Planting has begun, and those annuals and warm-season vegetables should be in the ground by now. Other than possible hail in the coming months, it will be smooth sailing. Here are some timely tips:
Don’t cut your lawn less than 2 inches high and never cut any more than one-third of the growth at any time. Leaving the grass a bit longer will help retain moisture. Mower blades should be sharpened and clean so they cut rather than tear the blades of grass, otherwise disease may be introduced. See Plantalk Colorado at planttalk.org for “Mowing Guidelines.”
Prune spent blooms from tulips, daffodils and other spring-flowering bulbs, however, do not remove the foliage until it has dried. This is how the bulb gathers energy for the next season’s bloom. Deadhead lilacs after they finish blooming and snap new candles off of evergreens to maintain compact growth.
Mulch conserves moisture and keeps down weeds. Your landscape will look neat and trim, and many items will decompose naturally, adding organic matter to the soil. Try wood chips, shredded bark, pine needles and straw. Grass clippings and leaves are not recommended. For more information, see fact sheet 7.214 on “Mulches for Home Grounds” at ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/garden/07214.html, or call the Cooperative Extension office in your county.
Insects can wreak havoc on a garden. Check plants for aphids. The least intrusive way to treat the problem is spray the plant or tree hard with water every few days for two weeks, or use insecticidal soaps. See Fact Sheet 5.550, Beneficial Insects and other Arthropods, for a natural way to prevent pests.
Weeds can be hand dug or sprayed with weed control; follow directions exactly. When spraying weeds in a lawn, be sure to use weed control that will not harm the lawn. Certain specialized products will not harm grass (monocots), but will kill off broadleaf weeds (dicots).
Diseases such as Marssonina have been problematic on aspen trees in the past few years. If you have had this problem in the recent past, you can spray with a fungicide when leaves begin to open to prevent recurrence. Spraying will prevent only new infections; it will not cure leaves already infected. See “Aspen and Poplar Leaf Spots” Fact Sheet 2.920: ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/02920.html.
Check outdoor hanging baskets twice a day, watering thoroughly. Take note of places in the landscape that could be filled next year with spring bulbs and plant them next fall.
Susan Hardin is a Colorado State University Cooperative Extension master gardener in Douglas County.
