After our industry’s trade show, the ProGreen Expo (progreen.com) every winter, I always look forward to using some of the new Plant Select winning plants in my landscape designs.  While sometimes it’s a challenge to locate these plants for our construction installations the first year after the selections are announced, it is exciting to both me, as a Landscape Designer and for our clients who are often looking for the “latest and greatest” for their Cherry Hills, Greenwood Village, Castle Pines, Evergreen and Denver Metro Area landscapes.

If you’re not familiar with the Plant Select plants, I should tell you that that these plants are selected because they can handle low water, can handle in our changing climates and do well in the Rocky Mountain region.  These plants are typically unique and beautiful and have a spectacular resistance to insects or disease.

These plants are often specified by Designscapes Colorado for the above reasons.  You know, these plants are decided by a cooperative group of professional growers, horticulturists, The Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University.

Look for these 2012 Plant Select plants:

-          Weeping White Spruce, Picea glauca ‘Pendula’

-          Ruby Voodoo Rose, Rosa ‘Ruby Voodoo’

-          Dalmatian Daisy, Tanacetum cinerarifolium

-          Summer-Forget-Me-Not/Cape-Forget-Me-Not, Anchusa capensis

-          ‘Fire Spinner’ Ice Plant, Delosperma ‘Fire Spinner’

-          Filigree Daisy, Anthemis marschalliana

If you visit www.plantselect.org, you can see all the wonderful Plant Select plants.  Ask our Landscape Designers here at Designscapes Colorado how to help you incorporate them in your landscape by calling 303-721-9003 or contacting us at info@designscapes.org.

Be sure and watch the TV segment on The Denver Channel (denverchannel.com) on Monday, May 21st to see Bertha and I display 2012 selections and a few from year’s past!

This is a wonderful event that I love to go and purchase some unique and extraordinary selections to plant in my yard.  I mentioned the wagon because you will find that you have too many plants you’ll want to purchase then you can carry! 

There is a “Plant Sale Preview Party” on Thursday, May 10th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The sale is Friday, May 11th from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and

Saturday, May 12th from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

If you haven’t already shopped for Mom this week – bring her along and spend some time together picking unique plants for both of your landscapes.

While I’m mentioning the Denver Botanic Gardens, their newest garden display “Kizuna: West Meets East” http://www.botanicgardens.org/kizuna opened last Saturday, May 5th.  This is a fantastic installation that everyone should try and see soon.  I’m looking forward to it myself!

Beautiful Container of Seasonal Color

There are 5 easy steps to planting a wonderful container:

1.  Choose Your Container- When choosing a container, be sure you think about where it is going.  Containers are made of all materials now such as terra cotta, plastic, concrete, wood and metal to name a few.  Different materials have different life spans and can effect the watering requirements too.  Make sure you have drainage in the bottom of your containers.  Plants do not like to be sitting in water – they do prefer to dry out between waterings.  Consider a slightly larger pot so you won’t have to water as often.

2.  Use a new soil mix – You always want to start off the year with fresh soil.  I recommend a bagged potting soil.  This is to prevent any insects or disease issues that may be present.  After you’ve made sure you have drainage in your pots, fill the soil up to about 2″ below the rim. 

3.  Choose your plants – If your pot is in the shade then you’ll need shade-loving plants and if your plant is in the sun, then you should plant plants that can handle being in the sun.  If you are incorporating vegetables, they need to be in full-sun containers or they will not thrive.  In addition to location, you need to consider something tall for the back or the center, medium high growing plants for around the middle and then plants that are mounding or trailing for the edges.

4.   Plant – Remove your plants from the plastic or peat container carefully.  Loosen up the bottom of the soil and roots so that the roots can grow easily in the container.  I recommend either planting the center first and working your way out towards the pot or if you are planting your tall items in the back of the pot, start with them first.  I always plant my trailing plants last to have them placed in just the right spots for them to spill over the edges as they grow all summer long.  Add a thin layer of potting soil over all your plants.

5.   Water and Fertilize Regularly- Water your container.  Depending on the size and location of your containers, you’ll need to water approximately every day.  The smaller the pot, the more often you’ll need to water, especially if it is in the full sun.  Also, consider fertilizing your flower pots frequently.  Container gardens require frequent waterings and constant blooming flowers which can create a need for nutrient supplements.  As I mentioned earlier, you can use a soil blend that contains a slow-release fertilizer or you can you a liquid or powder version every few weeks to keep your flowers blooming and bursting with color!  (Don’t forget a saucer to prevent soil stains on your patio or table!)

I think if you follow these 5 simple steps – you will be delighted with the container gardens you plant.  Whether it’s seasonal color flowers or vegetables (or both!), I hope you enjoy your works of art all season long!

Thanks for watching Channel 7′s Bertha Lynn & I every Monday at 11:30 a.m.  Click here to watch today’s segment: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDUUgQ1MNRQ&list=UU-2MJlKSq9_pYk5-bdvMhnw&index=1&feature=plcp

Phil & Bertha Lynn Review Segment Outline

If you think that you may need help planting your pots or flower beds, please contact Designscapes Colorado at 303-721-9003.  We’d be happy to help you add some color!

This issue is all about Outdoor Living and the well-balanced landscape for form, texture and color and you can view the feature article at:  http://www.coloradohomesmag.com/article/natures-palette.

The article really embraces about how outdoor living can add such a wonderful element in a landscape.  The landscape design/build process is really about building a relationship with a client throughout the entire process – involving the clients as much or as little as they want to be, to ensure a dynamic result.  Mike and Ann Moore worked very close with Scott Johnson, the landscape designer throughout the entire project and the final project is a unique, artistic and colorful outdoor space for entertaining guests and for relaxation.

The home is located in Evergreen, Colorado and there are keys to success on designing and installing a high-altitude landscape:

PLAN EARLY – The sooner you bring the landscape architect into the design discussions, the more you can save during the construction process.  For example, if you’re running a gas line for an inside fireplace, you might as well run one for the outside fireplace. Your landscaper can also coordinate the design and materials so they work with the house.

GATHER INSPIRATION – We encourage our clients to bring photos and clippings of gardens, patios and landscaping that they like. We also ask a lot of questions, such as, “Do you tend to host big parties or small, intimate gatherings? Do you have kids and pets?”

KNOW YOUR STYLE – Along with discussing the specific plants and colors a client likes, we determine whether the landscape should have a formal look or something more casual and natural. The landscaping should be tied to the architecture of the house, so a contemporary home might dictate a clean, simple look with masses of ornamental grasses, while a Beaver Creek home might have more of a mountain look with boulders and wildflowers.  

CONSIDER CRITTERS -  Your plants can be a salad bar for elk and deer, so fencing or some other barrier may be needed. We can also incorporate flowers and shrubs that animals tend not to eat. 

CHOOSE PLANTS CAREFULLY – A single property can have great variances in sun and wind exposure that need to be taken into account when choosing hardy plants that can withstand the elements. It’s important to plan the landscape based on water availability and plant needs.

THINK SEASONALLY – We like to design landscapes that are interesting year-round. Often we’ll combine deciduous trees and shrubs with evergreens. We think about the off-season elements of a plant like branch structure and color, and whether it produces berries or seed pods. We also consider ‘hardscape’ features like boulders, pergolas and arbors for winter interest.

This project was also awarded by the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) in 2010 for Excellence in Landscape in the residential construction Design/Build category!

If you would like to meet with one of our landscape designers, please contact us at 303-721-9003 or info@designscapes.org.

Phil & Betha give Channel 7 viewers gift ideas

Today was a fun segment on The Denver Channel (www.thedenverchannel.com/), Channel 7 news.  Bertha Lynn and I showed our viewers some ideas for Mother’s Day gifts.

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13.  If you haven’t purchased a gift for your Mom yet and you’re looking for some ideas if she likes to garden, here are some of the ideas I presented:

• Hanging planter for herbs
• New colorful watering can
• Planters/Containers of all types
• Ergonomic hand tools
• Orchids
• Knee pad
• Gloves
• Salad forks
• Pruners
• Gardening books
• Bird bath
• Vase for cut flower display

If you’d like to see the segment, please click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pcBgHqnSEU

I hope you have a wonderful time shopping for all the Moms in your life! 

Happy Mother’s Day!

Celosia ‘Enterprise Wine’ is a fantastic celosia variety that has a beautiful deep cranberry central plum that is surrounded by several other plumes giving it the appearance of fullness.  This annual loves full sun and can grow between 28”-36” tall.  This is a great option for height in your annual containers and beds.  This also makes a wonderful cut flower.

Coleus ‘Wasabi’ has the name that speaks for itself.  This has a fantastic green color and has a bushy habit that is selected for this year’s picks for its outstanding performance and vigor.  You can plant these in sun or shade and can get 18”-36” tall.

Pansy ‘Cool Wave Blueberry Frost’ is an incredible trailing pansy.  These have incredible flowers and can withstand much cooler temperatures than most seasonal color plants.  They only grow about 6”-8” tall and can spread up to 2’!  This would be an ideal plant for containers or for our viewers that live in the mountains.

Petunia ‘Easy Wave South Beach Mix’ is a beautiful and bright combination!  These petunias can bloom all summer long and will really fill in your planting beds or pots.  They love the sun and are incredibly easy.  The red, salmon and violet bloom mix can spread up to 3’.  Talk about getting a high impact from a petunia!

Petunia ‘Debonair Lime Green’ has a beautiful green color that we’re not used to seeing out of a Petunia.  These are wonderful for mixing in container gardens or in landscape borders.  They can grow about 12” wide and between 10”-15” tall.  Looking for something new that can handle full sun?  These are the answer.

Snapdragon ‘Twinny Rose’ has incredibly unique double-flowers that are butterfly type.  These plants have performed great in spring or fall weather.  They prefer cooler weather like pansies so, for those of you who live in the mountains – add this one to your list.  It also comes in a peach color.  They only grow to about 12” tall so; this too would be wonderful in your pots or beds.

Dianthus ‘Lavender Picotee’ is a dynamic Dianthus variety that has large flowers on short plants.  They only grow about 8”-10” tall and can tolerate full sun to part shade.  Take note on these flowers because they can take frosts! 

A few other flowers I showed today were: ‘Rose Magic’ Osteospermum, ‘Windy’s Wish’ Salvia, ‘Phloxy Lady’ annual Phlox and ‘Cotton Candy Mix’ Vinca.

Keep in mind spring did arrive early this year so some of these plant varieties may not be readily available but, they will be!  If you’d like help with the designing and installation of your seasonal flower pots and planting beds, please contact the professionals at Designscapes Colorado at 303.721.9003.  We’d be happy to help make your yard look fantastic and colorful!

Phil & Bertha Review Segment Outline

In addition to trees, shrubs, and your ”cool season vegetables” you can plant a lot of things that can handle colder temperatures or frost hardy plants for instant splashes of color and texture. 

The following are Frost Hardy plants:

• Alyssum
• Anemone
• Cherianthus
• Dianthus
• Dusty Miller
• Flowering Kale
• Flowering Cabbage
• Pansies
• Ranunculus
• Snapdragons
• Statice
• Verbena rigida
• Violas 

These are Frost Tolerant plants that can handle temperatures down to 20 degrees:

• Calendula
• Nicotiana
• Petunias
• Annual Phlox
• Salvia victoria
• Salvia greggii
• Stock
• Verbena canadensis

These plants can tolerate very cold temperatures but no direct frost – you’ll need to cover these plants if there is a danger of frost:

• Ageratum
• Asters
• Gazania
• Geraniums
• Lobelia
• Verbena (upright)

So, you can see – there are so many things you can pick up at your local garden center or nursery and get your pots and flower beds going! 

If you need help with getting some spring color in your flower pots or beds, please contact the Designscapes Colorado Enhancements team at 303.721.9003 or click on this link to see my appearance on Channel 7 to get an idea of an easy, beautiful and cold hardy pot planting: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qInPau2QvHo&feature=plcp&context=C498e714VDvjVQa1PpcFNnV_s845-2NzgeNuzeRAB059V0Blm-cgM%3D

If you are the do-it-yourself landscaper or you have a landscape designer you work with – suggest the addition of some spectacular spring blooming shrubs.  Our Landscape Designers at Designscapes Colorado have thorough knowledge of shrubs that do well here and will look beautiful in the spring!  Examples of fantastic spring blooming shrubs are:

• European Cranberry Bush
• Flowering Almond
• Flowering Quince
• Forsythia
• Lilac
• Magnolia, Royal Star
• Mountain Laurel
• Mock Orange
• Nanking Cherry
• Sand Cherry
• Spirea
• Weigela

These shrubs are fantastic because they provide bold displays of color and are very easy to grow here with very little growing requirements.  Be sure to plant in sun for the best flowering!

What to look for?  When purchasing these at your local garden center or nursery, look for full, healthy foliage, and avoid root-bound plants.  Read the tag to know what the plant’s full size will be at maturity.

When to prune?  Most Spring blooming shrubs flower on the previous year’s growth so, wait until late Spring or early Summer to prune these shrubs.

Have you thought about cutting a few branches off of the shrubs and bringing them in for display?  Snip some branches off the shrubs that still have buds that haven’t popped open yet or have just begun to show color for the longest enjoyment.  When you bring them inside, put them in a vase of water.  Now you can have the spectacular spring color inside and out! 

Click here to see my appearance on Channel 7 about Early Blooming Shrubs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lhmIfJb5tE&context=C435c64dADvjVQa1PpcFNnV_s845-2Nz2rxsuDe9OtO5arBPKCD5g=

Beautiful Red Bud Tree & Tulips Say Spring!

Planning is an important step and often is forgotten until our days become warm and frost free.  Then we go out and dig, sometimes to disappointing results.  By planning your garden now you can increase your success.  Now is a great time to start the design process to ensure a beautiful landscape to enjoy this summer.  Our talented staff of Landscape Designers have been trained to deal with large or small, simple or difficult sites to give you the landscape you’ve always dreamed of.  So, whether it’s that new water feature or patio you’ve been wanting, Designscapes Colorado can help you.  Beat the spring rush and get started planning your landscape now!

It’s time to start thinking colorful planting beds and annual pots again!  Please schedule with our maintenance department now for the installation of your annuals. Our experienced horticulturalists can help you select a color and plant pallet that best fits your site and taste.

Proper bed care is an important step to ensure a beautiful landscape.  Start by cleaning up those planting beds and get rid of debris, leaves or any trash that may have collected there over the winter.  Cut back your perennials before they start to sprout up again.  We recommend re-mulching your beds in the spring as well. Adding additional mulch to your existing planting beds improves the look of your landscape, as well as helps to retain moisture in the root zone of plants by minimizing evaporation and reducing weeds that take water away from your plants.  We recommend that mulch be applied to a depth of 1 – 3” deep.

To ensure your lawns health and vigor, we recommend a spring fertilization and aeration for your lawn.  Our custom formulated fertilizer provides the necessary balance of nutrients to get your lawn off to a healthy start in the spring time.  Core aerating your lawn during the spring relieves soil compaction, thus improving water infiltration and fertilizer utilization.  We aerate at 2-3” core depth to provide the greatest benefit to your lawn.  Please schedule with our maintenance department for any of these services to be completed in your landscape this season.