Thank you for calling Dial-a-Garden. This message was recorded on Monday, January 28, 2008.

Landscapes West is this weekend! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Two Rivers in Grand Junction. You can still register on line at www.westernslopegardening.org or by calling our office at 244-1834. Walk-ins are also welcome. Hope to see everyone there!

Check the mulch on your grafted roses and add more as needed. Mulch has a way of not staying in place all winter and may need refreshing. The mulch should cover the vulnerable graft union. If snow is present around the base of the rosebush, it isn’t necessary to remove it. The mulch can be mounded over it. Mulch may also need refreshing in the perennial and bulb beds at this time. If the area is dry, as many south or west facing beds are now that the snow is receding, water first before applying the mulch. This combination of watering and mulching will help keep the beds cold and deter premature emergence.

Heavy snows can damage evergreens and other woody plants, especially upright types like arbor vitae and low spreaders like juniper and mugo. If we get more accumulation, knock the snow gently off these plants with a broom to keep them from breaking under the excess weight. Deciduous trees such as American sycamore and some of the oaks, which hang on to their leaves through the winter, are also vulnerable to snow load injury.

Commercial pesticide applicators are required by state law to keep their licenses current by attending regular continuing education classes. Tri River Area Extension will be offering the necessary classes at a workshop on February 12, 13, and 14 at Country Inns of America, 718 Horizon Drive, in Grand Junction. The brochure with the class schedule can be accessed at http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/2008-CPATW.pdf on the Tri River Area website. The cost is $120.00 per person for any one day, $145.00 per person for any two days, or $170.00 for all three days; contact the Delta County Extension office at 874-2195 for more information. It is not necessary to be a commercial applicator to attend this workshop; anyone with an interest in pest management will find it very informative, and those who are considering a commercial license in the future will especially find it invaluable. Continuing education credits will also be provided for those licensed in New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

Even though most areas have received some rain or snow recently, outdoor container plants dry out quickly and need to be checked frequently. Provide them with supplemental water regularly. If they are in black or other dark containers, the roots may warm up prematurely and the plants can begin to bud out. Place them in the shade if possible; mulch all around the containers will also help. Group the containers tightly together for easier mulching.

Low-cost seedling trees and shrubs are provided each year by the Colorado State Forest Service, for homeowners with two or more acres to use as windbreaks, revegetation, wildlife habitat, etc. The trees are not to be used for landscape purposes, nor can they be resold as living plants. A few species have sold out already, but many are still available as of this writing. Get your order in as soon as possible for the best selection. You can visit the Forest Service website at http://csfs.colostate.edu for information on the plants such as height and width, drought tolerance, recommended altitude range, wildlife value and so forth, to help you make your selections. The plants will be available for pick-up in late April.

Master Gardeners will be staffing several booths at Landscapes West this weekend; stop by to learn about some of our exciting offerings this year, if you have a plant question, or just to say hello. We look forward to seeing you.

Meanwhile you can contact us at 244-1836, or stop by our office at the Mesa County fairgrounds, 2775 Highway 50, on Orchard Mesa. We’re open Monday through Friday, 8:00 to 5:00, or leave a voice mail message any time.

Thank you for calling Dial-a-Garden. This message will be updated next week; have a great week, and see you at Landscapes West!

to the Dial-a-Garden Message Home page
to the Tri River Area Gardening and Horticulture Home Page

Curt Swift CSU Extension Tri River Area Horticultural Agent