Spring Gardening in Colorado

Crocus closed up tight on a chilly March day.

Spring in Colorado means the temperature and weather varies widely from day to day.  Yesterday was in the 70s and sunscreen, a hat and long sleeves were necessary. It meant putting in brick borders around newly defined garden beds. Today is cloudy, cold and snowy with highs reaching the mid 40s but not until the afternoon. One adjusts to the day based on what the day has to offer.   As an avid designer who includes gardening and plants in her palette, the daily weather changes make gardening one big experiment.  

I came from the flat lands of Illinois where rain feeds plants to make gardening with almost any perennial or annual for a northern climate easy. Needless to say Colorado has been a challenge!  An average of twelve inches of rain, clay soils, dry air, and high elevation have meant readjusting my brain!  Hence, the first few years in our house were spent planting beautiful items that didn't grow and not knowing why.  My strategy was to wait for Mother's Day like I had been told by Colorado gardeners who came before me.  I would diligently plant in the heat of the mid-May sun. Initially, I didn't mulch.  Initially, I put in all the plants I loved from Illinois.  Initially, I put in annuals. Initially, I didn't like petunias or yucca or hens and chicks.  Initially, grasses were okay but didn't have the beauty of a flower. It has been a process of not only understanding how much water it takes to establish a plant but also which plants could survive on a minimal amount of water year round...in the clay. Leading the change has been acceptance of almost anything that blooms and adds texture!  The second strategic move is a time management necessity called gardening with perennials! With 21st century lifestyles in play, gardening with annual plants takes too much time, money and effort. I had to decide how much of that time and money along with water I was willing to give to the yard and garden every year to have beautiful blooms.

Sedum transplanted to new garden in early March.

In 2001 and year two I learned that iris rhizomes could be planted anywhere the ground was not frozen. In October 2000 a package of iris arrived from my Illinois mother. It went into the ground at the end of January and early February 2001...and they bloomed!  In this experiment, I had nothing to loose; the plants were free; the day was sunny. In fact the rhizomes had been in the garage so long; I really expected them to be dead. I also learned that  rhizomes act as food and keep the burgeoning plants alive for a few months. So….into the ground they went! Spring came! Our alley neighbor Joanne, who had seen the disaster of our yard in previous years with previous owners and who saw them in their glory, sweetly said our yard looked like something Martha Stewart had planted!  The yard, overall, was still scruffy but they did cheer up the neglected area and the alley.  This encouraged my experimentation!

Now, for me, if the ground is thawed and the sun is out, it's time to move perennials and rework gardens. It's confusing for neighbors and friends.  "Aren't you supposed to wait until Mother's Day?" is the usual inquiry!  Perennials in my garden are usually hardy and if they are growing, the ground is warm enough for them to be divided and moved in an attempt to have them bloom in the same year in a new location in the garden.

The lessons? If it's growing, it can be moved to location where the ground is thawed. In the spring when the soil begins to warm, it will continue to warm.  Even if the top growth slows the roots are establishing themselves in the cool, soft, damp Colorado soils.  Mothers Day has been too late to move perennials and take advantage of spring moisture in the form of rain AND snow!  Even the first of May when Denver usually has its free mulch and compost give away has been late for my garden process. Once the air temperature stays above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, the soil will just become warmer and drier.  At that point, it takes more water and more watching to make sure it stays alive.

Gardening has been transformative for me.  I've learned what I can plant in my un-amended soil in my yard. I've learned a great deal about Colorado weather patterns. I’ve learned that the best way to understand the process is to start and go forth fearlessly!

 If you decide to start a garden project, a few items to keep in mind. As with any project, have a budget in mind.  If you are experimenting, start with less expensive, less exotic, preferably native plants. Better yet ask a neighbor if they are dividing their perennials. It is the perfect, most cost effective way to get something you know has been successful in a local garden. Additionally, gardeners love to talk about their gardens! Your neighbor may actually help you plant it or give you tips on where to put the plant for garden success.  Second, if you decide to purchase plants, work with a local garden center or the Denver Botanic Gardens to get non-GMO, organically supported plants. There are laws against saving seeds and dividing the plants from GMO, patented plants. There is also a lot of research surfacing about plants that are bred to repel or kill the ‘bad’ insects along with the traditional chemical-based sprays and weed killers poisoning the soils. Killing the ’bad’ insects and weeds also kills the bees and earth worms that pollinate and till our soils. These also become a part of the food cycle. It’s a good idea to at least think about how someone else started the plant for you. Third, a plan is great. Some would say a budget and a plan should be first! However, I started by sticking plants in the ground to see if it would grow and how high.....and now I'm planning. I just drew my first plans a couple years ago after I’d been gardening for twelve years!

Gardening can change a mood.  I can cure a lonely day by just going out to dig in the yard and talking to neighbors - friends and strangers alike - who pass by. Gardening can be a generous activity. No matter spring or fall, I have been giving my excesses away to friends new and old! Neighbors give me vegetables and fruit in exchange.

What's the weather today? Are you taking advantage of a sunny Colorado evening to work on your garden? Or a rainy day to read a few articles? There’s always time to learn something new about your garden!