First time Front range gardener

Berthoud Weekly Surveyor April 8, 2021 Page 3 First time Front Range gardener

By Kathy Mitchell

Colorado State University Extension Master Gardener in Larimer County

What? No blueberries or rhododendrons? If you are like me and new to gardening in the Front Range, the prospect is scary. Coming from “the East” and moving to Colorado has proven that gardening is a new adventure. I was a Master Gardener for four years in Pennsylvania before moving, having 11 acres (mostly wooded), a large in-ground garden, raised beds, berries, a vineyard as well as fruit and nut trees. Imagine my surprise when I dug into gardening (pun intended) in the Front Range.

Being welcomed into the Larimer County Master Gardening Program (with the caveat of taking the entire 10week course again) was a welcome challenge. I needed all the research-based information available to make this transition. While the hardiness zone (average annual minimum winter temperature) for the Pennsylvania property is the SAME as here in Larimer County, there are amazing differences that impact how plants grow. Colorado has a lot less annual precipitation, more days of warm temperature and sunshine and lots more wind. This is a semi-arid climate with strong thunderstorms, hail and wild temperature swings. Wow!

Then there is the soil. Soil pH in the Front Range is generally alkaline instead of acidic. I was lucky to have “native” or “agricultural” soil in Pennsylvania with lots of naturally occurring organic matter. Here, we’ve got urban landscape soil which is really tricky to deal with as it is often compacted, and can have poor drainage, low oxygen levels and low organic matter. Often this means plants grow more slowly. y first recommendation et a soil test at xtension immediately to determine your baseline measurements — especially for your vegetable garden beds. s r. ean eeder a longtime associate of the soil testing lab) says, “If you don’t know what you have, you don’t know what to do with it.” A routine soil test costs $35. Find out more at soiltesting.colostate.edu.

If you’re not sure how to interpret your soil report, call your local extension office for assistance. When it comes to plants, follow the recommendation of “right plant, right place.” Do your research on what grows well in Colorado landscapes. ass on the blueberries and rhododendrons. xtension has lots of resources to guide you in the right direction for plants that are drought-resistant, native, or plants that can adapt to Colorado conditions. There’s also information on how and when to plant and grow healthy veggies, herbs, perennials, trees, shrubs and ground covers. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus — it is all the resources available at the xtension website. There are fact sheets, webinars, CO-Horts blog, and Ask an Expert (send an email and get a response from a real person). Also, remember the Larimer County Master Gardeners want to help you in your gardening adventures. They are always available via email: larimerMG@gmail.com. Happy Gardening.

Ask an Expert: https://ask2.extension.org/

CSU Fact Sheets and Publications:

https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/ yardgarden/?target=publications CSU Soil Testing Lab: http://www.soiltestinglab.colostate.edu/

Grow & Give Colorado Vegetable Information:

https://growgive.extension.colostate.edu/ PlantTalk Colorado: http://planttalk.org/ CO-Horts blog for articles and webinars: http://csuhort.blogspot.com/