Autumn Blaze Maple Tree Care
Q. I planted an Autumn Blaze Maple last year. Do I need to wrap the trunk again this year? A. Young, thin barked trees like maples, ash,...
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Gardening Q & A
Read our Q & A postings with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. You can also hear him on the Garden Wise Radio Show on Legends 810AM, every Saturday morning from 7-9. Special thanks to Kelly Grummons who answered these prior to 2024.
Have gardening questions? Click here to send us your question on our contact form. Use our search window below to find Colorado gardening questions & topics.
Nov 11 min read
What should I do with my Amaryllis this time of year?
A. I bring mine indoors at the very last minute before the first predicted frost. I feel like they benefit from the cool nights...
33
Nov 11 min read
Care of Streptocarpus Plants
Q. I’ve been trying to grow Streptocarpus, aka Cape Primrose. They keep dying on me but I’m told they are easy. What am I doing wrong?...
55
Nov 11 min read
Watering Bulbs in Winter
Q. I planted lots of spring flowering bulbs this fall including tulips, daffodils and crocus. I watered them in thoroughly after...
57
Nov 11 min read
Winter Watering in Colorado
Q: I planted quite a few perennials, some shrubs and a tree this year. Should I water them during the winter and how often? A. Our...
47
Sep 301 min read
Drainage Rocks for Potted Plants?
Q: When transplanting potted plants, is it a good idea to add a layer of gravel at the bottom of the pot to ensure good drainage? A:...
70
Sep 301 min read
Storing Dahlias, Cannas and Begonias
Q: How do I store tender bulbs like dahlias, cannas and begonias for next year? A: In a dry climate like Colorado, storing tender bulbs...
78
Sep 301 min read
When to prune back shrubs like butterfly bush, roses, and bluemist spirea?
Blue mist spirea, Caryopteris x clandonensis Q: Can I prune back shrubs like butterfly bush, roses, and bluemist spirea in the fall or...
82
Sep 301 min read
Do I cut my perennial flowers and grasses for winter?
Q: Do I cut my perennial flowers and ornamental grasses back in the fall or the spring? A: In general, it doesn’t really matter to the...
60
Sep 61 min read
Pine Trees Losing Needles?
Q: I’ve noticed my pine trees are losing yellow needles. Is this a symptom of a problem? A: Fall needle drop in conifers, where trees...
158
Sep 61 min read
Should you aerate your lawn in the fall?
Q: It’s been a few years since I aerated my lawn. Is fall a good time? A: Fall lawn aeration is an important task for maintaining a...
113
Sep 61 min read
Planting Trees in Fall
Q: I’ve noticed local nurseries have put their trees and shrubs and perennials on sale. Is it okay to plant this time of year? Fall...
111
Sep 61 min read
Bringing Plants Inside for Winter
Q: I have a hibiscus, spider plant, coleus and several other tropical plants that have spent the summer outdoors. Do I need to do...
202
Jul 282 min read
What to do about powdery mildew
Q: I’m seeing that white, powdery mildew developing on the leaves of my peonies, garden phlox, lilacs, roses, squash. Should they be...
197
Jul 272 min read
How to check sprinkler output?
Q: How do I measure how much water my sprinklers are putting down each time I water? A: Unless you know how much water in inches you...
59
Jul 272 min read
Q: How much should I be watering this time of year?
A: Watering effectively during the heat of summer can be tricky, especially with new plants. My first response is to water deeply and...
130
Jul 271 min read
Colorado Fall Vegetable Garden
Q: What vegetables are good choices for a fall harvest and when should they be planted? A: Our average first frost date in Denver is...
110
Jul 61 min read
Is it too late to plant now that it’s hot?
Q: Is it too late to plant now that it’s hot? A: Planting during the heat of summer is perfectly fine. It just takes some extra...
305
Jun 281 min read
Should I remove flower heads from garlic?
Q: My garlic is sending up what look like flower spikes. Do I leave them or cut them off? A: Those are the flowering scapes of the...
260
Jun 281 min read
What is eating circles in my rose leaves?
Q: Something is removing perfectly circular sections from the edges of my rose leaves. Is this a problem I need to treat for? Will it...
528
Jun 282 min read
Pruning Dwarf Conifer Tree
Q: I planted what was supposed to be a dwarf conifer many years ago & it's now about 10' tall & so exuberant that's taken over the...
112
Jun 281 min read
Will any verbascums rebloom if you cut off the dead flower stalks?
Q: Will any verbascums rebloom if you cut off the dead flower stalks? A: Yes. The smaller growing varieties of perennial verbascums...
45
Jun 281 min read
Brown sunken spots on the bottoms of my tomatoes
Q: What is causing the brown sunken spots on the bottoms of my tomatoes? Is it a disease? Can I still eat them? A: What you are...
154
May 311 min read
What to do with spring flowers after they bloom?
What should I do with my spring flowering perennials that are done blooming? They are looking a little messy. A: Remove spent flower...
258
May 311 min read
Should I test my soil every year?
A: I purchased an inexpensive soil test kit from my local independent garden center to test my pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium...
64
May 311 min read
How often should I feed the plants in my landscape?
A: If it’s been more than 3 or 4 weeks since you last fed your gardens, it’s time to do it again. Our Colorado soils are notoriously low...
105
May 311 min read
Broken Branches
The wind storms we had this year has caused some branch breakage in my Autumn Blaze Maple. When is the best time to prune it out? A:...
31
May 311 min read
Thinning Fruit Trees
My fruit trees are loaded with fruit this year. Is it a good idea to thin some of it out? A: Those of us with fruit trees are...
66
Apr 231 min read
Should I feed my lawn in May?
A: If it has been more than four weeks since the lawn was last fertilized, apply slow release, high nitrogen lawn food this month. It is...
63
Apr 231 min read
My tall growing flowers like peonies, dahlias, hollyhocks, gladiolus, lilies and salvia have a tendency to flop over by mid summer. How can I stop this from happening?
Trying to stake them after this happens makes them look weird and unnatural. A: Stake tall growing flowers that are prone to water and...
546
Apr 231 min read
When can I set out my tropical houseplants that have been indoors all winter?
A: Houseplants scheduled to spend the summer outdoors should be kept inside until late-May or early-June when night temperatures stay...
77
Apr 231 min read
When is it safe to plant potted roses out in the garden?
A: While there are no guarantees, mid-May is typically a safe bet but be prepared to cover newly planted, greenhouse grown roses if the...
27
Apr 231 min read
I have a garden pond with hardy water lilies that stay out all year round. I’d like to add some tropical night blooming water lilies this year. How warm does the water need to be?
A: When pond water temperature reaches 70F. it's safe to set out tropical water lilies, water hyacinths, water lettuce, callas, water...
31
Apr 231 min read
How soon can I start direct sowing flower seeds in the garden?
By Keith Funk A: Seed tender annuals like marigolds, zinnias, and cosmos directly into the garden by mid-May. Most all annual...
77
Apr 231 min read
When is it safe to plant out warm season veggies like squash, peppers and tomatoes?
By Keith Funk A: April and May are excellent months for controlling Japanese Beetle grubs that overwintered from last fall. My personal...
70
Apr 41 min read
When should grub killer be applied to control Japanese Beetles?
By Keith Funk A: April and May are excellent months for controlling Japanese Beetle grubs that overwintered from last fall. My personal...
1,736
Apr 41 min read
When and how often should I feed my perennials?
By Keith Funk A: My first application of plant food on my perennials is in early April. I prefer a granular fertilizer with an analysis...
163
Apr 41 min read
Are there any flowers I can plant outside in April for some extra spring color?
By Keith Funk A: Yes. There are several cold-tolerant annuals and perennials that will flower beautifully during our cool/cold spring...
178
Apr 41 min read
What should I do when my early spring flowering bulbs are finished blooming?
By Keith Funk A: Remove spent flowers but keep all the foliage to rebuild the bulb’s strength to rebloom again next year. Show them...
79
Apr 41 min read
When do I prune my flowering shrubs?
By Keith Funk A: Shrubs that flower before Memorial Day can be pruned immediately after flowering. These shrubs include lilac,...
105
Apr 41 min read
When is the best time to lift and divide perennials?
By Keith Funk A: That depends on the plant. Most perennials can be lifted and divided now, in early spring as you see new growth...
74
Apr 41 min read
When should I prune my raspberries?
A: Now. For fall-bearing raspberries like Fall Gold, cut all canes to within 6-8” of the ground. This type of raspberry produces fruits...
75
Mar 131 min read
When should we divide our irises
When should we divide our irises? I have several huge clumps that don’t bloom as well as they used to. A: Irises (Tall-bearded,...
4,314
Mar 21 min read
Harvesting Overwintered Root Vegetables
Q: We still have a lot of root vegetables left in the garden from last year. They are showing new growth. When can we harvest them? I...
62
Mar 12 min read
Do Aphids Overwinter?
Q: I grow kale in a raised bed. Last year it got covered (smothered) in aphids. After using Neem oil spray on it for a month, I decided...
1,158
Feb 121 min read
Beheaded Beans
Q: I planted a bunch of bean seeds July 1st and had very poor germination though I watered 2X a day. One of the four that did sprout was...
333
Jan 112 min read
Get Amaryllis to Rebloom
My Holiday Amarylis is Spent. Now What? Q: I have a couple of Amaryllis bulbs that I kept after they bloomed the first year. I keep...
150
Aug 24, 20231 min read
Shade Trees Dropping Leaves
Q: Our shade trees look gorgeous this year due to all the rain. The lindens and burr oak have unusually large, odd-shaped leaves. During...
63
Apr 14, 20231 min read
Growing bell peppers in Colorado
Q: How do I grow a good bell pepper? My pepper plants never get as big as they should and the fruit is usually misshapen and small. We...
899
Apr 14, 20232 min read
Ugly Lawn in Colorado
Our lawn has just gotten uglier every year. We’ve had it aerated most Springs but that isn’t helping much anymore. I don’t need it to be...
312
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