Western Gardening Blog

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

The latest flower tips

VIDEO: How to Trim Petunias to Keep Them Looking Pretty

If you have petunias, you may be wondering how to keep your petunias looking good, especially when the blooms start dying. In this week's video, you'll: See exactly where to trim your petunias, so your plants look pretty and you encourage them to keep giving you new...

“What’s Making Round Holes in My Plant Leaves?”

Let's say you’ve noticed some strange, round holes in your plant leaves. These circular holes have fairly smooth edges. It almost looks like someone took an office hole punch and punched circles along the edges of your leaves. What’s making these round holes in your...

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...

What Plants Struggle in Colorado?

I received the following question from a gardener who moved to Colorado, 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: You don't want...

Jack O’Planters: How to Use a Pumpkin as a Planter

Looking for a fun fall project that will make your front porch look GOOD? Use a pumpkin as a planter. You'll create a cute autumn flowerpot that has your neighbors saying, "Wow!" I created pumpkin planters with a friend last fall. This project is quick and easy....

“Can I Change the Flowers in My Flowerpots for Fall?”

I used to think that once you planted your flowerpots, that was it. Your flower babies were in there for the long haul. But I’ve come to appreciate that you can swap out the flowers in your pots. It's like changing your wardrobe for the seasons. If you want to change...

Popular Spring Flowers for Western Gardens… You Plant in the Fall

It may seem like a strange time to chat about spring flowers... ... when we have pumpkins and Halloween decorations appearing in stores. But if you're interested in growing spring flowers... Autumn is the ideal time to plant spring bulbs in most parts of the West. For...

5 Popular Ornamental Grasses for a Prettier Winter Garden

Put your hand up if want a pretty winter garden! Ornamental grasses can make your winter garden look good. They add visual interest to your winter landscape (aka, "winter interest"), and they're easy to grow. But how are you supposed to know which grasses to pick? A...

Creating a Native Pollinator Garden in Colorado

I first published this article in 2022. I hope you find it helpful today! 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...

How Frosts and Freezes Affect Your Flowers

When I was first learning how to garden... I used to think that 32 degrees was the temperature I needed to keep an eye on for my flower plants. 32 degrees is when water freezes, so that must be the point when my flowers will freeze too, right? But over time, I've...

6 Ways to Protect Your Flowers From Frosts and Freezes

You know you've entered the "joys of western gardening club" when... It feels like summer one day... and the next day you're bracing yourself for frosts, freezes and snow. (I'm not crying. I have something in my eye.) If you'd like your summer annuals — your...

4 Tips to Make Your Spring Flowers Look Prettier: Spring Bulb Garden Design!

You want your spring flowers to look pretty, but what's the best way to design them? How do you make the biggest impact? Great questions! In this week's post, you'll find 4 simple tips for spring bulb garden design. Use these tips when you plant your bulbs in the...