeds, be sure to follow specific starting instructions. Provide a draft-free 65-75 degree area, and a sunny window or full-spectrum grow light to get seedlings […]
Dormant oil to knock out insects
If you have had an insect infestation, and are worried it will return to plague your fruit, shade and ornamental trees, dormant oil can be applied in late winter and early spring. Dormant oils work to choke off insects where they over-winter inside trees. Some oils poison the pest insects, but leave many beneficial insects […]
Add Amaryllis for Indoor Winter Color
- Season: Winter
Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) are a great way to bring some magnificent color indoors during the gray winter months. Although they naturally bloom in the Spring, many are ‘forced’ to bloom around the holidays, making them popular holiday plants with their large, showy, log-lasting blooms. Their distinctive lily-like blossoms sit, often in clusters of up to four […]
Prune in late winter, early spring for a healthy tree
While light pruning can be done any time of year, late winter and early spring are an excellent time for full-tree pruning. Prune before the tree has begun setting leaves so its resources are devoted to recovery. Dead and diseased branches should be removed first, then secondary cuts for shape, structure (no lopsided trees!) and […]
Cleaning beds, amending soils
- Season: Winter
Think there’s nothing to do in the winter garden? Think again! When garden soils soften, and days grow warm, amending soil and cleaning garden beds is the best preparation for a successful spring! Rake leaves, grass clippings, and the remains of the vegetable garden from forgotten corners of the lawn and garden then add to […]
Winterize with rose collars
Hybrid Tea, Grandiflora, and other grafted roses need more winter protection than other varieties. Prune back long canes in November to protect them from snow damage, or wait until mid-April and leave the rose hips for winter interest. Remove debris from the base of the roses, and use a rose collar to hold soil, compost, straw […]
Spider mites love dry indoor conditions
- Season: Winter
Colorado winters are often a very dry time of year, both inside and out. This warm, dry indoor climate is an optimal condition for spider mites, a common plant pest. Spider mites are small, and difficult to spot. Inspect your houseplants for small flecks of discoloration and leaf loss. They also produce areas of webbing, which […]
Tis the season … for fungus gnats
- Season: Winter
Have you noticed an annoying visitor that you haven’t been able to get rid of? We’re not talking about a relative that’s overstayed their holiday welcome … we’re talking fungus gnats. These small black flies live and breed in the soil of houseplants. With each watering, more gnats are given a warm, moist incubator for […]
Winter care for woody shrubs, trees
- Season: Winter
Don’t forget to water your woody trees and shrubs! Pick a day through the winter that is over 40 degrees and water thoroughly through the winter. Late winter is also a good time to prune deciduous trees and shrubs. Thinning cuts help encourage growth and increase the amount of light reaching inside branches. Winter is also a […]