Pueblo County Cooperative Extension

Horticulture

CSU Extension-Pueblo County offers research-based information on topics related to horticulture and home gardening. Contact the Colorado Master Gardeners to answer your gardening questions at 719-583-6566 or email your gardening questions to cmg@co.pueblo.co.us.

"Like" the Extension Horticulture page on Facebook to keep up with current happenings.

2012 Native Plant Master Classes -- see our brochure for details.

June 9, 16, 23 Pueblo Reservoir

June 30, July 7, 14 YMCA Camp Jackson

Applicants for the Native Plant Master Program must be at least 16 years old. Applicants may:

Take a single course -- Fee: $50 per course* or $90 per course
Take up to 3 courses toward becoming a Certified Native Plant Master. -- Fee: $50 per course*
Take courses with no volunteer commitment. -- Fee: $90 per course

*This discounted rate applies if you agree to volunteer to teach 20 people about Colorado plants per course taken—referred to as public contacts.

To apply, download the application here or stop by the CSU Extension/Pueblo County office at 701 Court Street, Suite C, Pueblo, CO 81003 or request one by calling 719-583-6566 or contact Linda McMulkin at linda.mcmulkin@colostate.edu.

Xeriscape Garden Tour

Tour local water-wise landscapes on the 2012 Xeriscape Garden Tour on Saturday, June 2, in Pueblo, and Sunday, June 3, in Pueblo West. Tour details and maps are accessible at the link above.

Weed Management
This is a wonderful resource for weed management preferences from Fremont County weed control. Download the .pdf here.

Pueblo County Demonstration Gardens

Pueblo County has many public gardens with plants that perform well in Colorado’s climate. Demonstration gardens have an educational component, with plant names listed in either brochures or on labels beside the plants. Be sure to take a camera or notepad with you when you tour one of the demo gardens, so you can record the names of plants you would like to add to your landscape. Click here for a list of demonstration gardens.

Drought Information:
Summer in southeastern Colorado is always warm, windy, and drier than many of our landscape plants prefer. To make matters worse for plants, the drought conditions continue in our area. For hints on how to help your landscape survive, please read these water-wise gardening tips from CSU Extension. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/drought/water_wise.html

Gardening for Wildlife
The role of wildlife (animals such as insects, birds, reptiles and mammals) is critically important in natural and designed landscapes. Animals function as pollinators, consumers and the clean up crew, and add visual and auditory interest to our gardens.

All wildlife friendly landscapes should provide sources of water, food and shelter. Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all habitat. The details of food source, nesting location and materials, reproduction schedule and overwintering habits differ between animals and can be focused toward the animals you most prefer in your yard.

Water

Ponds, birdbaths and bowls can be used to provide year round water for drinking, bathing and, for some animals, reproduction. The container doesn’t have to be fancy but needs to hold at least a few inches of water and be weighted to avoid blowing over. Empty and refill the container frequently to keep the water fresh.

Food

The best food source for native wildlife in your landscape is plant species native to your area. Add a mixture of plants to your landscape that produce a different types of leaves, pollen, nectar, seeds and nuts . Keep in mind that the needs of insect larvae or the young of birds and mammals may be different than the adults of the same species. You can supplement native food sources with feeders but be consistent about filling them.

Shelter

Wildlife, no matter their size, need places to hide from weather and predators and to lay eggs or raise young. As with food sources, shelter needs vary according to species and ranges from below the soil surface to the tops of the tallest trees. Native plants can provide good shelter, but many ornamental trees and shrubs also work very well.

Rocks, logs, brush and dead trees can provide excellent natural shelter for many species. When natural shelter is unavailable, nesting boxes can be built and set up in the landscape.

Eco-friendly gardening practices make urban settings healthier for wildlife. You can increase the wildlife friendliness of your landscape by

building layers in the landscape, with a mixture of groundcovers, forbs, shrubs and trees
reducing the amount of manicured lawn and increasing the number and variety of plants, especially natives
leaving seed heads and fruit on plants, especially in the winter
decreasing/eliminating the use of chemical pesticides

For additional information on gardening for wildlife, please refer to the resources listed here.

Tree Pruning/Removal
Are you thinking of hiring a tree service to prune or remove a tree and not sure how to find the best option? Protect your landscape investment by asking questions before you sign a contract. Check references, discuss the practices the company uses, and get the agreement in writing. For more suggestions on what you need to know before you choose a tree service, click here.

Nationwide Gardening Resources
Two excellent resources for gardening information are eXtension (link) and PlantFacts (link). eXtension is an interactive site where questions are answered by Extension professionals from around the country. The website offers both searchable FAQs and an opportunity to enter your specific question. The PlantFacts website offers gardeners a single site to search for research-based gardening information nationwide. You can use this site to find Extension publications on gardening topics from Colorado State, Cornell, Utah State, Purdue and many other land grant universities.

http://www.extension.org/

http://plantfacts.osu.edu/

Demo Garden

CSU Pueblo Demo Garden at the Colordo State Fairgrounds Four raised beds, located behind the Fine Arts Building at the Colorado State Fairgrounds, display shrubs, perennials and annuals that do well in high heat garden conditions. The garden was developed through collaboration between the Colorado State Fair and Colorado State University Extension-Pueblo County, and is maintained by Colorado Master Gardeners. Information brochures are available at the garden, and the 2010 plant list is available here.

Over 85 cultivars of water-wise plants inhabit the garden, with peak bloom periods in May and August (during the State Fair). The garden is an official Plant Select demonstration garden. Local green industry businesses and the Plant Select program have generously provided plants for the Colorado State Fair Demonstration Garden.

Colorado Plant Database

Visit the Colorado Plant Database for information on native and non-native plants in our state. You will find details on where over 1,060 Colorado plants live, when they bloom, and suggestions on how to use them in your landscape.

Latest From the Ground Up Newsletter

Open publication

Or download the .pdf version.

Spring 2012
Winter 2011
Fall 2011
Summer 2011
Spring, 2011
Winter 2010
Fall 2010
Summer 2010

Proper Selection and Planting Increases Tree Survival
Garden Notes:

Tree Placement: Right Plant, Right Place, #631
Tree Selection: Right Plant, Right Place, #632
Tree Staking and Underground Stabilization, #634
Care of Recently Planted Trees, #635
Tree Planting Steps, #636

For more information on tree selection please see the CSU Extension gardening fact sheets.

Colorado State University Horticulture Links

CSU gardening information online:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/menu_garden.html

PlantTalkTM:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/

Front Range Food Gardener Blog:
http://frontrangefoodgardener.blogspot.com

Gardening After Five Blog:
http://gardeningafterfive.wordpress.com

CSU Soil, Water and Plant Testing Lab (click on Horticultural Applications for Gardeners):
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/SoilCrop/soillab.html

CSU Turf program:
http://csuturf.colostate.edu/

Colorado Master Gardener home page:
http://www.cmg.colostate.edu/

Colorado Master Gardener Garden Notes:
http://cmg.colostate.edu/gardennotes.shtml