Gardening In The Pinery

Deer and Rabbit Resistant Plants List
Xeric Plant Materials That Will Conserve Water
Mountain Pine and IPS Beetle Information
Tips From An Old Pinery Gardener

Turfgrass Mites Causing Damage to Pinery Landscapes
   It has come to our attention that the dry, windy conditions of late have made conditions perfect for a type of spider mite which can cause significant damage to yards.  See the following article from the CSU Extension service for additional information and control measures. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05505.html

Russian Olive Trees Removed
   Russian Olive trees are a highly invasive, non-native tree that was recently added to the Colorado State Noxious Weed list. In many areas, especially along waterways, they often can take over and eliminate native species such as cottonwoods and peachleaf willows, which provide important wildlife habitat.
   As part of the ongoing battle with Russian olives, the Douglas County Division of Open Space & Natural Resources recently removed these trees from Bingham Lake. Native cottonwoods and peachleaf willows will be planted this spring to replace the Russian olives that were removed.
   Restoration of native plant species is one of our most important habitat improvement activities. This small step will provide better wildlife viewing around the lake and prevent the continued invasion of these non-native trees.
   For more information contact: Toby Sprunk, Douglas County Div. of Open Space & Natural Resources 303-660-7334

Tips From An Old Pinery Gardener
From Past Pinery Newsletters
 by Bill Hames

Buying Perennials

     Our climate is harsh and plants must adapt to high altitude sunlight, cold winters, lack of moisture and humidity, and the hot summer sun. Perennial plants are the way to go and there are many hardy perennial plants that will survive in our Colorado climate. Here are some helpful suggestions when buying perennials:

1. Buy plants that have soil around them with their roots intact and undisturbed. DO NOT BUY BARE ROOT PERENNIALS.

2. Buy water-wise perennials specifically for the Western garden.

3. Read planting and growing requirements before buying. Pay specific attention to:

• Sun and shade requirements
• "Xeric" (Water wise) plants
• Attraction to humming birds and butterflies
• Deer resistance

4. Many perennials can be planted in the fall of the year--the root system can then develop during the winter with the help of snow.

5. Remember to refer to the mature plant size (height and width) when planting your perennials. It usually take two to three years for the plants to fully mature. DO NOT OVERPLANT.

     May I recommend that you call TOLL-free 1-800-925-9387 to obtain an excellent catalog on Western perennials from Santa Fe Greenhouse, Santa Fe, NM. THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE SUPPLIER but can be used as a reference offering a wealth of information on native and adapted perennials for the Western garden.

Perennial Plants That Will Grow Very Well In The Pinery

Here are some excellent perennial plants that will grow very well in The Pinery.

PLANT NAME & MATURE SIZE.

• Russian Sage (Perovskia) 4'x 3'wide - Cutting propagated, white stems, silver colored foliage, and blue flowers.
• Compact Pineleaf Penstemon 15" x 24" wide - Tube-type orange flowers.
• Rocky Mountain Penstemon 24" x 36" wide - Easy to grow, deep blue flowers.
• Greek Yarrow (Achillea) 4" x 18" wide - Cutting propagated, a very slow growing plant. Bright white clusters of very small flowers.
• Thyme Leaf Speedwell (Veronica) 1/2" x 24" wide - Excellent ground cover, good for rock gardens, Dark green leaves, very small blue flowers.

Water Conservation

     Water conservation is becoming an ever more important consideration in the Western U.S. In 1981, an environmental planner in the Denver Water Dept. coined the word "Xeriscape" meaning dry, requiring little or no additional water. Following are the main principles of basic water-wise gardens.

1. Plan -- Design your garden prior to the planting sequence. Identify different water use areas in your garden and allocate water where it is needed and where it will contribute to the beauty of your garden.

2. The appropriate plant -- Do not mix plants with high/low watering needs. For hot, dry south or west facing areas- "Xeriscape" planting is the way to success.

3. Soil preparation--At planting time add organic matter, a good general fertilizer, and a water holding material such as Broadleaf P4, this water holding material will absorb hundreds of time its weight in water, and stays active for 3-4 years. It only takes 1 tablespoon of Broadleaf P4 and 1 tablespoon of fertilizer per 12" x 12" hole. Once plants have been planted and roots have developed, watering can be cut by 1/3 - 1/2. My basic rule for hole size is 12" x 12" for perennial plants. Before placing a pot-grown perennial into the ground, prepare the plant roots for planting. After carefully removing the plant from the pot, using a sharp knife, make 4 vertical cuts from top to bottom, one on each side of the root ball, and several cuts across the base, cutting through the plant roots about 1/4" on all cuts. With your fingertips, LIGHTLY rough out the roots on all cuts, so the soil ball has a fuzzy surface. Don't get carried away with this process. This process will enhance root growth into the surrounding soil.

4. Mulches--Cover the soil surface with durable mulch. Mulches hold moisture and also prevent erosion.

5. Water efficiently or PAY THE BILL  - DO NOT OVER WATER. There are several companies that produce a drip irrigation system that is relatively cheap. These systems connect to a water hose or can be attached to your sprinkler system with a pressure-reducing valve (these drip systems are low pressure).

Recycling

     The Pinery Trash Program provides an effective means of garbage removal and includes an extensive recycling program as well! WHY NOT ADD ONE MORE RECYCLING COMPONENT? Recycle your annual flower pot dirt. I use a 32 gal. covered garbage can, which I keep in my garage. As Fall comes and the annual flowers die off, I put the dirt from the flower pots in the garbage can and then use it again the next Spring. Why buy bags and bags of planting material each year at additional cost and then have to carry (lug is a better phrase) the bags home. Use What You Already Have!

     Everyone has eggs in their refrigerator. Don't throw the eggshells away. After using the eggs, put the shells back into the egg carton in the refrigerator. When the carton is full of empty shells, put the shells on a cookie sheet covered with foil and bake in the oven at 200 degrees for 1 hour. Let cool for 15 minutes and place cooked shells in a plastic bag. Break them up with a rolling pin or with your hands. They make a great calcium supplement for your exterior plants. 1 tablespoon per plant is all it takes. I mix the eggshells in with my fertilizer in the spring.