Western Gardening Blog

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

The latest flower tips

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...

VIDEO: 4 Proven Tips to Pick Flowers for Planters (That Last!)

So, you walk into your local garden center ... You're all ready to pick 3-5 flowers for your planters, but suddenly, you see HUNDREDS of flower choices. You're looking at row, after row, after row of flowers. How are you supposed to know which flowers to pick?? No...

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 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...

How to Sterilize Your Flowerpots

Here are the key items you need to sterilize your flowerpots: Here's how to sterilize your flowerpots: Wear clothes for cleaning. For example, put on rubber gloves. You also may want to put on old clothes. Place your pots in a sink or tub (if you can). Wash your pots...

Infographic: Key Differences Between Annuals and Perennials

As you learn how to garden, it's helpful to understand: "What's an annual vs a perennial?" Why? Because most flowers in your western garden will be one or the other. Here are key differences between annuals and perennials, so these types of flowers make more sense....

“How Do I Know If Gardening Products Are Really Organic?”

A friend asked me: "How do you know if gardening products are really organic?" Maybe you've wondered the same thing. Certified organic garden products have a special seal on their packaging. You can see what the seals look like below. When you see one of these seals,...

What to Do BEFORE You Empty Your Flowerpots

It would be awesome to be named "The Perfect Gardener" after a summer of growing flowers — complete with dancing squirrels and a pitch-perfect choir of cicadas. But alas, most of us weren't born with a spade in one hand and a geranium in the other. So, the next best...

“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...

Get a Prettier Winter Garden (in the Spring)

I originally published this article in March 2022. Enjoy! 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...