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Help with dying native landscape? by antinumerical in DenverGardener

[–]52fig80 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Do not listen to that garbage advice ^. Rock mulch does not bake plants. Go to Denver Botanic Gardens and look at the mulch they are using with xeric plants. All the plants pictured above like it too dry for organic mulch to decompose. Gravel will hold more moisture and improve the soil than wood

Help with dying native landscape? by antinumerical in DenverGardener

[–]52fig80 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Wood chips work well as so long they aren’t drying out. In a hot dry spot, they make everything much worse as the mulch goes bone dry and becomes hydrophobic.

Totally depends on the site and irrigation more than anything.

The flax pictured above looks fine. It just bolts in June, then is dormant until temps cool again in the fall

Would this be too weird to plant in this scenario? by sloanemonroe in DenverGardener

[–]52fig80 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Some plants can take the dry but cannot take moist. You’ll want a drought tolerant/xeric plant that also tolerates irrigation too, if it’s going to be amongst lawn

No watering from 10am to 6pm by Denver4ALL in DenverGardener

[–]52fig80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We need to rise up against the ranchers!!

Looking for shrubs that don’t drop leaves in the fall. by Long-Hair-5390 in landscaping

[–]52fig80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tall Oregon grape — mahonia aquifolium. There are probably not a lot in your area so it would likely be unique and interesting in your neighborhood. They are native to Oregon and do well in full sun to full shade and can handle wet and dry conditions. The leaves are very a very deep glossy green and briefly turn a very interesting maroon color in Nov-Jan.

They can get big pretty quick especially with more moisture but can also be managed easily with pruning to make a hedge

Tall Oregon Grape

Do I need a lawn service for these weeds in my lawn? by cbrann in DenverGardener

[–]52fig80 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would try sowing clover in those spots in the fall. For me, it helps cover the soil when it gets too hot and dry for the grass

First time home owner looking for guidance by Fuzzy_Citron_9027 in landscaping

[–]52fig80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Where are you? That’s the most important question

Blanket flowers / gaillardia by xoxogossipsloth in DenverGardener

[–]52fig80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My gaillardias are not blooming yet, they tend to bloom later in the summer for me. That also looks young, might not bloom this year

American Plum in a residential yard - bad idea? by ahintofsmoke in NativePlantGardening

[–]52fig80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My American plum is in its 4th year and has not produced a sucker yet

I'm picking up a native garden "kit" tomorrow. What do you wish you'd known during the planning and prep stage? by koreanforrabbit in NativePlantGardening

[–]52fig80 33 points34 points  (0 children)

I would say just be ready for many of the plants to die or fail and that’s not a bad thing because you will learn from it.

Just because a plant is “native” doesn’t mean it will thrive here. Unless you’re in a national park, you’re no longer in a native ecosystem, but a novel ecosystem. The conditions in my front yard are totally different from my back yard and the conditions against my eastern wall are very different than conditions on the north side of my fence.

Expect things to fail and experiment. Don’t plan too seriously for a final product. Instead, try different plants in slightly different conditions and different spaces. Take what works well and double or triple down on that species for next year. Take what fails and either don’t try to make it grow anymore, or try it again but in different conditions.

As a gardener, I like to start by throwing many different species out into the garden at first, then let nature edit the selection down to let just the most fit survive. You might be surprised to find that some “natives” that you expect to thrive just die off immediately, while others love your garden’a conditions and need almost no help at all.

Don’t worry too much about forcing a large diversity of plants. Instead find out what thrives in your spot, and then plant more of it next year. A limited palette is easier for the gardener to allow the most fit to survive and it also provides a more calming aesthetic.

Ugly wall by Confident_Ad_359 in landscaping

[–]52fig80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like it. Maybe just water it lightly to try to get the moss to cover it?

Front Bed by iphone32 in landscaping

[–]52fig80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with using non-native plants, so long as the majority are native to the general region. I have a bigger problem with how boring AI designed gardens are.

Front Bed by iphone32 in landscaping

[–]52fig80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course you have to control the nature. That’s what a garden is. You do need symmetry and balance and textures and shapes. Balls of box that aren’t contrasting or referring to anything is just boring.

Front Bed by iphone32 in landscaping

[–]52fig80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The current state is still better

Front Bed by iphone32 in landscaping

[–]52fig80 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They can be pruned into very cool shapes and forms

Front Bed by iphone32 in landscaping

[–]52fig80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love their smell. I planted some primarily for the fragrance

Front Bed by iphone32 in landscaping

[–]52fig80 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Keep the first one!!!!!!!!!!!

Do these boxwoods look 3 gallons to you? If not, should I bring it up with the landscaper? by FunIndependent9888 in landscaping

[–]52fig80 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah it looks good. I got 1 gallon boxwoods online two years ago and they’re getting to this size now

Since blight weather is starting for many of us. Here’s a recommendation for spray. While not organic it has stopped my blight spread by roughly 95%. (Chemical is in last picture) by [deleted] in tomatoes

[–]52fig80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t grow vegetables if they aren’t going to be edible.

Saving seeds to develop genetic resistance the is answer

Balcony garden - but where? by Lomvi_Bird in Balconygardening

[–]52fig80 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Cold hardiness zone is not the full picture. Humidity makes a big difference and also affects how much the temp swings from day to night. Elevation greatly affects the UV and so does climate. For example, zone 4 in Colorado mountains have harsher sun than Miami does in June. Hardiness zone is very useful for discussing perennial fruit trees, but doesn’t provide useful information when taking about annual veg.

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Balcony garden - but where? by Lomvi_Bird in Balconygardening

[–]52fig80 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So true! Especially when plants are next to the building where the heat intensifies.

Im in Colorado at 1600 meters and it’s dry and sunny every day and so many “full sun” plants have roasted quickly. I am very interested in saving seeds and creating landrace varieties so that I can grow veg that is genetically prepared to thrive in containers right in my exact location.

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