Spring 2020 is in the Queue

I know, the mere mention of spring is enough to fire up the enthusiasm prefrontal cortex region of your brain, mine too. In other words, your spring plan of what to do when, and then doing it, will commence soon. Let me help you with your late winter to-do list.

Outdoor Tree and Shrub Pruning -

• Tree and shrub pruning can seem daunting - do you often say to yourself - do I need to prune, when is the best time and how much should be pruned? You may fall into the category of being new to Colorado, new to your neighborhood and/or honestly admit that you don't even know what trees and shrubs are growing in your yard (good on 'ya for admitting). 
• If you're in the not knowing much category, don't pass go, just ask a neighbor or two if they can recommend a quality, certified arborist.  Stay away from the seasonal lawn company who does great mowing. It's highly unlikely they also do professional tree pruning, which requires testing, being insured and certification. If in doubt, click here for what it means to be licensed and here for the list of certified arborists in Denver County. Not in Denver County? Call your county forestry division and follow the same steps. 
• Why prune? Correct and well-timed pruning will maintain tree and shrub health, beauty, value, and in the long run involves less, not more maintenance. The goal is to enhance the plant's natural shape and keep the branches headed in the right direction. 
• The best window for pruning - late winter, before bud break which is closing in so call now and get scheduled. It's especially important to prune trees that have suffered from fire blight (apple, crabapple, pear, mountain ash and hawthorns). Spring pruning these trees while blooming or later can spread the bacteria easily. 
• After pruning, consider applying a dormant oil to suffocate over wintering pest insects and their eggs. A dormant spray is a good prevention for pest issues during the growing season. Read more about horticulture oils here and here for oystershell scale. 

Pruning Fact Sheets from Colorado (for DIY) or to Learn and Watch your Workers in Action -

• Pruning - Colorado State Forest Service 
• Training and Pruning Fruit Trees 
• Pruning Shade Trees
• Pruning Flowering Shrubs
• Late Winter the Best Time to Prune Trees 

Indoor Seed Starting -

Thinking ahead to the outdoor growing season decide now, or very soon, whether you're going to purchase ornamental plants and or vegetable starts from a garden center or start your own seeds in your home. You certainly can do both! Timing matters if you're seeding indoors.  

Cool season vegetables including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, celery, and Brussels sprouts should be started in February for transplanting out into the garden in March or April (weather depending). Some ornamental seeds need ten to twelve weeks to grow to transplant size. 

Seed these indoors soon for spring planting - rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan), craspedia (drumstick flower), dephinium, polygonum, asclepias (butterfly weed), salvia, snapdragon, stock, sunflowers, verbena, angelonia, hollyhock, viola and impatiens.

Be sure to check the purchase dates on your cache of seeds, they have shelf lives. If kept cool and dry in airtight containers, many can last up to five years. Onion seeds are viable for one year; corn, peppers, carrots and beans are viable two to three years and cucumber, pumpkin, radish and tomatoes, four to five years. Annual flower seeds are viable anywhere from one to three years, perennial seeds for two to four years.

Check my helpful seeding and planting charts for cool season vegetables, warm season vegetables, herbs and ornamental annuals here. 

We're just getting warmed up for the season fellow gardeners. Check back soon for the next to do list and more of my Garden Guidance Tips and Tricks!