Western Gardening Blog
Inspiring western gardeners to grow beautiful flowers with less effort in Colorado, Utah & the intermountain west
The latest flower tips
What NOT to Do in Your Western Garden in February
Our perma-piles of snow are finally melting in Colorado. 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...
Creating a Native Pollinator Garden in Colorado
I would love to introduce you to Ann Winslow. (Yep, another Ann!) She spent time creating a native pollinator garden in her Colorado yard during the Covid shutdown in 2020. She wanted to attract more pollinators—like native bees and hummingbirds—to her yard, so...
Pre-Planned Gardens for Colorado and the West: Beautiful Gardens for Less Work
Buying flowers for western gardens can feel like a lot of work. Especially when you live in the semi-arid, gotta-have-some-moxie West — like Colorado and Utah! This isn’t a place where you a dig a few holes, plop in some flowers and watch them grow into a lush jungle....
Will Wind Chill Kill My Plants?
- 20 degrees below zero... -50 degrees below zero... -70 degrees below zero ... Yikes. We've seen some big wind chill numbers across parts of the Rocky Mountain region and high plains this winter, including in Colorado and Wyoming. With these arctic blasts, it's...
3 Plants That Struggle in Western Winters (What NOT to Plant in Your Colorado Landscape)
No one wants to end up with extra garden chores and sad-looking plants But that’s what can happen if you accidentally pick plants that are known to struggle in Colorado landscapes — particularly during winter. So, in this tip, you’ll get the scoop on 3 popular plants...
3 Garden Supplies to Shop for in March (Yep, March!)
I’ve been feeling conflicted about sharing this week’s gardening tip. I firmly believe that you do not need a lot of stuff to be a successful gardener. When I moved into my home, I was fortunate to inherit a few, basic gardening supplies from the previous owner. She...
“How Do I Make My Garden Look Good in the Winter?” … A Simple Place to Start!
You may be in the heart of winter, but that doesn’t mean your garden has to look boring! Chances are, when you’re out walking your dog or getting a little fresh air, you’ve noticed a neighbor’s home that catches your eye. You know the one. It’s the house or apartment...
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...
How Can You Tell If a Perennial Is ‘Marginally Cold Hardy?’
It was a winter week to make a gardener shudder. In February 2021, an arctic blast covered the western United States like a frosty ice pack from the kitchen freezer. Where I live in Colorado, the high temperature for several days was a not-so-balmy zero degrees. The...
Why Bees and Butterflies Are Like Puppies and Kittens
Have you ever gotten a puppy or kitten? Chances are, you did a few things to get your home ready: Bought special food... Stocked up on toys... Rolled up rugs... Shut bathroom doors, so Buddy (or Mittens) didn’t turn your toilet paper rolls into New Year’s Eve...
What Is a Plant Hardiness Zone? (And How to Find YOUR Zone)
When you buy a flower plant... You may notice a strange phrase on the plant tag that says: "Hardiness zones" or "Zones." If you're wondering, "What is a plant hardiness zone? What does that mean?", you're in the right place. At its most basic, a plant hardiness zone...
Get a Prettier Winter Garden (in the Spring)
Spring flowers are starting to pop from the ground like eager party guests who want to be the first to arrive... even as Mama Nature sends us a few more snowstorms in Colorado. (Good times.) As we ride the weather roller coaster between winter and spring, it’s a good...