Gardening Tips From Our Members
- If growing perennials from seed, they will not bloom in their first year of growth. They take 2 years to mature.
- Plants grow really well near rocks. Rocks retain heat and provide protection.
- Plant delicate plants in protected areas, away from the prevailing wind.
- Plan for the future. Give plants the space they deserve, especially trees. It is easy to dig up a perennial plant and move it, but not a tree!
2005 – A newly planted Sedum garden ~~ 2008 – The same garden - 3 years later!
- Snow protects plants in winter. If they are exposed, they tend to get sun scorched.
- Mulch to prevent evaporation of moisture. Our climate is very dry. Mulch also helps to reduce the growth of weeds. For more information see: http://www.gardenguides.com/2150-guide-selecting-garden-mulch.html
- Gravel provides an attractive form of mulch and keeps plants warm on cold nights! See the 2005 sedum garden above where pea gravel was used.
- When selecting plants for Summit County choose USDA zone 3 plants. Zone 4 will survive, but it depends on the location in which they are planted.
- Plant in odd numbers … if 3, in a triangle; if 5 in Ws.
- Put low plants in the front of a bed with bumps here and there of taller plants for variety. Tall plants go to the back of the bed.
- Variety leads to a pleasing appearance:
- Variety of color of leaves and of blooms
- Variety of leaf textures – small mixed with large; long and thin with round and flat; frilly with plain edged.
- Put plants which need a lot of dead heading close to paths or grass so that one doesn’t have to trample over the rest of the garden to get to them.
- Take a look at other gardens. Seek out plants which complement one another, and copy what you see!
- Deer/elk are pests in our area and love delphiniums and other fleshy plants. Give ‘Bobbex’ a try which can be purchased at www.bobbex.com. It kept deer away in a Breckenridge garden all summer long.