Posts

Showing posts from October, 2017

Tips for Success with Wildflower Seed

Image
By Kristina Hughes, Clear Creek County Master Gardener How many of us have been awestruck by the display of wildflowers in the mountains and said to ourselves "I want to re-create that in my garden!" And how many of us have tried a wildflower seed garden which looked great the first season, but after a couple of years, sort of petered out. I've seen a number of wildflower seed beds that were wonderful the first season and then after season 2 or 3, became increasingly disappointing. I personally have only seen a few wildflower seed beds that have consistently performed well year after year, and after quizzing some of the successful gardeners I will share what seem to be some secrets to success. Common Problems Sowing seeds too late: Most wildflower seeds need a cold period in order to germinate. Sometimes the seed manufacturer has put the seeds through an artificial cold period, but to have the best germination of your seed, sow seeds in late fall or winter. One or two pl

Spring Garden Planning

Image
 by Ellyn Myller Happy fall, the strawberries are still producing!   The work of harvesting the late fruits of the field and putting the flower gardens to bed is about to begin, so why am I thinking about spring planting??   Well when the snow has covered the ground and a few months have passed I may not remember what was growing where, what was successful and what I need to consider moving to a new location.   “Right plant, right place.”       Tip 1: Record what happened this year.   Take some pictures to jog your memory, along with notes; these will come in handy when planning your garden beds and seed ordering time in February. Garlic was harvested a few weeks back.   This new addition to my garden was very successful!!   Was it where I planted it, the condition of the soil, can I plant it there again?   Time for some research!   It’s not recommended to plant garlic in the same location year after year, but it will follow the carrots (light feeders) next year, especially since enri