Western Gardening Blog

Inspiring western gardeners to grow beautiful flowers with less effort in Colorado, Utah & the intermountain west

The latest flower tips

“Should I Water My Garden in the Fall in Colorado? What About Winter?”

Winter is a marathon for our plants in Colorado. It's an endurance test, and it can take its toll on our landscapes. Typically: Most of us don't get a lot of precipitation during winter in Colorado. We get drying winds that pull the moisture out of plants. We also get...

What Plants Struggle in Colorado?

I received the following question from a gardener who moved to Colorado from New England, and I thought, ooooh, that's a good one! "What plants struggle in Colorado?" Here are some popular plants from other parts of the country that are best to skip in Colorado if:...

What NOT to Do in Your Western Garden in February

The sun is shining its warm rays. Birds are singing. And Costco has started assembling its spring pergola displays. Spring is starting to feel like it's within reach, even if it's still a ways off. It’s enough to make you want to skip through the aisles of Costco. (Go...

What to Do With Outdoor Pots in the Winter, So They Look Good for Many Seasons

The seasons are changing. It's time to figure out what to do with your outdoor pots in the winter. (Good thinking!) Before you start getting winter snow and freezing temps, it helps to: 1) Empty the dead flowers and dirt (or "soil" in garden lingo) from your outdoor...

Will Wind Chill Kill My Plants?

- 20 degrees below zero... -50 degrees below zero... -70 degrees below zero ... Yikes. Every few years, we see some big wind chill numbers across parts of the Rocky Mountain region and high plains during winter, including in Colorado and Wyoming. With these arctic...

What Plant Hardiness Zone Is Colorado?

Colorado has 5 plant hardiness zones: 7, 6, 5, 4 and 3. If you're new to plant hardiness zones, they tell you whether your flower plants are likely to survive the coldest winter temperatures that are expected in your area and come back next year. (For the full scoop...

12 Waterwise, Blue Flowers: Perennials for Western Gardens

Confession: I love blue flowers. There’s something about them that makes my heart sing. In Colorado, Utah, and similar states, we’re lucky to have a variety of waterwise, blue flowers available to us as perennials (plants that return for multiple years). Here are 12...

“Will Snow Kill My Spring Flowers Like Tulips? Should I Protect Them?”

Your spring flowers look as happy as kids on the first day of vacation... and then, you see the weather forecast: SNOW. Ugh. The good news is... Spring flowering bulbs — like tulips and daffodils (pictured below) — are surprisingly resilient. Snow can be a good...

5 Western Garden Trends to Inspire Your Garden (in Colorado, Utah & More)

Reader note: I first published this article in January 2022, but the content is still relevant and timely! I feel strange saying, “garden trends,” because it implies a fad. Here today, gone tomorrow—like paint colors in a home or trendy flower colors. I’m not here to...

What to Do With Old Potting Soil (the Dirt From Your Pots)

What can you do with the dirt in your pots after your flowers have died? Good news! You have a few options for what to do with old potting soil. Let's assume, for a sec, your plants were healthy at the end of the season. If yes... Here are 4 things to do with old...

When’s the Best Time to Cut Back Perennials in Colorado and Similar States?

It's tempting to want to get out early in the fall and tidy up your western garden for winter, especially if you're having a mild fall. But is it too early? When's the best time to cut back perennials in Colorado and similar states? In this article, you'll get the...

3 Popular Spring Gardening Questions (for Colorado & the West)

This article was first published in March 2023. Enjoy! We’ve entered that time of the year in Colorado and the intermountain west when we tend to bounce between seasons, like animated 5-year-olds jumping around wildly in an inflatable bounce house. Winter! Spring!...