Blog Archives

Venusta, Queen of the Prairie

8/29/2022

By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

Venusta (Filipendula rubra "Venusta') is also called by other names such as Martha Washington's Plume, and Meadowseet.

This upright bush has large pink flowers that appear in summer. It's dark green leaves contrast strikingly with the pink plumes, which make a great cut flowers.

They like moist roots, so a moist border or poolside is a good location for this Zone 4 perennial. It is relatively low-maintenance and best cleaned up in the spring.

Deer don't care for this plant and will usually leave it alone. In the landscape it looks great in mass plantings, as it gets to five feet tall by four feet wide. This plant does best in partial shade/shade.

September Farmer's Almanac

8/29/2022

By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

Farmer's Almanac is a wonderful resource and definite 'go-to' for gardeners. Their deep knowledge and database of information is impressive, and trusted.

If your compost pile smells like ammonia, it may have too much nitrogen.
Mix in high-carbon ingredients such as shredded leaves or straw.

Full Harvest Moon is September 10th - a good time to collect and save seeds from the very best plants in your garden.

When used properly, long-handle tools help to lessen back strain while working in the garden.

Salvia comes from a Latin word meaning to save or heal, and refers to the medicinal qualities of some species.

Late September - deadhead chrysanthemum blossoms to encourage more flowers.

O sweet September! thy first breezes bring the dry leaf's rustle and the squirrel's laughter. - George Arnold, American Poet 1834-1965

How to store homegrown tomatoes

8/26/2022

Should you refrigerate tomatoes? How do you handle green tomatoes that fell off the vine prematurely?

This article has excellent information on what to do with your homegrown (or farmer's market purchased) tomatoes, including whether to refrigerate, how to store on your counter, and more.

Tomato-storage guidelines:

If at all possible, buy only as many perfectly ripe tomatoes as you can eat within a day or two, keep them stored stem side down on a flat surface at room temperature, and make sure to eat them all within the first day or two.
If you buy underripe tomatoes, leave them out at room temperature until they're fully ripened, then move them to a cooler spot for longer storage.
If you have a wine fridge or cool cellar, store all ripe tomatoes that you can't eat within the first day there.
If you don't have a wine fridge or cool cellar, store all ripe tomatoes that you can't eat within the first day in the refrigerator.
If you're storing tomatoes in the refrigerator, it may be better to locate them on a top shelf near the door, which is often warmer than the bottom and back of the fridge.

Credit: Serious Eats

28 days till Fall!

8/26/2022

It's getting late in the season. There are only 28 days until fall. Spring and fall remain full of landscaping tasks, but there are plenty of ways to spruce up your lawn and garden as the summer ends.

Check out these easy and effective end of summer landscaping tips, designed to extend the season and keep your outdoor living area healthy and comfortable.

Watering your lawn and garden can be problematic, depending on local limitations. About 1-inch of water is all that your lawn needs to push through the dog days of summer.
If you planted late or plan to water late in the season, get a backflow wrap to protect your backflow preventer from mild freezes.
Deadhead your flowers to encourage growth and maintain a neat appearance. Annuals like petunias and pansies take just a few minutes to deadhead, while other annuals and many perennials require cutting.
Fall aerations are recommended to break up soil, redistribute nutrients, and improve air transfer between soil and atmosphere.
Most plants require pruning in early spring and mid-winter, but summer provides a good opportunity for light pruning. Trimming roses helps to promote an additional series of blooms, and many flowering shrubs and trees could use a quick pruning at this time. Be sure your pruners are clean and sharpened; otherwise you risk harming vulnerable plants. Always clean your tools after dealing with diseased plants, and keep the blades free from debris and sap.

Credit: ALCC

Monarchs laying eggs now

8/8/2022

By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

Now is prime time for monarch butterflies to lay their eggs.

You can help care for them and learn how to spot eggs, cocoons, and caterpillars at Save Our Monarchs.

Please plant milkweed and other pollinators that monarchs love to help save this endangered species!

Tips for Fall Container Gardens

8/8/2022

Planting container gardens for the fall requires different considerations than those planted in the spring or summer. Here are some tips, as well as ideas, for your very best container garden.

While mums are ubiquitous with fall, remember that they are typically in bloom for only 3-4 weeks. If you’ve bought them in bloom from the garden center, you have even less time than that. I’m not saying don’t use them, but if you want color for longer than 3-4 weeks, consider replacing them when they are spent or using plants around them that will kick in and provide color when they are done blooming.
Don’t forget about hardy, woody herbs when planning your container garden. The planter above includes thyme, but rosemary is another great option.
Plan and Plant your container gardens by early September. This allows them to establish themselves before the cooler temperatures arrive. And remember that some plants will alter their color as the temperatures fall; the leaves of some heuchera (coral bells) will turn more bronze in the fall and sedum and some evergreen succulents develop a deeper color.
Because the fall is such a short growing period, consider planting more than you would in spring or summer for a full planter.
For colorful flowers, consider snapdragons, pansies, violas and salvia.
Embrace the different textures that ornamental grasses, kales and cabbages provide.
When it is time to replace the plants in your fall container garden, replant the perennials and hardy plants in a sheltered spot for use next year.
Add pumpkins and gourds to your container garden for whimsy and a pop of color.

Credit: Nourish and Nestle

Learn what is damaging your tree(s) and how to stop it

8/5/2022

Don't ignore problems with your trees. They are a valued investment in your property and expensive to replace.

Distinguish between plant damage brought on by diseases, insects, or a nutrient deficiency. Learn to identify these pests and how to protect the trees from beetles and bugs that are causing damage.

Ash Bark Beetle - These beetles are accounting for most of the decline of the Ash trees. Bark beetles infest and reproduce in live trees. They may infest the entire tree. Spring pruning and disposal of infested branches can limit population development of the beetle.

Anthracnose - Anthracnose is a group of fungal diseases that affect a variety of plants. Shade trees such as sycamore, ask, oak and maple are especially susceptible. Anthracnose causes the wilting, withering and dying of tissues. Other symptoms are girdled dead twigs and areas of sunken bark. Good sanitation is the first line of defense; rack and safely destroy all fallen leaves from infected trees and roses. Keep the entire area around the tree very clean.

Maple trees - What's happening with Maple trees where the leaves are more yellowish than green or red? This is not from beetles but by micro-nutrient chlorosis. This occurs when a tree shrub is lacking micronutrients. Treat this by incorporating chelated formulas of iron or manganese or zinc into foil.

Credit: ALCC

Japanese Beetles have arrived on the Front Range

8/4/2022

Japanese beetles have descended upon many Front Range communities. These exotic pests love many of our favorite plants, including roses, Virginia creeper, sunflowers, and green bean plants.

But before the adult beetles wreak havoc on plants, leaving behind lacy skeleton of leaves, their white grubs are busy at work chewing on our turf roots.

If your lawn is looking damaged, it could be due to any number of causes including heat stress. But if you are seeing Japanese beetles in your yard, they could be laying eggs in your turf and affecting its health.

Luckily, some of the same techniques can help with either cause. Mow your grass higher—it promotes deeper root growth and helps turf manage the heat. Healthier roots can better withstand the grubs’ destructive behavior, so any practices that promote turf health make your lawn less susceptible to damage.

As for the adults in your plants, the best control is handpicking them and dumping them in soapy water. If you can’t control them this way, you can speak with a landscape professional about insecticides that might help.

Traps are not recommended, as they have not been shown to reduce beetle damage. In fact, the lure that attracts the beetles to the traps is likely to invite even more beetles into your landscape than they capture, according to USDA, thus increasing the damage to plants.

Experts say that the only way to avoid losing plants to these pests is to look for plants that don’t attract them, like lilacs, hydrangea, and pines. Again, your local garden center or landscape professionals can help you find the right plants for your conditions that won’t bring more beetles around.

Photo: Colorado Department of Agriculture
Article provided by: ALCC

Birth Month flowers

8/4/2022

By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

Old Farmer's Almanac is the resource for the traditional meanings ascribed to flowers. For details and gorgeous pictures of the month flowers click here.

January ~ Carnation and Snowdrop
February ~ Violet and Primrose
March ~ Daffodil and Jonquil
April ~ Daisy and Sweet Pea
May ~ Lily of the Valley and Hawthorn
June ~ Rose and Honeysuckle
July ~ Larkspur and Water Lily
August ~ Gladiolus and Poppy
September ~ Aster and Morning Glory
October ~ Marigold and Cosmos
November ~ Chrysanthemum
December ~ Narcissus and Holly

Above and Beyond Rose a winner for Zones 3 - 7

8/3/2022

By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director

Above and Beyond Rose (Rosa 'ZLEEltonStrack') is a new climber that combines "extreme cane hardiness, reliable spring flowering and vigorous growth." Apricot colored buds open in prolific clusters of five or more semi-double to double flowers.

It blooms in mid- to late-spring with sporadic repeat flowering in summer. Very resistant to fungal diseases.

To learn more, click here.