Consumer Resources

Landscape Maintenance Tips

February

• Use dormant oils to control scale or aspen black spot.
• Thin old, overgrown deciduous shrubs before they start to bud out or bloom.
• Gently brush the snow off trees and shrubs.

March

• If you didn't rake leaves or remove old fruit from fruit and deciduous trees in the fall, do so now.
• Check evergreen for browning and deciduous trees for buds that have died. Prune, don't shear deciduous trees.
• Deep water trees and shrubs as needed.

April
April is national lawn care month!

• Prepare to activate the sprinkler system.
• Aerate and fertilize the lawn.
• Cut back perennials (except evergreen perennials-plants that stay green all year) from last year. With a sharp pair of scissors, remove dead plant material all the way to the ground.
• Prepare the soil for all Colorado gardens, except in the mountains, where you may need to wait until the soil is workable.

May

• Mulch around flower and shrub beds to conserve moisture and keep down weeds.
• Mow lawn to no less than 2" and never cut any more than one-third of the growth.
• Water plants, trees, shrubs and lawn infrequently, but thoroughly.
• After the 15th, put out annuals and perennials that have been overwintered indoors in pots.

June

• Continue to plant summer flowering bulbs, like cannas, dahlias, and gladioili (plant a few gladioli each week for continuous blooms throughout the summer).
• Fertilize annuals and perennials with nitrogen-based fertilizer.
• Check drip and lawn system. Remove any emitters that are overwatering, add emitters to areas where the soil is dry.

July

• Mow the lawn to no less than 2-1/2 " in height, never cutting more than one-third of the growth.
• Do not use high nitrogen fertilizer on trees from the middle of July through February of next season.
• Make sure the garden is well-mulched to protect plants during the heat of the day.

August

• Make sure trees and shrubs get enough water during August.
• Pay particular attention to good watering practices this month. Stressed areas in the full sun, or on south or western slopes may need extra watering.
• Weed your garden frequently. Watch to see that weeds do not grow so large that they flower and drop seeds (causing more weeds!).

September

• Plant new perennials.
• Plant or transplant evergreens before the weather turns cool.
• Begin paying attention to the weather forecasts for predictions of early frosts. Cover plants if necessary.
• Water as needed. Be sure to check the ground so you don't overwater.

October

• Plant hardy bulbs for spring blooming.
• Remove leaves and plant material. Put them in a "hot" compost pile (hotter than normal) or discard.
• Winterize the irrigation system.

November

• Mulch young or newly planted trees and shrubs. Wait until the end of the month when the ground is frozen.
• Purchase spring bulbs for forcing and indoor winter blooming.
• Cut back perennials from last year so they will bloom better.

December

• Add lighting to your landscape.
• Reduce watering of plants as the days become shorter. Plants can be overwatered if you are watering as much as you do in late spring, summer and early fall.

January

• Check to make sure the mulch is still covering plants that are exposed to the south and southwest.
• Comprehensive pruning should be done on all trees and shrubs (except maples) for correction, height, damage, or shape.
• Deep water trees, shrubs, and roses as needed.

Landscape maintenance tips are provided courtesy of MONTH-TO-MONTH GARDENING, COLORADO, Four Sisters Publishing, Inc., Englewood, CO

Other Tips

Fall 2007

Winterize your sprinkler system and avoid costly water damage and repairs!

Winterizing most sprinkler systems is in the $100 range or less.  Repairs caused when your sprinkler system freezes can be many times that amount.  Plus, depending on what freezes, you may be looking at water damage to your property. 

So when you think about putting your landscape to bed for the winter, the sprinkler system needs to be high on your priority list.  Each year, many Colorado homeowners have serious water damage when the sprinkler system left in summer-mode freezes in November or December.  This headache is followed by expensive repairs to the sprinkler system itself that could have been avoided by taking some precautions

How to get your sprinkler system ready for winter:

1. Wrap the backflow prevention (BFP) device located outside to keep it from freezing before your system is fully winterized.  If temperatures get into the freezing range, wrap the BFP with and old towel, cover it with a plastic trash bag and tape it in place.  This keeps the device dry and helps to prevent freeze damage prior to the winterization.
2. Shut off the water to the sprinkler system.  There’s usually a shut-off valve inside the house in the basement.
3. Drain the system using the valve that’s inside your house – usually in the basement.
4. Look at the valve shut-off and know what kind of valve you have:  

Ball valve.  This type of valve is more reliable in terms of freeze damage.

Gate valve.  This valve is very common in Colorado and can often be defective even when the valve looks like it’s turned off.  When the small washer inside wears out, water will slowly drip and accumulate to the point where if there is a freeze, the part can burst and lead to serious water damage.  Have an expert check out this valve.

Draining the system is not enough.  Some people think that draining their sprinkler system is all they need to do.  But even when you drain the system, water often stays in the pipes and even in the sprinkler heads.  When that water freezes, much of your sprinkler system can end up damaged and needing expensive repairs. That’s why it’s best to play it safe and get your sprinkler system winterized before freezing-cold weather sets in. 

Use the right size air compressor.  Winterizing is done with an air compressor—and because of the equipment, usually requires the help of a landscape contractor.  Many homeowners have small-sized compressors in their garages (for paint guns, nail guns, and so forth), but generally, these compressors don’t have the capacity to create the volume of air required to push the water out of a sprinkler system. 

Technically speaking, the rating of pounds per square inch (psi) does not determine the compressor size you need (common misconception).  What you really need to determine if a compressor is strong enough to be effective is the measurement of cubic feet per minute (cfm) which is a measure not of pressure—but of volume. 

To be adequate on a residential property, a compressor needs to be in the range of 100-500 cfm.  The psi should be no more than 80 psi or the heat generated could melt the fittings.  Before you let you neighbor offer you the good-buddy special to winterize your sprinkler system, check out the size of the compressor because a small compressor may not be up to the task.

Once you have the right size compressor, the final step is to hook it up to the sprinkler system.   The compressor will be used zone-by-zone to push air from the compressor into the sprinkler lines which will in turn push water out of the pipes and out of the sprinkler heads.  Getting all the water out takes 1 to 3 minutes per zone.  This is the best way to make sure your sprinkler system has no water in it that can freeze, create damage and lead to costly repairs.   

To find a landscape professional to help with your sprinkler and landscape needs, go to www.alcc.com and click on FIND A LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL.  Information provided courtesy of Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado.

Spring 2007

Warm spring temperatures have fortunately made the past winter a distant memory and motivated homeowners to begin planning for this year’s outdoor season.

1. Sustainable Gardens – Green applies to more than lawns. Homeowners are looking for landscapes that conserve water, use locally produced or recycled materials, and employ environmentally responsible maintenance practices.
2. Multicultural Style – Consumers are bringing their vacations home by incorporating landscapes influenced by other cultures (e.g., Italian, French, Mediterranean or Middle Eastern style gardens, courtyards and fountains) into Colorado yards.
3. Scraper Planning – The continued boom of scrapers and pop-tops in Colorado’s older neighborhoods creates the need for proper planning and planting to ensure the landscape is as functional and attractive as the new or remodeled home.
4. Melding Interior and Exterior Design – Outdoor living continues with a strong emphasis on creating a cohesive flow between interior and exterior spaces.  Outdoor rooms meld colors, textures and styles with a home’s indoor spaces.  Backyard retreats, including meditation areas, reading nooks and living rooms also are growing in popularity.  
5. Big Impact for Small Spaces – The trend toward smaller yards causes homeowners to make the most of their small spaces by enhancing privacy, selecting plant material designed for small spaces and choosing designs that maximize functionality. 
6. Attractive Xeriscape – Years of continuous drought raised awareness about water use and made Xeriscape more than a passing fad. Consumers continue to request stunning plants and hardscape elements that minimize water use.
7. Exterior Lighting – Homeowners want to extend enjoyment of outdoor spaces into after-dark hours.  Hard-wired lighting is now illuminating more gardens, trees and nighttime activities while enhancing security. 
8. Water Features – Trends include installing several water features throughout the yard, as well as pond-less features and fountains to enhance sight and sound.
9. Landscape Makeovers – The reality TV craze to refurbish homes and landscapes has spilled into the mainstream. Consumers are looking at ways to refresh a dated landscape or start from scratch by incorporating new decks, patios and gardens.
10. Planning is in – More homeowners are looking at blueprints to help them design their landscapes by creating garden plans on their own or hiring professionals to create well-designed yards to fit their lifestyles and budgets.