Western Gardening Blog

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

The latest flower tips

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...

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...

Flowers That Can Struggle When Planted in the Fall (in Colorado, Wyoming & Similar States)

What NOT to Plant in Fall Gardens Early fall can be a good time to plant perennials in many places in the intermountain West. (Perennials are your flowers that return year after year.) But as I’ve learned the hard way in my Colorado garden… There are some flowers you...

VIDEO: How to Clean Your Petunias, So You Aren’t Trimming Off the Wrong Parts

You want to "clean" your petunias, so they look pretty and tidy. But how do you know you're trimming off the right parts? What's a new bud versus a dying flower? In this short video on petunia care, you'll see get simple tips and clear photos on: EXACTLY what to look...

“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...

Planting a Perennial Garden in Colorado? Here Are 5 Counterintuitive Tips

Let's say you’re thinking about planting a perennial garden in Colorado or a similar western state, so you can enjoy colorful flowers year after year. Yesssss! Before you head to the garden center, here are a few things to know to get your western garden off to an...

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....

Jupiter’s Beard: A Long-Blooming Perennial That Attracts Butterflies

Would you like a long-blooming perennial... ... that attracts butterflies and interesting moths, gives you color all summer AND is drought tolerant? Yes, pleasssssse! I can’t wait to introduce you to Jupiter’s Beard (aka, Red Valerian). Its botanical name is...

11 of the Best Gifts for Flower Lovers 2026 (That Western Gardeners Will Loooove)

Looking for fun gift ideas for flower lovers in the West? You'll find 11 of the best gift ideas for flower lovers below — perfect for holidays, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day and more. And if you’re looking for gardening gift ideas for yourself… well, then,...

“Why Aren’t My Ornamental Grasses Growing?”

Have you noticed... ... that some of your plants are overachievers in the spring—eager to emerge from the ground in all their leafy glory? Meanwhile, other plants don't seem to be doing much AT ALL. As plant lovers, it’s natural for us to look at the latter and...

Gardening in a Heat Wave: 5 Ways to Garden Smarter, Not Harder

Many years ago, I cheered on a friend as he ran a local marathon. As my friend began running, he looked like he belonged in a Nike ad: Strong. Healthy. Determined. Just do it, baby! And he set a great pace until about mile 16 … … when heat and exhaustion caught him...

“My Flowers Look Sick. What Do I Do??”

There is no perfect gardener, no matter what your neighbor up the street with the pristine landscape wants you to think. So, if you have a flower plant that looks sick, is struggling or is dying, take heart. It happens to everyone. (Yes, even to your neighbor. Though,...