by Lee
Stewart
Colorado State University Cooperative Extension
Master Gardener
Larimer County
Q: I have sage located in my xeriscape garden. The stems are very tall and have faded blue flowers this year. What is wrong?
A: Fertile soil and too much water can cause this problem. Cut stems back to 12-15” in mid-spring and dig the shallow underground suckers. Cutting back this perennial controls the spread of this shrub.
Q: In my perennial bed I have mulched landscape fabric that is infested with weeds and ash seedlings. Should I use a weed killer spray?
A: It is better to rake the mulch and hand-pull the weeds. Using a weed killer may cause injury or death to the perennials, if the spray drifts or is accidentally misapplied. Research has found that landscape fabric is not the best method to control weeds. The fabric prevents soil improvement and over time may not allow for water infiltration into the soil. In addition, weed seeds can germinate on top of the fabric and can be difficult to pull.
Q: I need help with the annuals I planed in containers. I want to keep them growing and blooming all season.
A: Be sure to check the containers each day and water when the soil is dry ½-1” below the soil surface. Remove spent flowers to encourage blooms. Plants use a lot of nutrients, and if your potting mix doesn’t have a controlled-release fertilizer, consider fertilizing every couple of weeks using water-soluble liquid fertilizer.
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