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Issues & Articles
WE'VE GONE DIGITAL!
Our 2023 Harvest issue was our last printed issue. However, don't worry, we're not going away – we'll be adding articles regularly online and will send out our e-magazine to subscribers.
Colorado Gardener provides our readers with the ideas, information, resources, inspiration and sense of humor needed to grow ornamental and edible plants successfully in our fast changing, unpredictable climate. We emphasize waterwise and environmentally sound practices.
Colorado Gardener is an independently owned gardening newsmagazine that went all-digital in 2024.
We do have a limited number of printed back issues that are available for $3 each if desired, contact us if interested in obtaining any copies.
RECENT ARTICLES
April 2026 E-Magazine
For over two weeks now the huge ‘Carol Mackie’ Daphne that’s right outside our front door has been delighting us and all visitors with its sweet scent. One of the first and best Plant Select offerings, it has put up admirably with very dry years and it never needs pruning or fussing over. Though I’ve heard these shrubs can die suddenly, mine is close to 25 years old.
Apr 3
Leaf miner on Spinach
Q: Every year my spinach gets leaf miner making the leaves inedible. How do I get miner free spinach?
Apr 3
Where to hang bird houses
Q: When I install a bird house, should it be attached to a surface that doesn’t move, or is it okay to hang it from a branch.
Apr 3
How to keep wasps out of birdhouses
Q: I have a wren house I want to put out this spring. Previous houses I’ve put up had wasp nests, I have heard of applying wax to the inside of the roof but haven't tried it. Do you have other suggestions?
Apr 3
What LESS can be done?
I’m stretched out in my hammock, dappled light through the Box elder warming my face, bird song vibrant, and there’s a soft breeze, warmer than usual for this time of year. Ah, nothing to do but wait for spring… but then I startle awake!
Apr 3
Front Range FireWise Botanical Garden
The Front Range FireWise Botanical Garden is a proposed public garden concept that would bring those ideas together in one place.
Apr 2
Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants Conference: 2026
By Idelle Fisher: I was fortunate to find an extra ticket to the 2026 Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants Conference in late February since it sold out a month early. It's great news for pollinators and wildlife that so many people are excited about planting more habitat in their landscapes. It was held at the CSU Spur campus which has planted native landscapes and gardens all along the riverfront open space. Free and open to the public year-round, CSU Spur has courses f
Mar 25
March 2026 E-Magazine
I moved to the house where I now live in the spring of 2001. There was a lot of tall, lush brome grass in the pasture that year and I learned from my neighbor how to irrigate, to use the few shares of water that came with the place and feed my horses. There was plenty of ditch water that year and I had someone cut and bale my own hay. But the following year everything dried up. We couldn’t see any snow on the back range from the plains. Our ditch water didn’t come. Weeds emer
Feb 27
When to start tomato seeds indoors
Q: When should I sow tomato seeds indoors? A: Always check the seed packet. Most will tell you the number of weeks from sowing, to transplanting outdoors. As a very general rule of thumb, determine the date you plan to transplant your tomatoes outdoors in the garden and count back 6-8 weeks for your sowing date. For instance, I like to plant my tomatoes out Memorial Day weekend. This year it falls on May 25th. So my indoor sowing date will be the week of March 30th. For slo
Feb 26
Fiddle Leaf Fig Care
Q: I was just given a fiddle leaf fig but have no idea how to take care of it. Can you give me some pointers?
Feb 26
When to Prune Lilacs
Q: My lilacs are overgrown and need to be pruned back. When is the best time to do this? A: For spring flowering shrubs that flower before Memorial Day, pruning should wait until after flowering. They can be pruned earlier than that if you have no choice, but you will be sacrificing this spring’s flowers in the process. This would include shrubs like lilac, forsythia, quince, pussy willow, mock orange, most viburnums and spring blooming spireas. Flowering shrubs that flower
Feb 26
Some Principles of Xeriscape
By Lori Wheat: Xeriscape landscaping promotes water efficiency by using plants that are native and adaptable to Colorado's semi-arid climate. A well-designed Xeriscape can invite wildlife and pollinators, provide year-round interest, and save water.
Feb 26
Winter Watering in Colorado
Q: It’s been such a dry winter I’ve been watering my landscape about once a month. Should I water more often now?
A: Good for you taking the time and care to winter water your outdoor plants. We have just been through one of the driest winters on record and the snow pack we rely on is severely lacking. It’s time to take a serious look at what that means for our landscapes this spring and summer.
Feb 26
Growing For Good
EcoArts Connections and Suelo Bueno, and with the help of Growing Gardens, are co-creating a program to encourage Boulder County gardeners and growers to grow extra flats of plant starts to distribute to low income families, especially those living at or below the poverty line in Mobile Home/Manufactured Housing Communities (MHCs).
Feb 8
February 2026 E-Magazine: Sunny with a Chance of Snow
Last week we had a freezing, foggy morning before the sun broke through. I happened to be outside feeding my horse at that moment when the fog dissipated and the iced trees were suddenly glittery against a bright blue sky. As I walked back toward the house tiny white flakes floated down around me, melting before they reached the ground, and I looked up, wondering how it could possibly be snowing under a blue sky with no wind, but it was just the trees shedding their icy coats
Feb 3
Garlic Sprouting in Winter
Q: I’ve noticed my garlic has sprouted some leaves above ground already. Is that a problem?
Feb 3
Clematis Breaking Bud Early
Q: I know clematis like to start growing very early in the spring, but mine have already start to break bud. I’m assuming it’s due to our unusually warm weather this winter. How do I handle that?
Feb 3
Clivia Plant Problems
Clivia Q: My Clivia plant of 15 years has been declining and no longer flowers. What could be the trouble? A: Clivias are beautiful, long lived houseplants known for their striking clusters of flowers and strap shaped leaves. They like bright, indirect light, well-draining soil, and infrequent watering, allowing soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. They also like a rest during the winter months to encourage spring blooms. Feed monthly during spring/summer with
Feb 3
Wildlife Habitat Certification
Q: I’ve heard that homeowners can get their property certified as a Wildlife Habitat. How do I do that? A: In Colorado, you can certify your property as a wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) by providing food, water, cover, and places to raise young, using native plants and sustainable practices, with local support from organizations like the Colorado Wildlife Federation and Wild Birds Unlimited . Communities, schools, and businesses can also jo
Feb 3
Feather Reed Grass Problems
Q: Three of my Feather Reed Grass clumps have fallen over sideways. When I went to clean them up, I noticed they were no longer attached to the ground. It looks like the tops were severed from the roots just below ground. What’s going on?
Feb 3
Make Fresh Cut Flowers Last
Tips for keeping cut flowers fresh from Lori Wheat of family-owned Lafayette Florist.
Feb 2
Year-Round Gardening in Colorado
Year-Round Vegetable Gardening in Colorado is Possible with a Cold Frame or Hoop House. Cold Frames are basically a small, short version of a greenhouse – more or less a raised bed with sloped lids that trap solar heat to keep the bed warm.
Feb 1
December 2025 E-Magazine
Snow is falling at last!
My truck is still half full of dairy compost from Soil Rejuvenation just east of Longmont. Brian, the owner, is a lanky farmer with the gift of gab. His crop is soil and it excites him. For almost 10 years he has been researching and experimenting with materials and learning in depth about soil biology and what makes it thrive.
Dec 4, 2025
Improving Your Vegetable Garden
Q: I’m going to attempt a vegetable garden one more time next spring. Every year, the results of my efforts aren’t very great. The root crops don’t get very big. The tomatoes get some disease and the squash always get mildew. Is this from bad soil or a bad gardener? What are some things I can do to improve our garden? If it doesn’t work out next year, I’m giving up. A: Oh no, don’t give up! I think if you boost your efforts just a little, you’ll have a much better crop next
Dec 4, 2025
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