Q: Should I use cow manure to fertilize my plants? A: As long as the cow manure is composted, it can be a good fertilizer. However, we recommend using composted cotton burr blend and organic liquid fertilizers for best results.

Rocky Mountain Beeplant Cleome Serrulata Zone 3-7 Tall, skinny stems bloom from bottom to top which provide a long bloom period. Blooms are numerous small, light purple flowers with extremely long pistils that create a beautiful, wispy plant. Long, seed pods that resemble bean stalks begin to appear after the flowers are spent. This only makes the plant look more beautiful since the bean stalks are complimented by the blooms on the top of the plant. Does best in full sun an

Bee pollinated plants are your best bet for reducing allergens in your yard. These are just some examples of bee-pollinated, allergen-friendly plants, and with selective breeding by knowledgeable cultivators, I'm sure we will see more allergy friendly plants in the future. After reviewing the above list, I’m sure a few of you are thinking, but how do we know if a tree is male or female? For plants that are dioecious (either male or female) it is fairly simple. Take a juniper

Q: Why does my backflow preventer keep dripping? A: Your backflow preventer will need periodic maintenance (which is simple to do and can be done by the homeowner) in order to properly function. Small sediment (a grain of sand) can get stuck between the top rubber gasket and cause the backflow preventer to drip. All you need to fix it is a wrench and a couple of minutes! Feel free to ask one of our irrigation technicians to show you how to properly clean the backflow prevente

Globe Artichoke Cynara scolymus Zone 6-11 Thick stalks and green-grey foliage makes this plant look a lot like its cousin, a thistle plant. Large artichokes (usually one large and several small) appear in the summer. Flower is edible but needs to be harvested before it opens. Once it has opened; beautiful, wispy purple colors explode against the grey-green foliage. Looks best when a single specimen is planted so it can really stand out! Prefers well drained soil. A fast gro

Here's your weekly tip! The mechanism of traveling to a new location helps spread the plant's genetics into new environments and helps to keep the plant from going extinct. While some plants are strictly male or female (dioecious), others can self pollinate (have both parts on the same plant, known as monoecious). And now that we got some basic biology out of the way (phew!), let's talk about how to use that to our advantage to create a low allergy garden. The first goal is t

Q: My fruit trees haven't been producing very well or very large fruits. What is the problem? A: There are many factors that can affect fruit production. Amount of sunlight, fertilizer and water can all affect healthy fruit growth. First, ensure your fruit tree is getting the proper amount of sunlight and there are no neighboring trees blocking sunlight. Next, make sure your tree is receiving the proper amount of water at the drip line and not at the trunk of the tree. If the

Everest Variegated Sedge Carex oshimensis Zone 5-9 This evergreen not only adds beautiful texture to your garden but the variegated (green and white) blades of grass add a beautiful contrast. A mounding grass that produces small hairy seed pods in the summer months. Plant in full shade to part sun. Looks great in rock gardens, near water features and in mass planting. A moderate grower that can reach 15" tall and 24" wide. Easy to care for with year round interest. Needs we

Allergies and pollen, Oh My! It all comes down to one thing: pollen. And what is the point of pollen? Well, it's time to get uncomfortable and have that talk, yup, about the birds and, well mostly the bees. Pollen is produced by the male parts of a plant. The pollen is carried by the wind or bees to the female parts of a plant in order to create seeds and keep the plant's genetic lineage alive. The seeds are often on the inside of a fruit, berry, or some object (for the most

We've been getting a ton of irrigation questions - we hope this clarifies some of the confusion with these important systems! Q: Why does my irrigation need a filter if the water is coming from inside my house? A: House water can have small amounts of sediment that can clog emitters or cause the diaphragm of a valve to get stuck open. The filter helps minimize and prevent some irrigation malfunctions.