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Gardening Q & A
Read our Q & A postings with Keith Funk answering common Colorado gardening questions here. You can also hear him on the Garden Wise Radio Show on Legends 810AM, every Saturday morning from 7-9.
Have gardening questions? Click here to send us your question on our contact form. Use our search window below to find Colorado gardening questions & topics.
Good Pollinator Plants
Q: What are some good pollinator plants that support bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other beneficial insects?  Swallowtail on...
Jun 51 min read
64
Can I still plant vegetables now, or am I too late for this growing season?
Q: Can I still plant vegetables now, or am I too late for this growing season? A: You can absolutely plant a vegetable garden now. Warm...
Jun 51 min read
35
How to Reduce Water Use in your Landscape
Q: My water bill was pretty high last summer. Is there anything I can do now to reduce water use this summer? A: Yes. There are...
Jun 51 min read
24
Can potted tulips, daffodils and Easter lilies be planted outside?
Q: I have some pots of spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils as well as a couple of Easter lilies. Can I plant them outside this...
May 161 min read
56
When to cut back geraniums
Q: The geraniums I overwintered indoor are scheduled to go back outside later this month but they have gotten leggy and unattractive. ...
May 21 min read
27
Best Mulch for Vegetables
Q:Â What kind of mulch is good for the vegetable garden and when should I start mulching? A:Â The when is based on the crop. Cool season...
May 21 min read
41
How deep should mulch be applied around trees and shrubs?
Q:Â How deep should mulch be applied around trees and shrubs? A:Â For existing plantings, Â add only as much mulch as it will take to...
May 21 min read
47
When to Divide Snowdrops
Q: My Snowdrops have finished flowering and the clumps are looking pretty crowded. When can I divide them? A: Unlike most spring...
Apr 11 min read
42
How to Transplant Water Lilies
Q: I’ve noticed my hardy water lilies are starting to send up leaves. They’ve outgrown their existing pots. Is this a good time to pot...
Apr 11 min read
29
Tomato Protectors
Q: I want to grow tomatoes and peppers this year. Do I have to wait until the end of May to plant them outside? A: There are ways to...
Apr 11 min read
53
When to Move Peonies
Q: Can peonies be moved this time of year? Mine are in too much shade and have stopped flowering. A: Early spring is an excellent time...
Apr 11 min read
52
Hollyhock Support
Q: My hollyhocks, peonies, delphiniums, and other tall perennials have a tendency to lean and even break as they get tall. Adding...
Apr 11 min read
36
Japanese Beetle Control
Q: Japanese Beetle was a real problem for me last year. Is there anything I can do now to minimize their numbers? A: April and May are...
Apr 11 min read
74
Fairy Ring Mushrooms
Q: Several years ago we noticed our lawn developed a Fairy Ring. Each year it gets slightly bigger in diameter and occasionally...
Apr 11 min read
33
When to Prune Roses
Q:Â My roses are starting to leaf out. Is this the time to prune them, and how? 'Dainty Bess' Rose A:Â This is an ideal month for...
Apr 11 min read
65
What should I be doing to prepare tropicals like hibiscus, bouganvillea and geraniums for moving outdoors?
A:Â Cut back leggy winter growth by as much as 50% to shape the plant and encourage bushy new growth. Once you see new, vigorous spring...
Mar 31 min read
32
Lawn Preparation for Spring
Q:  Is it too early to start preparing the lawn for spring? A:  Rake up old leaves. Use a leaf rake to fluff up turf that is matted...
Mar 31 min read
31
Is it okay to prune trees & shrubs in March?
Prune fruit trees now before they start leafing out Q:  Should I be pruning trees and shrubs this time of year? A:  It’s time to assess...
Mar 31 min read
71
What to plant in March
Q:Â Â Â What can I be starting indoors and planting outdoors? Cheery Primroses can be planted in March A:Â Start begonia tubers, callas,...
Mar 31 min read
93
Is it time to clean up my perennial beds?
A:Â Clear away any remaining winter debris and weeds, being careful not to damage new sprouts. Use your pruners or a lawn mower to chop...
Mar 31 min read
45
When to start seeds indoors in Colorado
Q: I’d like to start some vegetable seed indoors this year to save some money. When should I start? A: My go-to answer is sow your seeds...
Jan 91 min read
260
Japanese Beetle Resistant Roses
Though repeat-and ever-blooming roses have become all the rage, growing varieties that bloom once in early/late spring & early summer...
Jan 92 min read
249
When to plant wildflower seeds in Colorado
Q:Â When is the best time of year to direct sow wildflower seeds outdoors here in Colorado? A: Late fall through early winter is a good...
Jan 91 min read
151
What is an heirloom plant?
A true heirloom comes true from seed, has been nurtured, selected, and handed down from one family member to another for many...
Jan 92 min read
61
How to Grow Paperwhites
Q: What’s the best way to grow Paperwhite Narcissus? A:  One of the most popular methods is to choose a water tight, fairly shallow...
Dec 2, 20241 min read
24
Overwintering Potted Japanese Maples
Q: I have a Japanese Maple in a large pot. I understand it is risky trying to overwinter potted trees, shrubs and perennials in their...
Dec 2, 20241 min read
49
Online Seed Sources: Hard to Find Seeds
Q: I’m looking for odd and interesting vegetables, rock garden plants, and perennials, and I feel like I’ve exhausted my local retailers....
Dec 2, 20243 min read
219
Voles in Lawn?
Q. Once the snow melted from that last big storm I notice mounds of soil, shallow burrows and meandering, shallow runways in the lawn...
Dec 2, 20242 min read
118
Autumn Blaze Maple Tree Care
Q. I planted an Autumn Blaze Maple last year. Do I need to wrap the trunk again this year? A. Young, thin barked trees like maples, ash,...
Nov 1, 20241 min read
65
What should I do with my Amaryllis this time of year?
A. I bring mine indoors at the very last minute before the first predicted frost. I feel like they benefit from the cool nights...
Nov 1, 20241 min read
49
Care of Streptocarpus Plants
Q. I’ve been trying to grow Streptocarpus, aka Cape Primrose. They keep dying on me but I’m told they are easy. What am I doing wrong?...
Nov 1, 20241 min read
719
Watering Bulbs in Winter
Q. I planted lots of spring flowering bulbs this fall including tulips, daffodils and crocus. I watered them in thoroughly after...
Nov 1, 20241 min read
93
Winter Watering in Colorado
Q: I planted quite a few perennials, some shrubs and a tree this year. Should I water them during the winter and how often? A.  Our...
Nov 1, 20241 min read
86
Drainage Rocks for Potted Plants?
Q:Â When transplanting potted plants, is it a good idea to add a layer of gravel at the bottom of the pot to ensure good drainage? A:...
Sep 30, 20241 min read
95
Storing Dahlias, Cannas and Begonias
Q: How do I store tender bulbs like dahlias, cannas and begonias for next year? A:Â In a dry climate like Colorado, storing tender bulbs...
Sep 30, 20241 min read
91
When to prune back shrubs like butterfly bush, roses, and bluemist spirea?
Q: Can I prune back shrubs like butterfly bush, roses, and bluemist spirea in the fall or should I wait until spring? What about clematis...
Sep 30, 20241 min read
121
Do I cut my perennial flowers and grasses for winter?
Q: Do I cut my perennial flowers and ornamental grasses back in the fall or the spring? A: In general, it doesn’t really matter to the...
Sep 30, 20241 min read
80
Pine Trees Losing Needles?
Q: I’ve noticed my pine trees are losing yellow needles. Is this a symptom of a problem? A: Fall needle drop in conifers, where trees...
Sep 6, 20241 min read
187
Should you aerate your lawn in the fall?
Q: It’s been a few years since I aerated my lawn. Is fall a good time? A: Fall lawn aeration is an important task for maintaining a...
Sep 6, 20241 min read
125
Planting Trees in Fall
Q: I’ve noticed local nurseries have put their trees and shrubs and perennials on sale. Is it okay to plant this time of year? Fall...
Sep 6, 20241 min read
121
Bringing Plants Inside for Winter
Q: I have a hibiscus, spider plant, coleus and several other tropical plants that have spent the summer outdoors. Do I need to do...
Sep 6, 20241 min read
207
What to do about powdery mildew
Q: I’m seeing that white, powdery mildew developing on the leaves of my peonies, garden phlox, lilacs, roses, squash. Should they be...
Jul 28, 20242 min read
212
How to check sprinkler output?
Q:Â How do I measure how much water my sprinklers are putting down each time I water? A:Â Unless you know how much water in inches you...
Jul 27, 20242 min read
67
Q: How much should I be watering this time of year?
A: Watering effectively during the heat of summer can be tricky, especially with new plants. My first response is to water deeply and...
Jul 27, 20242 min read
135
Colorado Fall Vegetable Garden
Q:Â What vegetables are good choices for a fall harvest and when should they be planted? A:Â Our average first frost date in Denver is...
Jul 27, 20241 min read
118
Is it too late to plant now that it’s hot?
Q: Is it too late to plant now that it’s hot? A: Planting during the heat of summer is perfectly fine. It just takes some extra...
Jul 6, 20241 min read
311
Should I remove flower heads from garlic?
Q: My garlic is sending up what look like flower spikes. Do I leave them or cut them off? A: Those are the flowering scapes of the...
Jun 28, 20241 min read
453
What is eating circles in my rose leaves?
Q: Something is removing perfectly circular sections from the edges of my rose leaves. Is this a problem I need to treat for?  Will it...
Jun 28, 20241 min read
1,395
Pruning Dwarf Conifer Tree
Q:Â I planted what was supposed to be a dwarf conifer many years ago & it's now about 10' tall & so exuberant that's taken over the...
Jun 28, 20242 min read
171
Will any verbascums rebloom if you cut off the dead flower stalks?
Q: Will any verbascums rebloom if you cut off the dead flower stalks? A: Yes. The smaller growing varieties of perennial verbascums...
Jun 28, 20241 min read
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