If you’ve spent any amount of time gazing at our beautiful Colorado landscape, no doubt you’ve noticed a couple of fiery spots of color dotting the hillsides and valleys from March through September. If so, there’s a good chance you’ve spotted stands of Indian paintbrush (Castilleja ssp). Upon closer examination, the Indian paintbrush is a small…
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Virtually all private home landscaping was sustainable up until the post-war era when everything became “revolutionized.” This included the pesticide and herbicide boom, expansive green lawns, genetically modified plants with no ability to re-seed themselves and so on. Fortunately, we’ve all learned a little lesson about moderation, and now the pendulum is swinging back to…
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If you speak with any long-time gardener, you’ll hear stories of trial-and-error, great ideas gone wrong and accidental happenings gone right. Take advantage of this wisdom, and apply these Colorado gardening tips to your own landscape design. Learn New Colorado Gardening Tips & Tricks for Your Summer Garden Raise the mower blade. Sure, a perfectly manicured lawn is attractive, but…
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Garden paths are more than just functional landscape design elements — they can alter the flow, aesthetic appeal and energy of your Colorado garden design. Indeed, a winding “natural” path has a much different visual impact than a straight line of pavers or a square-cornered path found in manicured English gardens. The following design ideas are great for creating beautiful…
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A shade-tolerant Colorado garden might sound like a contradiction, but it’s entirely achievable. While the Rocky Mountain region is known for its well-draining soil, water conservation practices, and intense sun exposure, there are plenty of pockets of shade waiting to be transformed. North-facing slopes, mature trees, and structures like fences or buildings create cool, shaded…
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July is a month in which your Colorado landscape may require a little extra planning and attention. While your landscape transforms into a colorful oasis, most of your gardening tasks may entail an early morning wake up call so you can head outside before the summer sun heats up. Here’s a quick garden checklist for you to…
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Coral bells (Heuchera) are popular perennial plants that can survive and thrive in many different growing spaces and local climates. They are popular due to their hardiness (thriving in both hot and cold environments) and their wide selection of colors and varieties, ranging from white and pink, to light coral and a deeper red. Most…
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As long as you’re planting drought-tolerant and drought-resistant plants, why not seek a specific kind of plant? The Drought Evader. We love this term coined by Gary Paul Nabhan in a recent Mother Earth News article. It describes plants that not only survive drought, but can also harness minimal watering to speed up its flower-to-veg cycle,…
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Landscaping with sustainable practices in mind can help eliminate toxic pesticides that are harmful to the environment. There’s a learning curve involved, but the benefits far outweigh any inconveniences. In addition to polluting the air, soil and water, pesticides also wipe out huge populations of beneficial insects that help eliminate harmful garden pests that can damage your…
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Herbs are satisfying plants to grow since many of them are colorful, fragrant and, of course, edible. Most herbs are also easy to manage and thrive in our Colorado climate. So, to grow a healthy herb garden this summer, make sure you follow these helpful gardening tips below. Choose the planting area wisely. Things to…
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