1. MAINTENANCE

2. THE AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO DESIGN AND CHOICE OF PLANTS, TREES AND TURF

3. MAINTENANCE INCLUDES Mulching Watering Mowing Fertilizing Deadheading Dividing Weed Control Disease Control Fall/Spring Cleanup Including cutting back/removing annuals, shrubs, ornamental grasses, perennials Pruning Pest Control

4. WHY MULCH? Water Conservation (reduces evaporation) Moderates Temperature Extremes/ Protects From Freeze Damage Controls Weeds and Erosion Gives a Finished Look Organic Mulches Improve Soil Structure and Promote Microorganism Activity

5. ORGANIC MULCH Improves soil structure, but be careful of nitrogen depletion (yellowing of lower leaves) Less evaporation than inorganic mulch, but may become matted or compacted, impeding water penetration In Pueblo West may blow away

6. INORGANIC MULCH Does not blow away Resembles ‘natural’ habitat of xeric plants (leaner soil/roots won’t rot) Irrigation and rainfall penetrate easier Better for reseeding or volunteer seeding Hot landscape environment

7. FERTILIZING  Xeric and Native plants need very little if any fertilizing. If you do fertilize, use a fertilizer low in Potassium (K).  Do not fertilize trees until they have been in the ground at least one season.  Do not fertilize after late August.  As with other topics discussed, there is lots of good information under horticulture at the CSU Extension web site.

8. DEADHEADING AND DIVIDING  On some plants, cutting or pinching off spent blooms will encourage more blooming.  Some bulbs and perennials can decline in flower quality and vigor if not divided.  Let bulb foliage mature, then divide. Irises are best divided in July.  The best time to divide perennials varies.

9. WEED CONTROL  Rocks do not inhibit weeds, but mulching does help.  Landscape cloth may help for awhile, until enough dirt settles for seeds to germinate.  DO NOT use plastic under your rocks. It destroys the soil.  Some herbicides are specific, others (e.g Roundup) kill everything including your favorite perennials – read the label.  Hand weeding is always an option.

10. TUMBLE WEEDS Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus) Kochia scoparia

11. DISEASE CONTROL  Check plants regularly.  Employ either a natural remedy (baking soda, soap and water for powdery mildew) or a fungicide.  Dispose of diseased plants.  Disinfect tools with bleach.  Clean up garden trash.

12. FALL AND SPRING CLEANUP  Fall- remove annuals and diseased plants. Trim plants with insect problems and spray.  Spring – Ornamental grasses need cutting to the ground.  Most perennials should be cut down to new, green growth.  Subshrubs should be cut back by 2/3.  Trim winter brown from evergreen perennials/shrubs.  Wait to prune early blooming shrubs until after flowering.

13. PRUNING TREES  Safety– dead limbs can be hazardous and expensive.  Health of the Tree – jagged, broken branches provide an entry for insects and disease.  Appearance of the Tree– we want our trees to be beautiful and well shaped.

14. WILDLIFE Quail Herding a Bull Snake

15. CONTROLLING INSECTS  95% of the insects in your yard are harmless. Using synthetic pesticides may kill the good guys, as well as birds, and could contaminate the water supply.  Alternatives: Select pest resistant plant varieties Provide habitat for beneficial insects and birds and unfavorable conditions for pests Encourage or introduce insect predators and parasites Hand pick insects or hose down plants Use floating row covers Use naturally occurring chemicals. If you need to use something stronger, be sure and read the lable. For more information on Colorado bugs search for BSPM CSU on the Internet

16. PEST CONTROL

17. RABBITS AND DEER  Install physical barriers such as fencing, netting, or cages (for the plants, not the animals). This is the most effective solution.  Use natural repellants, including hot sauce, coyote urine, and blood meal. Some taste bad, others smell bad.  Plant deer and rabbit ‘resistant’ plants. In the case of deer, use these plants (Lavendar, Russian Sage or Banana Yucca for example) to surround more vulnerable plants. Unfortunately, in times of stress, even resistant plants may get eaten.

18. PEST CONTROL POCKET GOPHERS Trapping is the best method for controlling gophers. Set traps in pairs facing opposite directions. ¼ to ½” mesh hardware cloth fence buried at least 2 ft. Expensive and labor intensive. Use poison bait. Potentially harmful to other wildlife, pets, and even children. Call a professional.

19. GARDEN TO ATTRACT BENEFICIAL WILDLIFE habhero.org BE A HABITAT HERO

20. BIRDS

21. All birds require food, water, shelter (from the elements and predators), and nesting sites. In our dry climate, a water source is essential. Plant a variety of plants that provide food at different times of the year and are of different heights. Native plants are especially attractive. Dense plantings work best for shelter and nesting sites. For hummingbirds: patches of red flowers; plants with tubular shaped flowers; plants with flowers that bloom in clusters; plants with flowers above or outside the foliage.

22. BUTTERFLIES  Butterflies have much the same requirements as birds.  It is important to provide suitable plants for the immature (caterpillar) stages as well as plants that attract the butterflies themselves. These are often not the same plants.  As with birds, mass plantings are more attractive than scattered plantings.