Betty Cahill

Betty Cahill speaks and writes about gardening in the Rocky Mountain Region. Visit her site at for even more gardening tips.

Consistent high temperatures in the 90s can be tough on plants and may cause blossom drop -- which means less fruit.

Punch List: Help for your garden and landscape during the dog days of summer

July 20, 2017 at 4:55 p.m.

Gardening, lawn-care and landscaping tips for the hottest time of the year in Colorado.

Beneficial syrphid flies, also known as flower or hover flies, resemble bees and are harmless. Their larvae feed on aphids.

Punch List: What to do in your Denver-area garden this week, July 14-20

July 14, 2017 at 1:08 p.m.

Colorado gardeners probably have plenty of bugs in their gardens right now. Some are good, some aren't.

Cut the entire Swiss chard plant at the soil line when the leaves are six inches or longer.

Punch List: What to do in your Denver-area garden, July 7-13

July 7, 2017 at 1:50 p.m.

Tips for hot-weather gardening advice, starting your vegetables and herbs, getting rid of Japanese beetles and other tips.

Herbs, 鈥� which come from the leaf of a plant 鈥� can carry even higher antioxidant content than fruits and vegetables.

Punch List: First week in July is a good time to deadhead in the perennial garden in Colorado

June 30, 2017 at 12:47 a.m.

Quality time in the landscape for some gardeners is keeping up with regular plant maintenance.

Bindweed vines snuggle insidiously close to Queen of Night tulips. Weeds can host pest insects like thrips or leafhoppers, which are known for carrying diseases that can infect tomatoes and several ornamental plants.

Punch List: In the last week of June, you’re making your first harvest in the Colorado garden

June 28, 2017 at 11:17 a.m.

It's hot out, but not too hot to direct seed annual flowers and some vegetables and herbs in the garden.

The foliage of garlic bulbs begins to curl as flower heads begin to form. These curls are called scapes. Break them off and cook with them.

Punch List: The third week in June is about time to harvest garlic in the Colorado garden

June 16, 2017 at 12:58 a.m.

Just like growing garlic, harvesting those tasty bulbs is easy.

a photo of giant conifer aphids clustered on a branch

Punch List: The second week of June we’ve got giant spruce aphids to worry about

June 9, 2017 at 12:31 a.m.

It finally feels like summer. Here are the top 10 to-dos all season to keep the landscape looking great

A green mulch of California poppies covers bare ground with blooms.

Punch List: Things to do in the Colorado garden in the first week of June

June 2, 2017 at 12:33 a.m.

Rutgers University tested the mood of people who received flowers and the results were impressive: Immediate and long-term elevation in mood.

In this undated photo, a tomato plant is planted in a garden in New Paltz, N.Y. Earlier planting leads to better harvests only when tomato seedlings have consistently, near-perfect growing conditions.

Punch List: It might actually be warm enough to plant in the last week in May

May 26, 2017 at 12:38 a.m.

Ready to set your tomato starts out? Here's how to make the most of them in your garden.

Volunteer Amber Wilson, left, takes a drink of cool water during a break at the Excelsior Youth Center after helping plant a flower and vegetable garden at Excelsior. Through the program, the girls at Excelsior, along with Associated LandscapeContractors of Colorado mentors, staff and volunteers, will grow and tend to a large variety of vegetables and flowers in raised garden beds.

Punch List: Fourth week in May is a good time to pay attention to your raised beds

May 19, 2017 at 12:45 a.m.

Need to maximize space for a garden or have challenging native soil or drainage issues? Install raised beds. Use them for all types of plants including vegetables, herbs, fruit, ornamental...

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