spring 2016
Spring Cleaning Tips Out with the old, in with the new Page 4
Mother Nature’s Treasure Composting do’s and dont’s Page 6
a special supplement of
spring 2016
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APRIL 7, 2016
Community gardens
Gardens also help supplement food banks By Shanna Fortier sfortier@coloradocommunity media.com
T
he American Community Garden Association defines a community garden as any piece of land cultivated by a group of people. And those communities are becoming more and more popular. “It’s a place where people can go gather and learn from each other,” said Castle Rock resident Jackie Searle, who launched a garden in her community. “Kids, a lot of them don’t know where food comes from. This gets more people involved in food.” The Castle Rock Community Garden at Glovers Park is in its fifth year and growing. Searle began the garden when she noticed the lack of one in her community. “I wanted a way to give back to the community,” she said, adding that
much of the produce grown is given to the Douglas/Elbert Task Force. “Hungry people, they don’t get fresh food often. It’s a lot of cans and processed foods. So the gardens help get them fresh foods.” The desire to grow your own produce is taking root across the country. According to gardening.org, in 2015, 42 million Americans grew their own food. That’s a 17 percent increase from 2008 and represents the highest level of food gardening in more than a decade, according to a special National Gardening Association report, “Garden to Table: A 5-Year Look at Food Gardening in America.” The National Gardening Association connects the rise in food gardening to several reasons: An improving economy; strong national leadership, including the launch of the ″Let’s Move″ initiative and White House
Photos by Shanna Fortier
Kitchen Garden by First Lady Michelle Obama; action by federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of
Agriculture and the U.S. Department Compost continues on Page 11
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bring people together Gardens Continued from Page 10
of Health and Human Services to increase awareness and educational efforts toward food gardening; and more engagement and public-private partnerships through organizations, like the National Gardening Association, to promote and build food gardens in communities across the country. Community gardens are also prevalent throughout Jefferson and Adams counties. Lakewood is home to six community gardens. In Douglas County’s Highlands Ranch, the Highlands Ranch Metro District oversees three gardens spanning just under 100 plots: The Corn Cob at Cheese Ranch Historic & Natural Area, The Potato Patch at Dad Clark Park and Farmer’s Field at Foothills Park. These organic gardens have amended soil, a water source and
a fenced area to grow flowers and vegetables between May 1 and Oct. 30 each year. Garden plots are first offered to the previous year’s gardeners. At the Castle Rock Community Garden, plots cost $40 for the season and any resident is welcome to join.
Plot sponsorships are also available where residents donate funds to allow another family to participate in the garden. For Searle, the garden is not just a place to grow food. “It brings the community together,” she said.
Photos by Shanna Fortier
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APRIL 7, 2016
Tips and trends for easy, successful gardening
B
eth Zwinak, manager at Tagawa Gardens, 7711 S. Parker Rd., in Parker, shares some of her secrets to kicking off the spring gardening season. What is best to plant in a garden and why? In my yard — I have no lawn — I have lots of plants, groundcovers, pathways and patios. For plants, I have chosen those that will do the best in the particular microclimates I have in my yard. Some areas have lots of sun while others are cool and shady. So choose plants that will work best in all the different places in your yard. Tomatoes, of course! I do them in big pots so I can move them for the best sun and out of harm’s way if hail is coming. I also love Sun Coleus and Sweet Potato Vine — lovely, multi-colored leaves that take partial to full sun as opposed to old-fashioned Coleus, which is shade only. These guys are always beautiful even though they never get flowers. The Sweet Potato Vine is a great contrast of lime green leaves — once again, no flowers but
an amazing pop of color! Herbs mixed in with annuals — herbs add texture and color and usefulness. Succulents! They are fabulous everywhere — in the garden, in pots, as centerpieces, hanging on the wall in pots — great textures and easy care.
Beth Zwinak
What trends are you seeing? Smaller yards and, therefore, smaller trees, container gardens, raised beds instead of huge veggie gardens. Growing your own food.
Organic gardening. Plants for pollinators, beekeeping. Miniature gardening is still a great trend — think tiny plants with tiny accessories like houses, pathways, etc., that can be decorated throughout the year for all the holidays. What are some tips to picking the hardiest, best and prettiest plants for a garden? Pick plants that are smaller, compact and just barely showing buds. Plants that are already flowering will soon be done flowering. Look for dark green leaves. Some yellowing and browning is natural in the garden, but it should be minimal. For hardiness, check the plant tag for the zone. Denver is USDA Hardiness Zone 5 A and B, so anything Zone 5 or below should come through the winter OK. What are your top tips for a successful garden? Start small, especially if you are new to gardening. Be successful with a few things first, before taking on more. Use the best soil possible, especially for container gardens,
houseplants and raised beds. Organic matter like compost is great to add to our Colorado soils, which are naturally lacking in most nutrients. Good soil is alive with microbes, earthworms, etc., and organic matter helps feed these. Pay attention to watering. Learn to tell when each plant needs water, then water thoroughly and let it drain, then make sure it is not sitting in water. Over-watering is the most frequent thing we see that leads to plants’ demise. Learn about the climate where each plant originated — it will help you understand its water needs. Feeding your plants, including your lawn, is really important. Learn what type of fertilizer each type of plant needs to perform best. Organic-based fertilizers feed the soil as well as the plant. Be on the lookout for pests in all forms — try to catch them early and use natural methods for control. Some plants just won’t work in certain places. Choose plants accordingly to the environment they will live in in your yard or home.
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Miniature ‘fairy gardens’ add whimsical touch By Christina Doolittle Echter’s Nursery & Garden Center
T
iny landscapes can be as natural or formal as you choose, and may include miniature houses, furniture, animals and figurines. Some have elaborate plantings; others may only include moss for a pastoral look. Components vary depending on container type. For a container with drainage holes (recommended), select an indoor soil mix and a covering of gravel. A container with a sealed bottom should be treated like a terrarium with layers of gravel, horticultural charcoal, sphagnum moss and indoor soil mix. Plants should be small. Consider plants that are different heights and textures to create a more realistic appearance. Allow space for plants to grow and avoid overplanting. One challenge that is faced by any-
one growing houseplants is assessing light levels indoors. Most indoor “fairy garden” plants prefer bright indirect light. Watch for stem stretching to determine if your miniature garden would be better off in a brighter area. If you are planting a miniature garden with cacti and succulents, the garden will require bright or supplemental light — these will do best in a southern or western window. If you like the more structured look of a tiny landscape, try adding a few “fairy” elements to your garden. A bench and arbor make a simple statement. A large garden could include a house, path and décor items. And, of course, you might opt to include a fairy, gnome, dinosaur or small waterproof toy. Many mini-gardeners choose to swap out plants and elements seasonally, adding tiny peppers in the fall, poinsettias or cyclamen in the winter and blooming plants in the warmer months.
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APRIL 7, 2016 compose.”
Compost Continued from Page 6
materials that are green.” Hammond used yard waste and newspaper as examples of carbon materials — food scraps would serve as the “green” portion. “You need them both in the pile,” Hammond said. “If you had just one or the other, your pile is going to smell funny or take a very long time to de-
Keep the compost cooking While certain manures can help composting, Daugherty warned of some that cause sickness or carry disease. “You can’t use certain manure like dog unless you really have good composting skills, because they can carry certain diseases,” he said. “And if you put your compost in a vegetable garden it could cause problems down the line. Canine and cat manure are excluded, but if you have chickens or cow or horse manure, that can be used.
But if you have plenty of green yard waste, you shouldn’t necessarily need to worry about using manures, Daugherty added. Hammond said there’s one other thing compost piles can do without: proteins. Not only are meats and proteins hard to break down, they might attract unwanted pests and scavengers. In Colorado, dryness can draw out the composting process. Compost should feel like a damp sponge, Daugherty said, but not “too soggy wet. Build the compost pile someplace where they can keep it
moist easily.” Some optimum places would be the north or east side of a house, or a shaded spot under a tree instead of out in the open, he said. Climate can be a particular challenge, even for the most skilled recycler, Hammond added. “Home composters have to have patience,” he said. “With our climate … with a smaller compost pile, it may take a couple of seasons to finish composting. It might not be something that happens overnight.”
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APRIL 7, 2016
Xeriscaping cuts water usage while creating garden interest By Chris Michlewicz
H
omeowners and town governments alike are leading a charge to reduce water usage by incorporating Xeriscaping in gardens and public properties. Xeriscaping — the practice of replacing high-water-use plants with drought-tolerant vegetation, mulch and rock — started to gain traction in the early 1980s and has seen a steady rise in popularity since. Given Colorado’s semi-arid climate and the increasing cost of water, experts predict that water will become the new gold. That’s why more people are taking steps to revamp their gardens and lawns. Luckily, converting patches of water-sucking bluegrass, for example, into areas that thrive with far less moisture has become easier. Garden centers have classes and knowledgeable employees who can provide advice on Xeriscaping and point customers to indigenous vegetation. Late last year, the Parker Water & Sanitation District created a more-equitable rate structure to make water conservation more attractive to customers. In the late 2000s, Castle Rock updated its landscaping regulations and began offering incentives and rebates to entice
homeowners to reduce water usage. Colorado native Billie Owens now serves as customer relations manager for Parker Water, but was in charge of Castle Rock’s water conservation program when it rolled out its incentives and began educating the public about the benefits of using sprinkler heads
that saved water. During an interview in March, Owens said there is much at stake, as conservation will ultimately help maintain property values and keep Colorado communities viable into the future. Plus, Xeriscaping has become “more of a cultural thing.” Owens, who grew up on a farm and earned a degree in biochemistry, said if done correctly, homeowners can design Xeriscape gardens to ensure there is color almost year-round. As one type plant becomes dormant, others will just begin to bloom, she said. “You can create interest throughout the whole year in a Xeriscape garden,” she said. Plant materials available at most garden centers provide flexibility and plenty of online resources can help homeowners do Xeriscaping themselves. It can be a fun family project and ultimately cut water usage by as much as 50 percent. Public spaces get the treatment The Town of Parker continues to switch out high-water-use plants with water-efficient landscaping. Passive park areas, for example, are ideal for Xeriscaping, and the town has demonstration gardens at the Parker Police
Department’s headquarters and the PACE Center, said Jeff Claar, a certified landscape technician and parks crew leader for the town. A xeric demonstration garden at the old town hall building on Mainstreet allows the public to see what a Xeriscape garden looks like and enables horticulturists like Claar to “see how well” certain plants do in Colorado’s climate. Road medians, in particular, have gotten the treatment in recent years, requiring landscaping crews to perform maintenance only twice per year. “We’re getting away from the grass and going with rock-mulch medians with low-water-use plants and subsurface irrigation,” said Claar, who got his degree in park management and conservation from Kansas State. When building a new park, the Town of Parker instructs landscape designers to incorporate Xeriscaping principles when possible. “It’s something we always try to strive for, especially in this part of Colorado,” he said. “We’re pretty dry here in Parker.” The misconception that Xeriscape gardens are nothing but rock and cacti is finally starting to disappear, Claar said.
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Common-sense Xeriscaping for small lots
I
t’s taken awhile, but Xeriscape, landscaping for water savings as well as beauty, has come into its own. But, what’s a homeowner to do? Tear out everything you have and start over, in the interest of saving water? No. Such drastic measures probably aren’t needed. Here are some guidelines that apply especially to owners of small-to-average-sized lots with traditional landscapes. Don’t do it all at once. Think about your landscape in pieces. Following are relatively inexpensive, weekend-man-
ageable projects to get you started. Think waste-free. Consider removing a few feet of the grass along the driveway and sidewalk. Plant these areas with non-thirsty groundcover plants, small shrubs or perennial flowers. This allows these buffer areas to soak up water from lawn watering that normally would fall on the pavement and run off into the street. Consider replacing the lawn on steep slopes with a rock garden, tiered wall or low-spreading evergreens. As with pavement buffer plantings, the water
that runs down the slope from other parts of the yard will be captured by these plants. Think ease and economy. Try to regroup flowers and other plants so the yard is organized into different wateruse zones. Grouping or “zoning” plants with similar water requirements allows you to meet their high-, medium- or low-water needs so some plants in the group are not over-watered while others are under-watered. To further conserve moisture, use mulches between shrubs, flowers and in the vegetable garden.
Research an inexpensive, laborsaving drip or soaker water system for non-turf areas. Think limits. You may have more lawn than you want. You could remove turf from narrow, hard-to-water strips and replace it with pretty, drought-tolerant plants. Remove turf from between and behind shrubs; replace it with mulch. Now, walk through your yard. Give it a second look. You will come up with ideas of your own. Be realistic about time and money. Xeriscaping slowly lets you allocate both over a span of years.
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APRIL 7, 2016
Top trends for upgrading your outdoor space Family Features
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o matter the season or the region, outdoor living is hot. As spring approaches, here are six of the top trends that will influence the look, feel and function of outdoor spaces in 2016. Outdoor rooms: Thanks to advances in all-weather materials, furnishings and accessories, you can outfit an outdoor living space in much the same way that you would any room in the home. As a result, expect to see decks with features such as integrated benches with upholstered cushions,
privacy walls and ornamental post caps and railings with decorative balusters similar to those found inside the home. Railings that rule: Another outdoor element that's being influenced by indoor styling is deck railings. When it comes to selecting the best railing for your outdoor space, design experts recommend using one of the "Three C's" — coordinate, contrast or customize. To make the selection process even easier, Trex, the world's largest manufacturer of high-performance wood-alternative decking and railing, recently introduced a set of curated railings that pair beautifully with the brand's most popular decking colors. Cooking with class: Americans have taken backyard cooking and dining to a whole new level. Heading into the outdoor living season, expect this trend to continue with increasingly functional outdoor kitchens
complete with cooking islands, pizza ovens, refrigerators and all-weather cabinetry and storage features. Warming features: One of the hottest trends — literally — for 2016 is the incorporation of warming features into outdoor spaces. From candles and tiki torches to fireplaces and lighting, products that lend physical and ambient warmth will be in high demand. Look for increased use of LED lights integrated into deck railings, stairs and yards as homeowners seek to enhance the ambiance and safety of their outdoor space and extend the time they can spend enjoying it. High-tech decks: Home automation is hugely popular right now, so it's only natural that the tech trend should migrate outdoors. From lighting and music controlled from a smart phone to motorized rear-projection screens synced to outdoor LED televisions, homeowners are now able to bring
their entire entertainment system outdoors. Leisure without the labor: For those that want to spend more time enjoying, rather than maintaining their outdoor space, high-performance composite decking, such as Trex Transcend, is an ideal choice — delivering all the beauty and aesthetics of wood without the time-consuming upkeep. Unlike wood, composite decking, resists fading, staining, scratching and mold, and won't rot, warp, crack or splinter. Source: Trex. For more outdoor living tips and ideas, visit trex.com.
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CONTENTS
Simple tips and tricks for spring cleaning
Getting the scoop on composting
06
Community gardens bring people together
10
‘Fairy gardens’ add whimsical touch
13
Upgrading your outdoor space
18
Plant a pollinator garden
Tips and trends for successful gardening
Xeriscaping cuts water usage, adds interest
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Out with the old, in with the new Simple tips and tricks for spring cleaning Alex DeWind adewind@colorado communitymedia.com
W
arm temperatures, sunshine and blooming flowers are paving the way for spring
season, which officially began March 20. It’s often a transitional period for homeowners – spring cleaning, out with the old and in with the new. Some may dread digging through belongings while simultaneously cleaning dust and grime that’s accumulated over winter’s frigid months. Others may see it as a productive challenge. Spring cleaning has obvious, positive benefits, including cleanliness and more available space. But it can also improve mood, reduce stress and heighten creativity, according to Psychology Today. “Most Americans believe that home organization and cleanliness are among their top five stressors,” the site reports. “… While organizing and discarding items might not be enjoyable for everyone – the longer term psychological effects (not to mention more closet space) are reason enough to try a spring cleaning.” Homeowners should start small and focus on one area at a time, such as organization, floor space or cleanliness. That way, they can avoid feeling utterly overwhelmed.
Organization
Before jumping on the phone and calling a cleaning service, homeowners should organize. Throw away expired pantry and refrigerator items, and sort through drawers and belongings, said Landon Harmon, president of Healthy Clean, a Highlands Ranch-based residential and commercial cleaning service that uses natural products. “Make sure you organize,” he said. “Then a cleaning company can really clean what’s built up behind closed doors.” If a home is semi-organized, a professional clean may cost less, he added, because there’s less to work around. Harmon, a single father, uses lists to stay organized and focus on one thing at a time. “Don’t overwhelm yourself,” he said. Other quick and easy ways to organize from Psychology Today: “Never attack the whole house at one time.” Pick one area that needs organizing — papers, computer files, clothes, linen closet, kitchen, mail or a child’s room. Finish the job and move on to the next space. “Open physical mail every day and throw out junk mail immediately. “Keep documents on your computer and don’t print anything unless you need it outside your home. “If an item hasn’t been used in six months, consider getting rid of it.”
Some household items, such as white vinegar, lemon rinds and baking soda, can be used to help clean the house. Photo Alex DeWind
Floor Space
Winter means snow-covered, dirty shoes trekking in and out of the home. Excessive dirt buildup can damage floors, said Steve Cassady, owner of Clean Team, a 20-year-old Denver floor cleaning company. “Get that winter dirt out – dirt can really break down carpet fiber,” he said. “If you don’t get it out, it can cut the carpet life down by half.” Homeowners should deep-clean wood floors every two years and restore every four to seven years, Cassady said. Clean floor space is important for health, the aesthetics of a home and a homeowner’s budget. “If you don’t get wood cleaned or restore the finish, you will be headed for a cost of a total refinish,” Cassady said, which can cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Quick and easy tips to clean floor surfaces from HGTV: Use a brush, not a mop, on dirty floor grout. Ceramic-tile floors can be cleaned with just warm water. Use boiling water and two teabags to clean hardwood floors. The tannic acid in tea makes hardwood floors shine. Vacuum carpet regularly, treat spills as quickly as possible, and deep clean once a year.
Cleanliness
Cleaning can be fun – if done correctly. Instead of using chemical-based products that require facemasks and gloves, try a natural option. They aren’t hard to find, considering most supermarkets and discount retail stores carry “green” lines, such as Mrs. Meyers, made with essential oils, and the non-toxic brands Seventh Generation and Method. Some professional cleaning services, including Healthy Clean, use natural options that benefit the customer, employees and environment, Harmon said. “We know that our natural products work better,” he said. “We wash the inside of the house – it’s called the spring, intensive cleaning.” His team uses Envirox, which has a peroxide base for disinfecting and an orange peel extract. The simple ingredients are healthier for everyone involved, even the household’s children and pets, Harmon said. There are many options for cleaning on a whim and several household items can act as disinfecting agents. Here are a few quick and easy tips on health-friendly cleaning from Good Housekeeping: Run a few lemon rinds through the garbage disposal and follow with cold water to eliminate sour odors. Mix two tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a spray bottle. Spray on a microfiber cloth and use on windows for added shine. Put baking soda in shoes to get rid of odors. Use damp, dishwashing gloves to pick up excess pet hair. Get rid of sink faucet grime with a dab of toothpaste and a sponge.
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DID YOU KNOW THAT TAYLOR MORRISON HAS BEEN HELPING FAMILIES CREATE MEMORIES FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY? When you’ve been doing something that long, you learn a few things. You learn the right way to build. You learn that people matter. And you learn the real staying power is in giving people a home they want. LIFE INSPIRED HOMES IN DENVER PRICED FROM THE UPPER $300S-$600S. COME VISIT ONE OF OUR COMMUNITIES TODAY!
DENVER COMMUNITIES 1
CASTLE PINES VILLAGE - CASTLE PINES
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LEYDEN RANCH - ARVADA
6802 NORTHSTAR CIRCLE | CASTLE PINES, CO 80108 | 303.325.2454 From the $600s
16209 W. 84TH DRIVE | ARVADA, CO 80007 | 303.325.2442 From the $400s to the $600s
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THE VILLAGE AT PALISADE PARK - BROOMFIELD
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SKYESTONE - BROOMFIELD
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617 W. 69TH PLACE | BROOMFIELD, CO 80023 | 303.325.2445 From the upper $300s
12091 RED FOX WAY | BROOMFIELD, CO 80021 | 303.325.2444 From the upper $300s to the $500s | 55+ Community
WILLOWCROFT MANOR AT COLUMBINE VALLEY
1 WILLOWCROFT DRIVE | LITTLETON, CO 80123 | 303.225.2448 From the $600s
TERRAIN - CASTLE ROCK
1155 MCMURDO CIRCLE | CASTLE ROCK, CO 80108 | 303.981.8481 From the mid $300s
FIND YOUR NEW HOME AT TAYLORMORRISON.COM Additional restrictions and limitations apply. Offer void where prohibited or otherwise restricted by law. All buyer and broker incentives, pricing, availability and plans are subject to change or delay without notice. For Skyestone only: At least one resident of house hold must be 55 or better, and additional restrictions apply. Some residents may be younger than 55 and no one under 19 in permanent residency. Please see a Taylor Morrison Community Sales Manager in Denver for additional disclaimers and visit www.taylormorrison.com. © March 2016, Taylor Morrison of Colorado, Inc. All rights reserved.
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APRIL 7, 2016
Family trash can be Mother Nature’s treasure By Jeremy Johnson jjohnson@colorado communitymedia.com
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our family’s trash is Mother Nature’s treasure, and there’s no better way to deliver the goods than through backyard composting. “Composting is not only a sustainable way to deal with food waste from the house, but it can also be rewarding to
see that food waste become a healthy compost, which you then get to use in your own garden bed,” said Eric Hammond, horticultural agent for the Adams County Colorado State University Extension office, which provides agricultural information and education. “So, there’s a personal satisfaction, plus the sustainability piece.” Experts agree backyard composting is easy, especially seeing how science does most of the work. However,
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they added, the process can be made even easier by using a proper mix and best practices, while also practicing patience. After all, garbage doesn’t get good overnight. The many layers of composting “Think about it: If you leave a banana out on our counter and watch what happens to it, in a very short period of time it starts decomposing,” Hammond said. “Composting happens in nature without our help all the time. So if you put a pile in your yard it will eventually become compost.” And while time makes veggie garden-grade fertilizer of most organic trash, faculty member Ray Daugherty of Front Range Community College’s Horticulture and Landscape Technology
program said simple science is the key to making it happen sooner. Start, Daugherty said, with a finely ground and good mix of carbon- and nitrogen-based waste to “get it cooking.” “A good compost needs a balance … and they’ll know they have the right balance when the pile starts to heat up,” said Daugherty, who also recommended shredding or grinding waste as much as possible before composting, even if it means running it over with a lawnmower. “Anything that would be like a dry or woody material is a carbon — people tend to look at it as ‘If it’s brown, it’s carbon.’ In terms of nitrogen, that would be anything that’s manure or Compost continues on Page 14
Getting the good scoop on composting Resources for composting abound in Adams County and throughout the metro Denver and Boulder areas, according to Eric Hammond, horticultural agent for the Adams County Colorado State University Extension, and Ray Daugherty, a faculty member in Front Range Community College’s Horticulture and Landscape Technology program. The Adams County Extension offers fact sheets and full articles on composting at www.adamscounty extension.org, under the “horticulture” tab, and group discussion through its Plant Talk Colorado program. Hammond said some information on the Internet can be helpful —
though he called it a “mixed bag” at best. “Some of it is not sound, fact-based information,” he said, “but there’s a lot of good stuff out there.” For hands-on help, Daugherty recommended the Master Gardeners program, through the extension office (again, under the “horticulture” tab), or any number of local gardening programs offered through community garden associations. Other courses, he said, can be found through organizations like the Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse Association. “Also,” Daugherty added, “folks at local independent garden centers will oftentimes have some classes.”
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APRIL 7, 2016
Plant a pollinator garden, enjoy the benefits By Melinda Myers
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A monarch butterfly rests on a Tithonia blossom. Photo by Melinda Myers, LLC
hether planting a garden, enjoying the beauty of your landscape or sitting down to a delicious meal, you have bees, butterflies and other pollinators to thank. These essential members of our ecosystem are responsible for much of the food and beauty we enjoy each day. Unfortunately, pesticides and habitat loss are threatening their existence. But there is something you can do to help: Turn your garden, backyard or balcony into a pollinator’s habitat. Plant a variety of flowering plants that provide nectar and pollen throughout the season. Planting masses of natives, herbs and other pollinator favorites like sedum, zinnias, alyssum, cosmos and columbine will attract these beauties to your landscape. Include a variety of day- and nightblooming flowers in a variety of colors and shapes to support the widest range of pollinators. But don’t let a lack of space dissuade you — even a window box of flowers can help. Keep your plants healthy and blooming with proper care. Match
the plants to the growing conditions, provide needed water and fertilize with an organic nitrogen fertilizer when needed. You’ll promote slow, steady plant growth that is less susceptible to drought and pests. Plus, the slowrelease, low nitrogen won’t interfere with flowering, which is essential to the health and well-being of our pollinators. Supplement pollinators’ diets with a bit of rotten fruit. And be sure to provide trees, shrubs, parsley, dill and other plants that caterpillars, grubs and the immature stage of other pollinators prefer to feed upon. Put away the pesticides and tolerate a few holes in the leaves of their favorite plants. With a diversity of plants you can easily overlook the temporary leaf damage. Plus, this is a small price to pay for all the benefits they bring to the garden. Provide pollinators with shelter from predators and the weather. Include a variety of trees, shrubs and perennials. Leave patches of open soil for groundnesting bees and some leaf litter to shelter some butterflies, bumblebees and other pollinating insects. Supple-
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ment natural shelter with commercial or homemade nesting boxes. You’ll find do-it-yourself plans on the Internet from various educational sources. Puddles, fountains, birdbaths and even a damp sponge can provide needed water. Include water features with sloping sides or add a few stones to create easier access. Or sink a shallow container of sand in the ground. Keep it damp and add a pinch of sea salt for the butterflies and bees. Maximize your efforts by teaming up with your neighbors. Together you can create a larger, more diverse habitat that provides pollinators with the resources they need to thrive. Your efforts will be rewarded with greater harvests, beautiful flowers and colorful birds and butterflies visiting your garden. Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author and columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written more than 20 gardening books, including “Small Space Gardening” and the “Midwest Gardener’s Handbook.” Myers’ website is www.melindamyers.com.
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Garden In A Box answers dilemma of what to plant
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ant to plant a garden this spring, but aren’t quite sure what to plant? Boulder’s Center for ReSource Conservation is helping residents garden with their Garden In A Box kits. Inside these boxes are xeriscape perennial starter plants, plant-by-number designs, planting and care instruc-
tions, all designed to help gardens thrive in the arid Colorado climate. Available through the conservation center, these boxes cost $104 to $144 each. When ordering, ask about local cities’ discounts. For more information or to purchase a box, call 303-999-3820 ext. 222
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