Introduction to Flower Gardening in Colorado – Planting Guide: Hello gardeners, we are back with a new topic. Do you live in Colorado and do you want to have your own flower garden? Well, and then you will need to follow this complete article to have a beautiful flower garden in Colorado. In this article, we will also provide some tips to start flower gardening.
Colorado is an interesting and different area to live and to plant because of its high heights and sometimes unpredictable weather.
A Step By Step Guide To Flower Gardening In Colorado, And Best Flowers To Grow in Colorado
To get your flower gardens started, add manure and compost to the soil to improve fertility, drainage, and even fluffiness. For any given plant, plant at the specified ground depth. Plants should be watered at ground level. To avoid illness or rot, avoid soaking the leaves. Every week, give your plants one inch of water (not too much, not too little).
Things to Remember When Starting a Flower Gardening
1. Select the ideal location
It is always preferable to take tiny moves in the direction of large victories. To begin, choose a little area in which to develop your flower garden.
Make sure the area you choose gets at least 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight. Avoid placing your young and budding plants in an area where high winds are likely to blow them over.
2. Take care of the soil
The nutrient-rich gardening soil is usually beneficial to flowering plants. Start by inspecting the texture of your soil and it should be easy to shovel and crumble in your hands.
It will be tough for all plants to form roots if your soil is hard and clay-like in texture. If your soil is rocky, then till it and remove the rocks.
Improving the soil’s quality is not as difficult as you may believe, and it has numerous advantages. To boost the quality of your soil, add organic compost prepared from tea compost and vegetable peels.
3. Gather some basic gardening equipment.
To get started, you’ll need some basic gardening tools once you’ve devised a strategy. We’ll go through a few of the tools you’ll need for gardening. You will need the following items:
- Tools for digging
- Tools for watering
- Tools for weeding
4. Take care when planting
After you’ve finished laying the foundation, then it’s time to get your hands dirty and start planting. The majority of our seed packets include simple planting instructions. Give it a shot, and you’ll soon master the art of planting.
Planting rules of thumb for your flower garden:
Unless the seed packaging specifies otherwise, plant seeds 3 to 4 times as deep as the diameter of the seed. Cover the seeds with soil and then thoroughly water them, be careful not to expose the seeds.
Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball for transplanting young plants in pots or containers to their final location. To help your plant develop, fluff up the soil and add some organic fertiliser. Place the root ball in the dirt and completely cover the roots. After transplanting your plants, water them carefully.
5. Water your plants right
The purpose of watering your plants is just to provide them with enough water to keep them alive, but overwatering can cause waterlogging, which can harm them.
Varying stages of development necessitate different amounts of water. Young plants should be watered daily to promote plant growth and healthy roots, however mature plants should be watered once every 2 to 3 days, depending on weather conditions.
6. Use organic fertilisers to help your plants grow
Begin with compost, which is an organic material that may be applied to your flower garden to aid in the growth of your plants. Teabags, ground coffee, grass trimmings, crushed fruit peels, and so on can all be used in this way. These organic fertilisers will aid in the retention of moisture, the growth of beneficial microorganisms, and the prevention of pests and illnesses in your soil.
7. Keep pests and diseases away
Plants that are being stressed or even deficient are more attractive to pests and diseases. Pest and disease concerns should be reduced if your plants are healthy and well-nourished. If your plants become contaminated, there’s a good possibility there’s an organic cure.
It’s simple to build your own pest control for the garden using plant chemicals and soap to get rid of the pests that are eating your plants. You need to combine neem oil, water, and a few drops of dish soap in a small mixing bowl. To keep pests away, give it a good shake and spray it on your plants every two weeks.
Top 10 Perennials Plants that Grow in Colorado
With so many various types of perennials to choose from, it might be tough to pick the right one, especially if you are new to gardening. To make things easier, we’ve put together a list of the top ten perennials to plant in your Colorado flower garden.
- Salvia
This hardy plant can survive the high clay content of your Colorado soil and is exceptionally cold and drought tolerant. In the late spring, this salvia produces deep indigo spires, and if deadheaded, it will bloom again in the late summer.
- Monardella
This is an excellent choice for a rock garden or an edge. Aromatic semi-evergreen foliage creates modest mounds. Late spring to early summer, clusters of magnificent orange-scarlet trumpet flowers bloom. Monardella prefers to be in the shade.
- Lavender
Phenomenal Lavender is one of the best lavenders to plant in Colorado since it is so cold tolerant. The silvery foliage contrasts nicely with the long, abundant blue flowers that bloom throughout the summer. This lavender is very easy to grow, disease-resistant, drought-tolerant, deer resistant, and butterfly friendly.
- Poppy
Red, yellow, orange, and white big flowers emerge for an early spring spectacle. This plant requires at least 5 hours of direct sunlight every day and well-drained soil. Poppy needs no fertiliser or insecticides other than keeping their soil moist to the touch because they have no natural predators.
- Viola
One of the earliest plants to emerge in the spring is this cheerful wild violet. It grows 6 to 8 inches tall, prefers half sun, and is drought tolerant compared to most other violas. It blooms throughout the spring and naturalises beautifully.
- Sedum
They will bloom in a variety of hues from summer through October. These low-growing plants prefer a well-drained site and can thrive in partial shade or a cold sunny spot. Perfect for a garden that conserves water. We use this exact mix in our entire green roof installs, so we know it’s a great fit for Colorado.
- Perovskia
The bright blue-purple blossoms of this perennial’s magnificent presentations will often turn heads in late summer. This plant comes in a wide range of sizes and shapes, so it may be used almost everywhere. It’s a deer and rabbit-proof bee and butterfly attractor. It can withstand drought and thrives in hot weather.
- Lupine
This miniature type has brilliant multi-colour flower spikes, making it ideal for windy regions. In the late spring and early summer garden, the brilliant spires are a sight to behold. Morning sun with afternoon shade and ordinary well-drained soil is ideal for these plants. They attract hummingbirds and butterflies, and if the old blooms are pruned back, they can re-bloom.
- Geranium
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This is the longest-blooming and most prolific blue-flowered Geranium on the market, with a tall hybrid clump-forming geranium. It blooms from spring through summer and is bred to be low maintenance. It has huge 5-petaled violet-blue flowers. It may be pruned back to revitalise, shape, or stimulate more blooms, and it tolerates deer and rabbits.
- Echinacea
Flowers bloom on strong, well-branched stalks that can withstand the sun, wind, and rain. They are insect and disease-resistant, as well as drought-tolerant, making them an excellent choice for low-water gardening. This is a fantastic plant for your butterfly garden as well.
Flowers by Season in Colorado
Colorado’s environment is distinctive, ranging from cold winters to drought-like summers, making it impossible to maintain a beautiful flower garden without a well-thought-out design. Flowers by Season in Colorado Springs are targeted toward the temperature of Colorado Springs, but you should also consider your local climate while choosing plants.
Spring: March to May
During the spring months, focus on cold-hardy flowers which stand a better chance of surviving any late freezes. Think Easter colours with beautiful pinks, purples, and whites.
Spring Colorado flower favourites:
- Tulips (bulb-planted in fall to bloom in spring)
- Iris (bulb-planted in fall to bloom in spring)
- Daffodil (bulb-planted in fall to bloom in spring)
- Hyacinth (bulb)
- Pansies
- Snapdragon
- Alyssum
Summer: June to August
Summers in Colorado Springs are ideal for planting and enjoying a wide range of gorgeous flowers. Keep in mind that we don’t get nearly enough humidity or rain to keep tropical plants alive. The greatest flowers for hot summer days are drought-tolerant flowers and Colorado native flora. These native plants have evolved to suit the climate, soils, and environmental circumstances of Colorado. Mulch beds are also beneficial in maintaining a cool soil temperature throughout the summer months.
Summer Colorado flower favourites:
- Petunia- comes in a wide variety of colours.
- Coleus
- Zinnias
- Marigold
- Potato Vine
- Geranium
- Annual Salvia
Fall: Sept to November
Before the earth freezes, fall is the best time to start planting. Planting in the fall gives them a chance to create a strong root system. It’s also time to consider cold-hardy flowers that can withstand the cold. Reds, oranges, and yellows dominate the fall floral spectrum.
Fall Colorado flower favourites:
- Mums – in white, orange, purple
- Pansies
- Millett Grasses
- Decorative Peppers
Winter: December to February
While flowers may not survive the severe winter conditions, you can still jazz up your flowerpots and beds for the season. This is also an excellent opportunity to mulch your fall-planted bulbs.
Colorado’s Top 10 Bedding Plants
- Impatiens
Impatiens walleriana, sometimes known as Bizzy Lizzy or impatiens, are one of the most popular annual bedding plants in the United States today. There is no match for easy-to-grow, non-stop blossoming in shady settings. Impatiens is a bushy annual plant that grows in a spreading mound to a height of 6 to 24 inches, depending on the type. Flowers in various tones of pink, rose, red, lilac, purple, orange, white, and amusing combinations of diverse hues are included. In shaded regions, impatiens is an excellent bedding plant to utilise for colour.
- Gazania
Gazanias are ideal for persons who have hot, dry bedding. From summer until frost, this robust plant thrives in poor soil, hot temperatures, and dehydration, producing bright-coloured daisy-like flowers. The flowers bloom atop dark green or silver leaves that are serrated. They’re also fantastic in beds, borders, and containers. Gazania flowers are ideal for use in hot, dry annual beds.
- Snapdragon
Snapdragons are a well-known and popular annual bedding plant. Their name comes from the fact that if you gently press the sides of the unusually formed bloom, the jaws of a dragon head close. The flowers appear in a rainbow of colours, with some having lovely bicolour varieties. Even better, snapdragons make a wonderful cut flower. You can plant snapdragons in your garden a few weeks before the last frost because they are an early-season annual. Snapdragons are known for self-seeding, so be sure to deadhead if you don’t want them to reappear the following year. Snapdragons are very easy to grow, make wonderful cut flowers and are cold tolerant.
- Portulaca
The portulaca, also known as the sun rose or moss rose is a wonderfully lovely low-growing ground cover type plant. Portulaca flowers may grow in a variety of soil types, but prefer sandy, well-drained soil and full sun. These plants have strong heat and drought tolerance, as well as the ability to self-seed and spread. The moss rose’s minimal water need makes it a good choice for container gardening. It works well in containers that are exposed to the elements, such as those on a patio or dock.
- Fibrous Begonia
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Wax begonias, also known as fibrous begonias, are vividly coloured bedding plants that thrive in full sun or partial shade. They’ll be brimming with white, pink, rose, or crimson flowers from the moment they’re planted until frost kills them. Their only flaw is a limited colour range. They are virtually unaffected by bugs or blight. The flowers can be red, pink, or white, while the leaves can be green, bronze, or red.
Wax begonias are a versatile bedding plant that thrives in a variety of conditions, from direct sunlight to filtered shade and anything in between!
- Zinnia
Zinnias are one of the simplest plants to grow since they grow quickly and produce a lot of flowers. Zinnia flowers add a splash of colour to your yard while also attracting butterflies. Zinnias thrive in the summer sun and heat, producing a profusion of bright, vibrant flowers in a variety of shapes and sizes, making this low-maintenance annual a true garden delight. Zinnias are a great cut flower because of their bright flowers and sturdy stems, and the more you cut the blooms, the more you’ll have. Zinnias are not only excellent pollinator attractants, but they also repel rabbits.
- Periwinkle Vinca
Annual vinca, often known as periwinkle, is not to be confused with the permanent ground cover of the same name. The uninterrupted flower show of the annual vinca is admired from early summer to October. Once established, this plant is drought resistant and takes practically no maintenance to keep it looking great. Use it in mass in beds and borders, or mix it in with other annual flowers in mixed containers. Periwinkle doesn’t need to be deadheaded or have faded blooms removed to keep flowering, making it a low-maintenance annual flower.
Annual vinca is drought tolerant and is a good old fashioned favourite to add to your garden.
- Wave Petunia
Wave Petunias are one of the most popular petunia series to ever reach the market, and they’ve wowed us all with their speedy growth and endless colour. These trailing Petunias grow at a breakneck pace, up to 2 inches every day! Waves begin flowering soon as the nighttime temperatures rise, and they continue to display their beauty well into the fall. Make sure they have enough sun, water, and regular feedings so you can enjoy watching them work.
- Salvia
Annual Salvias are hardy, flowering plants that can brighten up any sunny garden. To be honest, the hardest part is choosing which one to take home because they come in so many various colours, flower shapes, and sizes. Remove faded flowers to maximise the bloom strength of your salvias, which bloom freely from early summer through autumn. Salvia isn’t bothered by bunnies, and bees and butterflies adore it.
When it comes to choosing salvia for your annual beds, red flowers are just one of the alternatives.
- Marigold
Marigolds are cheery annuals with pom-pom flowers that come in a variety of colours including yellow, orange, and burgundy. They’re incredibly versatile and low-maintenance. Their beautiful blossoms will attract pollinators to your garden throughout the summer. Dead flowers should be removed to encourage fresh flowers, and fertilise every 6 weeks.
Marigolds attract pollinators while also looking wonderful.
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