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The benefits of growing native species of plants

7/21/2020

Native plants are those that grew here before European colonization of the Americas. As the graphic above shows, native plants have far deeper and stronger root systems which help them to not only survive in their natural habitat, but thrive.

You'll enjoy so many benefits when growing native!

tough and long-lived, healthy and strong (you rarely have to buy replacements)
can withstand local growing conditions (drought, flood, frost, freezing)
easily divided to create free plants for giving away and starting new gardens
reduced maintenance - natives are more resistant to disease and rarely have pests bother with them
need little fertilization or water once established (three to five years)
crowd out weeds
erosion control due to their their deep root systems
feed and shelter birds, butterflies, bees, and other insects year-round
versatile in the landscape - native plants are well suited to every area of an outdoor environment (shady, dry and hot, wet, refined and formal)
provide beauty in a way that visually connects your personal landscape with the surrounding natural area
sustainable - native plants create a strong, healthy ecosystem. They require substantially less water and less chemicals are used because they are naturally disease resistant and don't need much fertilization.

CSU Extension has a chart of natives you can grow here: list of natives.

Image credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Mullein the Menace

7/20/2020

You don't want mullein growing on your property, garden, or field. If you see these, cut and bag the blooms and remove the plant from the soil. The bagged blooms should be disposed of in your trash (do not compost them).

Mullein are plants with low-growing fuzzy soft leaves and super tall skinny unusual looking blooms. Some herbalists use them to make medicine mostly associated with the throat and lungs.

Common mullein is not a native species and is highly invasive - a single mullein will spread 100,000 to 180,000 seeds. It threatens meadows and forest glades and is very difficult to eradicate. The seeds are considered poisonous.

Ideas for removing mullein:

Sparse populations can be removed one by one with a spade/shovel; scan for newly emerging mullein religiously and continue to dig out when spotted.
Pulls out easily if small and not yet fully established (start looking for their fuzzy-rosette of leaves in early June)

Some report that Roundup also works well, but can affect nearby plants

Flowering plants that can take the heat and wind and altitude

7/17/2020

When we think of a harsh environment, winter and freezing temps come to mind. But in our area, wind, hail, and HEAT takes its toll on all but the very hardiest of plants.

Here's a list of flowering heat-tolerant plants to freshen your protected (from deer) pots or fenced-in areas. During our hottest months, this season serves up its own version of harsh and not all of the potted plants you got in the spring do well now.

List of flower heat-tolerant plants

Scaevola - an annual where we live and needs watering only when the soil feels dry.

Sunpatiens - unlike impatiens, which bloom in shade, sunpatiens do well in heat and sun due to their thicker petals and tough foliage. Less prone to disease too. How to grow guide here.

Coleus - most of us think that coleus only likes shade - but there are varieties that like sun too, and their colors become even more bright and saturated with sun exposure. Two of my favorite coleus varieties are 'Wasabi', and 'Redhead', because they are stunning when planted in the same container and they flourish in the sun. Best in protected areas (from deer).

Geranium - grow best in containers including windowboxes; bloom for months. Note: keep soil evenly moist (not wet), feed every other week (ideally) and cut off spent blooms to encourage more bloom. They're reward you in spades with their flowering and stature.

Apache Plume - this is a hardworking shrub that, when given the chance to grow and bloom, will reward you with lovely delicate fluffy blooms. They look awesome in cut flower bouquets. Winter doesn't phase this native shrub and very deer resistant. Mine took four years of steady growing to come into their full glory. Worth the wait.

Russian Sage - the warmer the better for this hardy perennial plant. Gets big (4 x 4 ft) with tall soft purple flowers reminiscent of the bloom of lavender. Stunning when grouped. Xeric, and likes heat. Water regularly when small, then three times a week when fully established (4 - 5 years).

The benefits of growing native species of plants

Mullein the Menace

Flowering plants that can take the heat and wind and altitude

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