If your lawn is still in pretty good shape and you’ve fertilized recently, it’s a good idea to mow twice per week for about a month. The more often you mow, the better you grass will look. Plus, frequent mowing will help your lawn be more resilient to drought stress between your watering days. People […]
Author Archive | Catherine
Down with Downy Brome
After the spring moisture we received, many landscape plants have decided to green up after all. So have the weeds. One you may have noticed is downy brome (Bromus tectorum), also known as cheatgrass. Now is the time to remove it so you prevent it from becoming a worse problem. How do you know if […]
Looking for fruit tree? Try Balaton cherry
Five years ago, I planted a dwarf Balaton cherry tree along with three other fruit trees in my yard. I read about it in a list of recommended fruit trees, authored by a fruit expert at Colorado State University. Today, the Balaton cherry is by far my favorite fruit tree out of the trees I […]
Time to topdress mulch
If you have areas of your yard that are mulched with a wood chip or bark product, now is a great time to topdress it. Here are a couple of reasons to tackle mulching soon. Take advantage of free mulch while it lasts. Some communities only offer free mulch in the spring. If you live […]
Dealing with Dandelions
This seems to be the week of the dandelion. Have you noticed their yellow flowers dotting landscapes everywhere? The first spring flush of dandelions delights children and drives homeowners to the big box stores. Despite their temporary beauty, it’s a great idea to jump on the dandelions while you still have a chance to win […]
How to care for frost-damaged daffodils
If you’re a daffodil fan, this has been a disappointing spring. Just as the flowers of early-blooming daffodils were opening in April, winter decided to have an epic battle with spring. As a result, we experienced major temperature fluctuations along Colorado’s Front Range. The daffodils definitely suffered. What is normally a cheery harbinger of spring […]
How to cut back blue mist spirea
Blue mist spirea (Caryopteris x clandenosis) is a wonderful small shrub for Colorado Front Range landscapes. It’s drought tolerant, deer-resistant, and produces beautiful deep blue flowers in late summer. Bees love to visit blue mist spirea when it’s in flower. Despite its widespread use, blue mist spirea can be puzzling when it comes time for […]
What’s wrong with your lawn?
I am so pleased with the way my lawn looks. If you’re worried about your lawn because it doesn’t look so great right now, bear with me for a moment. You can have beautiful grass, too. My goal is to help you create a great-looking landscape. You may have noticed some of the lawns in […]
Which lawn fertilizer should you choose?
Once your grass has turned and green and spring is here to stay, fertilizing will help your lawn take up needed nutrients. Smart fertilizing will help your lawn be green, thick, healthy, and drought-resistant this summer. If you have a lawn, you need to fertilize it. Keep in mind there’s more to it than just fertilizer. […]
More Snow? Seriously?
It’s May first. The lawns and gardens are covered with snow. Are you wondering what the late spring snow means for our landscape plants? Here are some of the possible effects snows and cold temperatures might have on our trees, shrubs, lawns and flowers: Green grass For those of you who live in the Denver […]
How to cut back Russian sage
Russian sage is a beautiful plant that has gorgeous purple flower spikes in July and August. Not only is Russian sage attractive, it’s extremely drought tolerant. It makes a fabulous low maintenance addition to Colorado landscapes. It’s also pretty commonly used. How should you cut Russian sage back in the spring? Be sure to watch […]