It has already been a hot summer and plants, like the rest of us, don’t always take the heat well. They will respond in several ways and this week I’d like to talk about how to recognize heat stress in your yard. Heat stress occurs when a plant loses water faster than it can replace […]

There’s a tiny thing that’s bugging your garden this summer. So tiny in fact, that you can’t see it with the naked eye. Think minuscule, but with a big impact. I’m talking about Western Flower Thrips and they can be devastating to a garden. Even though their official name is Western Flower Thrips, they like […]

If there’s one thing that’s thriving throughout this drier than usual summer, it’s the bugs. Aphids are especially prolific and we’ve seen them on plants that we’ve never seen them on before. Sadly the beneficial insects that would help fight infestations are all but impossible to obtain, but there are some other ways to win […]

One of the easiest things you can do to help you garden successfully during a dry year is to simply add a layer of mulch once you’ve finished planting. Mulches do a great deal more in your yard other than just improve its appearance. The biggest benefit of a good layer of mulch is that […]

If the concept of xeriscaping brings to your mind visions of brown, dry landscaped areas, then it’s time to re-think your idea of this trend. Xeriscaped yards don’t have to look like something from the desert. Many people think of xeric landscaping as that which contains plants that are only found in very dry areas […]

As planting season approaches, like anyone who lives in our high desert climate, we are keeping a close watch on the water situation this summer. At the garden center, one of the most frequent comments we’ve heard lately is about gardening in a dry season but the good news is yes, you can still have […]

When you walk into any garden center to shop this spring, more than likely the first question you will be asked is “What zone are you in?” If you are going to be a successful gardener, you have to first understand hardiness zones, what they mean, and how they pertain to your particular yard. The […]

Mother Nature is a changeable lady in Southwestern Colorado and many times we will get hit with a hard freeze long after the weather has begun to warm up. There have been too many springs when we’ve all lost fruit crops, early vegetables that we’ve planted, and flowers that we thought were safe to plant. […]

Flower and vegetable gardening has become even more popular since the arrival of Covid-19 last year and many people like to start their gardens from seed since it can be a less expensive alternative to purchasing starter plants. There is a great deal of information on seed packets and your success sometimes depends on how […]

In my last column I discussed how insects survive the winter by being either endothermic or ectothermic which leads us to the next question. Where do they go to survive the sometimes harsh Colorado winters? Regardless of whether they are endothermic or ectothermic, they may also be in state known as diapause. This means they […]