Greene Gardens

Garden Design and Maintenance for Denver

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Dreaming of Summer

Poring over seed catalogs is a popular early spring pastime, planning for the warm summer garden season ahead. A neighbor requested a list of catalogs to take along as reading on her spring break trip. I thought I’d share my favorites with you.

W. Atlee Burpee & Co.

High Mowing Organic Seeds

John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds

When ordering seeds for the Rocky Mountain west from catalogs back east, it is important to pay attention to zone information, and days to maturity. Our growing season, even on the Front Range, is considerably shorter than the plains or Atlantic States. Our high solar intensity also requires some knowledge of plant suitability. Also, elevation information can be handy.

When planning your garden from seed, pay attention to irrigation requirements, and group your sowings according to like water needs. That’s an easy way to promote sustainability, and have a healthy annual garden. Happy shopping!

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Ornamental grass

One spring garden chore in the perennial bed includes trimming, or cutting back ornamental grass. One quick and easy way to do this without causing a lot of additional mess is by using a bungee cord to contain the plumes. Wrap the base of the grass plumes tightly with the bungee cord. Using hedge trimmers, or hand-held pruners, snip the grass plumes 4 or so inches above the ground, and below the bungee cord. Make a level cut.

Hedge trimmers tend to work better on the larger, older clumps of grass and the thicker-bladed varieties like Miscanthus, or Pampas (Erianthus). Newer, smaller clumps of the thinner-bladed varieties, like the feather reed grasses (calamagrostis), and the fountain grasses (pennisetum) can be trimmed with the hand-held pruners.

Lift the dead plumes off the grass plant with the bungee still wrapped around the bunch, and deposit them into the compost pile. Scratch out, or remove, any dead or decayed stems that remain in the center of the grass. Depending on the age of the clump, a dollop of compost in the center can stimulate new growth in that area. Over time, as the center of the grass dies out, the clump can be divided and shared with neighbors.

Your ornamental grass is now ready for new spring growth!

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Emerald Ash Borer update

This is one of the best summaries I have read regarding this new pest in Colorado. Please click here to review the article by Susan Clotfelter in the Denver Post.

We are at the beginning stages of dealing with the challenges of this pest in Colorado, and many of us will have to make some choices about the ash trees in our landscapes in the future. For now, if you are not in the immediate quarantine, or adjacent area, you probably do not have to make any decisions about your ash trees. However, it is time to become familiar with EAB, and it’s potential for destruction. Consult a qualified arborist if you have concerns about this or the health of any of your trees.

If you are considering planting new trees in your landscape, it’s time to consider alternate species. Please consult this list compiled by CSU. Diversification of our urban forests is a good idea. This list has some terrific trees that are currently underused. I would love to hear which ones are your favorites.

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Dividing Iris

Every 3 or 4 years, one of the fall chores to be completed in the garden is dividing overgrown iris. Likely candidates include those clumps that have stopped blooming, or have become unsightly, or have simply spread beyond their designated bounds.

To divide iris, dig up the crowded clump using a shovel or garden spade. Gently separate the individual rhizomes by hand, or by using a fork or hand spade. Discard shriveled, hollow, lightweight, or rotten rhizomes, and keep the firm rhizomes with good root fibers and one or two leaf fans attached. Replant the individual rhizomes about 12 inches apart. Plant them shallowly, with root fibers facing down, and splayed apart, with a bit of the top surface of the rhizome visible in the planting hole. If planting in a new area, prepare the bed with soil that drains well.

It’s a good idea to clip the top growth 4 or so inches above the root, so that the individual plants don’t become top heavy, and pull out or tip over during the root re-establishment phase. Cutting back the foliage encourages the plant to send energy to the root system, and discourages overwintering pests and disease.

Water well at planting time, but do not overwater. Rhizomes, like bulbs, are easily susceptible to rot, if the soil is too wet.

Share any extras with neighbors, and friends. Dividing iris is a cost-effective way to spread beauty throughout your garden!

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Super Bowl Garden Dip

TomatoesIt’s Super Bowl weekend, and I got stuck bringing the bean dip.  Determined not to share a glommy concoction of overdone pintos and cheese, I remembered to dig out a favorite recipe that we make great use of in the summer when produce is plentiful. As a dip, a topping for a grilled fish, or wrapped in a tortilla for a quick lunch, it’s a versatile combination.   I give credit to my friend Suzie who shared this recipe with me at a long ago PTO function.

 Shopping for the dip ingredients gave me a very good reason to start planning the vegetable garden for spring.  The dip makes great use of fresh tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, and bell peppers in 3 colors.

Some of the best tomato varieties for the Front Range include:  Early Girl, Celebrity, and Better Boy.  All of these varieties are suitable for our somewhat shorter growing season. Choose varieties that mature in 50 days or so. 

 A ‘wall of water’, or black plastic mulch around young transplants can help warm the soil, and start the growing season sooner.  Always pick hybrid varieties that are labeled VFN resistant to avoid problems with Verticullum wilt, or Fusarium wilt.  Heirloom varieties do not have this fungal protection, but have superior taste.  

Because peppers are closely related to tomatoes, many of the same growing rules apply. Shorter maturities are more desirable.  Water deeply, and not too often.  Most peppers are green or yellow when immature.  If red peppers are desired, allow the earliest formed fruit to remain on the plant, while harvesting the other fruits.  Some successful varieties include ‘Predi,’ ‘Figaro,’ and  ‘Ori,’

 Add a cilantro plant or two, and some green onions to the garden.  Make a quick trip to the store for the feta, black beans, and the Good Seasons dressing.   A Super Dip with all the goodness of the garden!

Suzie’s Black Bean Dip

 1 can black beans, drained

½ each yellow, red, and green peppers, chopped

1 medium tomato, chopped

6 green onions

1 bunch cilantro

4 oz. feta cheese, crumbled

¼ C Good Seasons Italian dressing, prepared as directed.