by Charleen
Barr
Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
Master Gardener
Larimer County
Q: Are pansies easy to grow?
A: On chilly nights and in chilly weather, pansies keep on blooming when temperatures
dip to the 20's. They are the perfect plant to liven up the garden during times
when little else is in flower. Pansies have few disease and insect problems
and are quite versatile. Their vibrant rainbow of available colors can be massed
in beds, potted as an accent, worked in as a border and they can stand-alone.
Pansy petals are edible and add color to salads. There are around 150 varieties.
Most pansies are treated as annuals and need a few hours of sun each day in
order to flower well. Pansies will not tolerate the heat of full summer sun.
Q. I am aching to caress the good earth and smell
things growing. My garden is soggy and many of my plants have emerging tender
shoots. Is it too early to work the soil?
A. The urge to get out and dig, rake and cultivate is fearsome for us gardeners,
but walking on the soggy spring soil compacts the earth and destroys the structure
of the soil. To be sure the soil is workable, grab a handful of soil and squeeze.
If water runs out or the soil stays compacted in one sticky lump, it is too
wet to work.
Q. When is the best time to plant annual and
perennial gardens?
A. In Colorado, the sun shines one day, and the next day it snows. We have had
very warm days of sunshine and there is a profusion of plants in the garden
centers. Along the northern Front Range, the average last frost date is May
15. However, native residents have seen snow as late as Memorial Day. Fragile
plants stuck into the ground too early will have their young lives cut short
in a May snow or hard frost. Even if they don't succumb to killing cold, the
small plants will eke out a pitiful existence while waiting for the soil to
warm up. The best remedy for the planting urge is to put your initial energy
into your soil and a garden plan. Do some prep work with the ground so the plants
will have a place to root rather than drying out on the patio while their owners
try to figure out what to do with them. Not only does the ground need to be
ready, but also the gardener needs to be ready. Know what plants you are looking
for in order to avoid impulse buying.
Gardening and Insect Fact Sheets are available on-line by clicking HERE.
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