Western Mountains and High Plains Regional Report

Deciduous Trees for Smaller Spaces

Wev'e all seen them: overgrown, threatening trees that look as if they're ready to engulf the house. That monstrous blue spruce in the front yard had its beginning as "the cute little evergreen" planted in the wrong spot. As the tree grew and matured,...
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Resources

Pincushion Flower
Taming the Horseradish

Invite Overwintering Birds to Your Yard
Check Indoor Plants
You Still Have Time for Tree Wrap
Plant Fragrant Paper Whites
Take Inventory of Your Tools

Tips for Keeping Flowering Plants Beyond the Holidays

There's no doubt about it: living, flowering, and colorful houseplants are always welcome during the holiday season. Unlike artificial ones, living plants also improve the indoor environment and will keep on giving. You just have to give them some...
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Resources

Houseplant Survival
Florist Cyclamen

Protect Newly Planted Fruit Trees
Keep Christmas Trees Safe
Unwrap Gift Plants
Care for Cut Evergreens
Decorate Outdoor Planters

Protecting the Landscape from Deer Damage

Homeowners in rural and suburban parts of the region my find their landscaping efforts thwarted by hungry deer, especially at this time of year. Deer damage can occur all year long, but late fall and into the winter seems to be more pronounced. The...
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Resources

Dispelling a Garden Myth about Poinsettias
Virginia Creeper Vine

Keep Poinsettias Cool
Water Holiday Plants Carefully
Check Outdoor Faucets
Dispose of Tourist Bugs
Dig Planting Hole for Live Christmas Tree

Growing Geraniums Year-Round

Now that killing frosts have brought the outdoor gardening season to an end, it's fun to reward yourself by growing some annuals indoors. Luckily, I was able to save a few of my favorite geraniums, and just a few weeks after placing them in a sunny,...
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Resources

Gardening in the West -2009 Calendar
Coral Bells

Clean Up Perennials
Leaf Disposal
Store Tender Bulbs
Prepare Tender Roses
Grow Bulb Gardens Indoors

Rose Care Tips for Late Fall and Upcoming Winter

It happens every time this time of year: the questions about pruning back roses and putting the rose garden to bed for the winter. What we do in the now can make a significant impact on how well the rose garden will acclimate this fall and survive...
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Resources

Holiday Cacti
Vacuum Away Houseplant Pests

Keep Garden Hose Handy for Late-Fall Watering
Don't Mow Your Lawn Too Short in the Fall
Keep Houseplants Away from Direct Heat
Cut Back Spent Flowers
Prune Out Damaged or Broken Branches

Dealing with Shade Beneath Trees

Trees in our home landscape are a source of beauty, help to buffer the winds, provide shade, and add structural balance to an otherwise stark setting. As they grow larger in height and spread, however, the lawn growing beneath them often thins out or...
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Resources

Organic Flower Gardening
Harvesting Flower Seeds

Avoid the Urge to Prune Trees
Lift Summer-Flowering Bulbs
Plant Bulbs in Groups
Clean Up Flower Beds
Add Organic Matter to Soil

Are My Evergreens Dying?

It's fall in the Rockies with colors of rich plum, red, glistening yellow, and vibrant gold. One of my favorites in the fall is burning bush ( Euonymus alatus ), with its foliage that transforms to scarlet. But what's up with the evergreens, those pine...
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Resources

'Mongolian Bells' Clematis
Detecting Houseplant Pests

Choosing Bulbs for Damp Sites
Overwintering Perennials in Containers
Collecting Leaves
Protecting Tender Vegetation
Freezing Herbs

Bringing Plants Indoors

Autumn is a time to savor what's thriving outdoors, but also to make plans for the continuation of the garden indoors with annual flowers and herbs. You can add life and color to a bright, sunny windowsill in the kitchen, or maybe you're lucky enough...
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Resources

American Iris Society
Dealing With Whiteflies

Promote Healthy Turf Roots
Sow Wildflowers
Make Compost
Dig Out Annual Grasses
Trap Yellow Jackets

Gearing Up for Autumn

More than most times of the year, fall is a season when changes are in the air that both gardeners and plants can detect. The weather may not be truly cold yet (unless you live in the high country where mornings and evenings are brisk), but it is...
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Resources

Attracting Birds
Discourage Ants on Fruit

Prepare Geraniums for the Move Indoors
Take Advantage of Discounted Perennials
Plant Daffodils Early
Make Room for Cheerful Pansies
Plant Peonies

Time to Give Lawns a Boost

If your lawn is like mine, it has survived another long, hot summer. Or has it? Maybe unsightly weeds, thinning grass, and brown and yellow patches have more than likely turned your emerald carpet of green into Death Valley. Don't despair, however....
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Resources

CSU Turfgrass
Fall-Flowering Colchicum

Invite More Butterflies
Start Harvesting Potatoes
Remove Fallen Fruit
Watch for Powdery Mildew
Tackle Crabgrass

Eeek! the Earwigs are Back

Summer is a wonderful time to relax in a garden amidst the blooming annuals, perennials, and container gardens. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the rewards of your earlier efforts. But wait -- something's not quite right. Those marigolds weren't shredded...
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Resources

Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program
Hopflower Oregano

Watering the Lawn
Dealing With Cats in the Garden
Pick and Dry Lavender
Water the Compost Pile
Harvest Currants

Western Mountains and High Plains Regional Report

Deciduous Trees for Smaller Spaces

Resources

Reminders

Tips for Keeping Flowering Plants Beyond the Holidays

Resources

Reminders

Protecting the Landscape from Deer Damage

Resources

Reminders

Growing Geraniums Year-Round

Resources

Reminders

Rose Care Tips for Late Fall and Upcoming Winter

Resources

Reminders

Dealing with Shade Beneath Trees

Resources

Reminders

Are My Evergreens Dying?

Resources

Reminders

Bringing Plants Indoors

Resources

Reminders

Gearing Up for Autumn

Resources

Reminders

Time to Give Lawns a Boost

Resources

Reminders

Eeek! the Earwigs are Back

Resources

Reminders