What is core aeration? Landscapers use core aeration machines to keep lawn and turfgrass areas thick and vigorous. As they run the machine over an area, the machine’s tines pull cores of grass and soil out of the lawn and deposit them on the soil surface. You can tell an area has been aerated when […]
Now that water restrictions are in effect for many of us living on the Front Range, it’s a good idea to be proactive with your yard care this spring. One thing you can do is start to water consistently now. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not promoting overwatering. I realize we’re in a drought and […]
Today was the big day. For most Front Range cities, it marked the first day of mandatory outdoor watering restrictions. The City of Fort Collins, Denver Water, Colorado Springs Utilities, The City of Aurora and The City of Thornton, among others, have limited outdoor watering this summer to two days per week. Why are we […]
Break out the pruners. It’s time to get busy! Karl Foerster feather reed grass (Calamagrostis x acutifolia ‘Karl Foerster) is the most common ornamental grass planted in Colorado landscapes. It’s upright, tidy form and blonde seedheads make it a very popular plant. Since it’s so common, it’s helpful to know how to care for Karl […]
Once you start tackling spring cleanup, a secondary problem develops. What should you do with your yard waste? Here are some options for you to consider. Take it to a local landscape waste recycler. In the Colorado Springs area, homeowners (not professional landscapers) can take their yard waste to Rocky Top Resources on Saturdays from […]
When is the right time to tackle spring cleanup in your yard? Now that the weather has warmed up, it’s time to get busy, folks. With so many potential projects, where should you start? My advice is to start with taking care of your existing plants. Maintain what you’ve already got first. The reason I […]
If you are like most Coloradoans, the first flowers of the year are the ultimate sign that winter is finally ending. There is hope that warmth and green will return! Snow crocus are the perfect omen of spring. These teeny tiny flowers would go completely unnoticed if they bloomed in the middle of summer. But […]
Since we had that great snow, it seems like there should be enough moisture in the soil, right? Good question. The only real way to know is to pull some soil cores with a soil probe. On Sunday, March 3, I sampled several places in my front and back yards. The results can be so […]
All the advice about winter watering can be so confusing. Okay, it makes sense that in order to help landscape plants survive the dry winter, you need to water them. But how often? Once per month? Once every two weeks? Once a week? And didn’t that recent big snow help? In order to understand how […]
I attended a wildfire mitigation seminar from one of Colorado Springs’ Fire Department educators. She presented informative landscape suggestions based on analysis of the impacts of the Waldo Canyon Fire. Fire investigators reported that 53 of the 346 homes (21%) were ignited due to vegetation issues. Please note this is my interpretation of her advice. […]
It’s been such a long time since we’ve had a wet, heavy spring snow. If you get a chance before it melts, break out that dusty snow shovel and move it from the hard surfaces of your property onto your garden beds, lawn and landscape. It won’t do any good for your patio, deck, sidewalks […]