Even the hardiest of vegetables and flowers need protection from frost and freezing temperatures. In Northern Colorado, the average last frost occurs in mid-May, and in Southern Wyoming it can be as late as the first or second week of June. In Autumn, the first average frost usually occurs within the first week of October […]
Category: Seasonal Tips
Fall Planting
- Season: Autumn
We generally think of spring – a time of new growth and life – as the time to plant everything including trees & shrubs. However, cooler temperatures make fall an excellent time to plant. The soil is warmer than in the spring, and many of us actually have more time to devote to planting trees […]
Native shrubs for low maintenance
Our Colorado environment is home to some amazing native shrubs. Not only are these shrubs disease resistant and perfect for our native soil, they attract birds, butterflies and provide year-round interest. Try adding to your landscape a sumac, Apache plume, serviceberry, rabbitbrush, fernbush, mountain mahogany or buffaloberry. These shrubs have some very unique features, such […]
Frost predicted? Cover tender plants
- Season: Autumn
Mid to late September is the average first frost date for Northern Colorado’s front range. But is snow right around the corner? It’s hard to imagine after a long hot summer, bu the average snow fall for Fort Collins in October is 3 inches. You can extend tender plants’ lives by covering them with frost […]
Successive sowing in the garden
Successive sowing of seeds in your vegetable garden will ensure a harvest all season long. Plant bush beans, beets, carrots, broccoli, kohlrabi and peas now for a fall crop. Warm season vegetables, such as beans, corn, cucumbers, melons, okra, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, pumpkin and squash should start to flower and fruit. Removing ripe fruit will […]
5 Tips for Peach Success
Nothing defines these hot lazy days of late summer better than a sweet juicy peach. Did you that the only thing better than a Colorado-grown peach bought at a farmer’s market is a peach grown in your own yard? Peaches make excellent landscape trees, are easy to care for, and you get the freshest peaches […]
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 […]
Renew garden soil before winter sets in
- Season: Autumn
After a long and productive growing season, most garden soils can benefit from amendments before the ground freezes. Renew organic matter in the vegetable garden and empty flowerbeds while also clearing the yard of debris. Run a lawn mower over fallen leaves, collect, and spread in beds. Dig and mix leaves into soil to a […]
Winterize your lawn, trees & shrubs
- Season: Autumn
Lawns will especially benefit from fall fertilization with 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). We recommend either Jirdon Winterizer Fertilizer (conventional) or AlphaLawn Turf Winterizer (organic). Trees and shrubs do best with a complete […]
Plant bulbs in autumn for spring color
- Season: Autumn
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! We also offer amaryllis and paper white bulbs that can […]