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A gardener must not feel sorry for himself, even in winter, and no matter how great the cause. —Henry Mitchell
Winter in the mountain west can make the most stoic gardener feel self-pity. Fortunately, recent gardening books by Colorado authors are available to help us endure the cold while giving us dreams of brilliant summer.
For years, Coloradoans couldn’t find much consolation in gardening books. At the library or the bookstore, we would be faced with a gardening shelf dominated by easterners, Englishmen, and Californians. Although we might have found it charming to read about a Connecticut gardener’s jewel-toned hydrangea, the story didn’t help us deal with the challenges of gardening in the mountain west. Most glossy gardening books simply didn’t address our alkaline soils, branch breaking cold snaps, harsh winter sun, and drought. Now, a generation later, some of the best gardening writing is coming out of Colorado.
Several recent books feature dazzling photos of Colorado gardens certain to inspire the winter weary reader. Lauren Springer’s The Undaunted Garden is the perfect book for a dreary afternoon. The photos of Springer’s garden, taken throughout the seasons, prove that the western landscape can be as painterly as Monet’s Giverny or as lush as an English border. Colorado’s Great Gardens: Plains, Mountains & Plateaus by Georgia Garnsey is a virtual tour of gardens in each of the state’s distinct microclimates. Glowing photographs taken by fellow Colorado author Rob Proctor, accompany Garnsey’s text. This year, Springer and Proctor teamed up to produce Passionate Gardening: Good Advice for Challenging Climates. Illustrated with breathtaking photos that have become a trademark of these authors, the book is a series of chatty, humorous essays on topics ranging from dry shade to gardening while pregnant to yard art.
Colorado gardener-authors are also lending their pens to the pressing topic of water conservation. Denver Water, the group that coined the term xeriscape, has produced a series of books designed to make readers more conscious of water use and to prove that low water landscapes can be beautiful. Jim Knopf’s WaterWise Landscaping with Trees, Shrubs and Vines is an excellent introduction to xeriscape. In addition to highlighting plants that do well in dry conditions, Knopf explains the history of water projects in the west and gives detailed accounts of how xeriscaping can save the homeowner money. Gayle Weinstein’s Xeriscape Handbook: A How-To Guide to Natural, Resource-Wise Gardening goes step by step through designing a xeriscape and uses charts and graphs that appeal to the scientific gardener. Meanwhile, Denver Water’s Xeriscape Plant Guide attracts artistic types with its numerous photos and full color botanical illustrations of over 100 drought tolerant plants.
For readers who are looking for practical, nuts-and-bolts advice on gardening in Colorado, John Cretti and Barbara Hyde offer excellent handbooks. Cretti’s book, the Colorado Gardener’s Guide, is a well-organized look at caring for common garden plants. Meanwhile, Hyde’s Gardening in the Mountain West has a wider scope offering advice on landscape planning, pruning, irrigation systems, composting, and plant selection.
Finally, some Colorado gardening books are just plain fun. In the quirky and tremendously entertaining People with Dirty Hands, Robin Chotzinoff takes readers to visit Texas rose rustlers, a new age herbalist in southern Colorado, a bayou witch doctor in Louisiana, and fanatical chili growers in New Mexico. Meanwhile, Angela Overy’s Sex in Your Garden is a lighthearted look at the surprising sex lives of plants.
This year, winter can be easier with gardening books by Colorado authors.
Q: Are some types of trees more prone to breaking in storms than others?
A: Generally, trees that grow quickly have brittle wood and tend to break more easily. In addition, trees with large leaves hold more snow and often break from the weight . Early snows often damage Siberian elms, willows, silver maples, and cottonwoods. Lindens and oaks are usually better able to withstand limb-breaking weather. Additionally, homeowners can help their trees endure tough weather by making sure that trees are well maintained and properly pruned.
Q: I just planted a young maple. Do I need to be concerned about sunscald?
A: Young, thin-barked trees like maples are prone to sunscald. Sunscald occurs during sunny days in winter when temperatures are high during the day but drop suddenly in the evening. Often the southwest sides of trees are the most susceptible to sunscald. You can prevent sunscald by wrapping trees with commercial tree wrap in November. Start at the tree’ s base and wrap upward in an overlapping spiral to a point above the second branch. Wrap must be removed in April so as not to constrict the tree’s growth or harbor insects. Most thin barked trees should be wrapped each fall for the first two years after they are planted.
Q: Can you give me some tips on winter watering?
A: In Colorado most plants need or benefit from winter watering. Trees, shrubs, evergreens, lawns, and vines especially appreciate supplemental water during our dry winters. Any time we experience 4 to 6 weeks without snow cover plants deserve some water. Air temperatures need to be above freezing on the day that you water, and watering should be done early in the day. Water needs to penetrate to a depth of about eight inches.
Q: I didn’t get around to using some of the seeds I bought this summer. Will they still be good next spring?
A: Store your unused seeds in a cool dry place. When your seeds are planted in the spring, you may notice a slightly lower germination rate than usual, but with proper planting and care, you should get many viable young plants.
Most bulbs used for forcing indoors need to be pre-chilled. Daffodils need 16 weeks of chilling, tulips need 14 to 20 weeks and hyacinths need 12 weeks. You can chill the bulbs in your refrigerator. Place them in a paper bag or a mesh bag - not plastic - and put them in the crisper section.
Looking for the latest and best for your garden next year? Check out Plant Select for the newest selections for 2001. The program, developed by Colorado State University , the Denver Botanic Gardens and the Colorado Green Association, has seven new selections for release in 2001. Check out their web site at www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/PSEL
A late fall application of lawn fertilizer can still be applied if the grass is still green. Use a balanced fertilizer at a rate of 1 pound of Nitrogen per 1000 square feet.
Perennials that bloom in the spring (peonies & poppies) should be divided in the fall. Dig around and under the entire plant and lift the whole thing out of the ground. Cut away and discard any dead or diseased parts and replant what you need and share the rest with your friends.
DON’T haul those leaves to the landfill! Shred them with the lawn mower or a shredder and use them as a mulch in the perennial and bulb beds or add them to your compost pile.
Plant some garlic. Divide the bulbs into cloves and plant each clove about 3 to 4” deep.
The authors have received training through Colorado State University Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener program and is a Master Gardener volunteer for Larimer County.
Fact Sheets are available at the Larimer County Extension Office, 1525 Blue Spruce Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado, telephone (970) 498-6000, or contact us by e-mail at larimer@coop.ext.colostate.edu
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