Perennials and annuals
Does your garden need some pop or a color boost? Check out tangerine tango, Pantone Color Institute’s color of the year. Orange works well in the garden planted among yellow, red, green, bronze, blue, white and purple.
• Consider any of these coneflowers (Echinacea spp.) in orange tones: Double Scoop Orangeberry; Sombrero Hot Coral; Marmalade; Tiki Torch; and Tangerine Dream. And try Gazania krebsiana from Plant Select.
• Annuals: Zinnias Double Zahara Fire and UpTown Orange Blossom; the Calibrachoa Superbells Tequila Sunrise. urbanext.illinois.edu/news/news.cfm?NewsID=27008
• Check out the Colorado State University Flower Trial Garden in Fort Collins for annual and perennial plant winners based on performance and vigor in our challenging growing conditions. It’s located across from the CSU Art Museum and is a must-see throughout the growing season. : flowertrials. colostate.edu
Vegetables
• Plant these seeds: beans, summer squash, cucumbers, corn, pumpkin, winter squash and cantaloupe. Read the seed packet for planting depth, and keep the bed moist. You may need to water seeds as often as twice daily on warm days.
• Plant transplants of eggplant, tomatoes, and peppers. Plants will do better in well-amended soils. Consider raised beds or containers if your soil is compacted or has too much clay. www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1809.html
Herbs
• Plant seeds or starts of basil, chives, borage, calendula, hyssop, catmint and chamomile in the vegetable garden or among perennial and annual beds and borders.
• The following herbs are tricky or slow to start from seeds, so choose vigorous transplants for the best luck: lavender, sage, thyme, French tarragon, bergamot (Monarda), scented geraniums, mint varieties (plant in a well-drained container to keep it from spreading), and rosemary.
• Herbs grow well in containers,too; put the pots near your back door for easy kitchen access.
Lawns
• Fertilize cool-season grasses (turf types such as tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass) with ½ to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Adjust mower blade height to 2 ½ to 3 inches and maintain this height for a healthy mowed lawn.
Pest watch
• Look for signs ofon lilacs, dogwood, or other woody plants. Scale insects hatch in late May and the “crawler” period is the best time to control them. More: www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05513.html
• Miller moths are still hanging around. Keep them out by repairing screens and openings.
• Aphids may curl the new growth of many plants; use a strong spray of water to dislodge them. : www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05511.html
Vegetables
Any garden is apt to experience pests or diseases, and vegetable gardens are not immune. Do not overreact when you first see nibbled or yellow-veined leaves. The first line of defense is to assess the damage and figure out which bug is bugging your plants. A daily walk through the garden and an up-close examination of your plants, including upper and lower leaves, will give you a better idea of what’s happening:
• The majority of problems are related to improper watering, poor soils or planting in the wrong place. Correct these practices first.
• Trying friendly solutions first before reaching for chemicals (especially the wrong ones). You don’t want to cause harm to beneficial insects such as lady beetles and green lacewings. Read more on pages 6-7L.
• Still stumped? Contact your local extension office and volunteer (phone numbers are listed at www.cmg.colostate.edu/ask-cmg.shtml). You’ll also find these trained volunteers at local farmers markets all summer and sometimes at booths in garden and home centers.
