GARDENS AND VERSES
Late summer is sunflower season in Colorado.
Ah, September, time to start putting the garden to bed for the winter ahead. Here are some seasonal tips:
• Reduce watering so plants can begin their hardening off process in preparation for dormancy.
• Direct-seed fall crops, including lettuce, spinach, radishes, swiss chard, kale and arugula.
• Pinch off new yellow tomato flowers since these blossoms won’t have time to mature; the plant will then focus on ripening existing fruit.
• Continue to harvest crops, and watch for frost in the forecast.
• A dry summer is conducive to powdery mildew. Remove and destroy seriously infected plants to prevent spread next season.
• Aerate your lawn, fertilize, add seed, and control weeds to give you a beautiful green yard next spring.
• Amend soil with organic compost or manure.
• Shop for flower bulbs.
• Collect seed pods of plants you wish to propagate or share at seed exchanges.
Garden Tips are compiled by members of the Park Hill Garden Walk committee. The annual tour of local gardens is a major fundraiser for Greater Park Hill Community, Inc. To volunteer or suggest local gardens or artists for upcoming Garden Walks, please contact Paula Marinelli at
paulagardenwalk@gmail.com.