Best defense is maintenance

Brian Governski, Special To The Rocky

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Question: Every spring, several of my trees and shrubs have damaged or dead branches. Is there anything I can to do prevent this damage?

Answer: Dead branches can be caused by many factors. Extreme temperature and weather conditions during winter are the most common causes of die-back or snapped branches. High temperatures and drought conditions from the previous growing season may have created additional stress going into the winter. Furthermore, insects often take advantage of weakened plants.

Maintaining your trees and shrubs is the best defense against damage. First, do your trees and shrubs receive adequate water? Colorado has an arid climate, which means that trees not adapted to droughtlike conditions might require supplemental irrigation. Adequate moisture in winter is just as important as watering during warmer months.

Once tree and shrub damage is identified, prune the dead or diseased material. Leaving damaged branches can lead to further disease.

Finally, choose trees and shrubs adapted to Colorado's climate before planting. They require less maintenance and probably will thrive better than plants from other climates.

Q: I'm looking for plants that bloom during the spring. What suggestions do you have?

A: There are many plants that bloom in the spring. Many people see blooms and hope to be able to plant the same flowers in their gardens. Quite a few of the early bloomers, such as hyacinths, daffodils, crocuses and tulips, are often seen blooming through the spring snows. These are bulbs or corms that typically require autumn planting. Some can be planted in warmer weather, so check the bag label when selecting bulbs in the nursery or buying through a gardening publication.

Xeric plants are adapted to Colorado's dry climate, make an excellent choice and require little water once they're established. Suggested species include columbine (Aquilegia spp.), showy daisy (Erigeron speciosus), and golden banner (Thermopsis montana). Other perennial suggestions such as creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) and basket-of-gold (Aurinia saxatilis) make nice ground covers. Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis), Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule) and other poppy species are nice spring-blooming flowers.

Don't leave out shrubs. Shrubs in bloom add bright, full colors and amazing scents to your yard. Whatever the plants you choose, make sure they're selected based on sun-exposure and soil-moisture requirements.

For more information on plant care, visit ext.colostate.edu.