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Follow these environmental safety measures while planning the landscape for your home.

When planning your landscape, keep home safety in mind. Most burglars are not the slick, sophisticated type seen in films; many break-ins are hastily planned. A few strategic design decisions could provide the deterrent needed to make a potential burglar rethink their actions.

Security professionals and law enforcement often recommend the following environmental safety measures for homes:

• Reduce hiding spots. Avoid big hedges around the front of your property. Don’t plant large shrubs near windows or entryways, where potential intruders might hide from view. Be sure neighbors or passersby can see any suspicious activity.
• Use noisy ground cover. Using gravel on pathways and in areas near windows can amplify the sound of footsteps on your property. Trespassers might reconsider if they know they can be heard.
• Place low, thorny plants around entryways. Prickly plants like roses or yucca can deter an intruder looking to enter through a window.
• Light up the night. Well-placed LED lighting can add cost-effective curb appeal to your home and shine a light on anyone considering a break-in. Place motion-activated lights in dark corners.
• Hide your tools. Don’t make a burglar’s work easier by leaving them tools for breaking in. Keep ladders, shovels, and landscape tools locked up when not in use.

Choose plants and features that do double duty by making your landscape look good while also adding protection for your home.

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Here are few tips for the spring month!

With the current wintry weather along the Front Range, it’s hard to believe that the first day of spring is next month. It’s not a good time to work outside, but you can still think ahead and make plans from the comfort of your living room.

Make a plan

Use a trusted online source (CSU Extension has reliable Colorado-specific resources) to help you decide what you want to grow and where. Check your local library for reference guides, or sign up for a community class on water-wise landscaping, pollinator gardens, or whatever you want to see in your yard. Consult a landscape professional for expert guidance in putting the right plant in the right place.

Find your seeds

Did you harvest some seeds from your first tomatoes or save your marigold seeds? Take a moment to locate those seeds you set aside last year. Review the guidelines for each type of plant so that you know when it’s time to sow them.

Place orders

Need some new tools, parts for outdoor equipment, or new seeds? Check prices, find the right supplier, and order items soon so that they arrive before you need them.

Schedule with the professionals

If you need sprinkler activation, weekly mowing, renovations, or any landscape services this spring or summer, contact a professional for estimates today and get on their calendar. Don’t lost in the scramble of procrastinators calling for appointments on that first warm spring day.

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Change the tradition and say “Happy Valentine’s Day” with a plant.

Roses traditionally say, “I love you,” but a bouquet lasts only so long. Why not say “Happy Valentine’s Day” with a plant that will show them love beyond February?

Stick with roses, but give them the whole plant

Your valentine can keep it indoors for now and move it outside when the weather warms. With proper care, roses will continue to bloom indoors.

Bring some blooms inside for winter

Looking for something different from the usual roses? Cyclamen is a popular indoor flowering plant in the winter. It is available in many colors ranging from white, pale pink and hot pink to red. It needs some sunlight and regular watering, so make sure your valentine has the right spot to help it thrive.

Go green

Leafy green houseplants make a perfectly on-trend gift. Plus, having plants at home can give your loved one benefits like better moods and improved productivity, according to research. Visit a local garden center for expert advice on the right plant

Try a durable plant that isn’t finicky

Cast iron plant, like its name implies, is a hardy plant. It grows 2-3 ft. tall and has narrow, dark green leaves. It will live in dark rooms with infrequent watering. It spreads slowly so it rarely needs re-potting. If your sweetie doesn’t have a light-filled room or a green thumb, this might be a good choice.

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Here are some winter lawn care tips to keep your lawn healthy and green.

Your lawn does not actually die each winter; it goes dormant. Dormant grass needs care too, especially in periods where there is lack of precipitation. Turf needs water in winter, though not as much as it does in the heat of the summer. Simply turning off the water until spring leaves your lawn at risk of drought stress.

Drought stress creates favorable conditions for problems like turf mites. The damage (brown, straw-like patches) can show up as early as February and can devastate the entire lawn if left untreated. The best defense against mites is to water turf over the winter.

Just be sure to water when the soil is above 40 degrees. Don’t water frozen soil.

And while we may not have to worry about managing snow right now, remember that salt or ice melt used on walks and driveways can end up in the lawn and cause damage. Use only when needed and avoid brushing or shoveling it onto nearby grass or plants.

Give your landscape water and a little attention this winter to make sure it returns to a healthy green this spring. Consult a landscape professional if you’re unsure about how much water your turf needs or are concerned about pests or disease.

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Get them ready now instead of waiting until the moment you need them.

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This new year, think ahead for your outdoor spaces.

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Here are some benefits of keeping indoor plants that can help you get nature fix until spring returns.

So while you’re waiting for spring, why not give some love to the plants inside? They’ll love you right back.

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Checkout for some trendy plants that grow well in the state’s unique growing conditions this year.

In these cold winter months, you can imagine warmer days as you consider what to plant this spring. To help you decide, National Garden Bureau (NGB) has announced their “Year of the” crops for 2020. Trend-watching Colorado gardeners will be happy to learn that several of the plants can grow well in the state’s unique growing conditions.

Year of the iris
Irises are a beautiful, relatively low-maintenance plant that enjoys sunny Colorado days. It can thrive in the state’s dry, alkaline soil and at higher elevation. There are even natives—Rocky Mountain iris—for those interested in having more native plants in their landscape.
Fun fact: The name iris comes from the Greek word for rainbow, and irises grow in nearly every color of the rainbow except red.

Year of the lavender
This drought-tolerant, fragrant plant produces beautiful flowers and can grow as a shrub. Whether you harvest it for food (be sure to buy food-grade lavender plants for your herbs de Provence or lavender lattes), floral arrangements or aromatherapy, it will add striking color and scent to your landscape.
Fun fact: Some folks recommend lavender oil to soothe anxiety, to help with sleep or as a bug repellant.

Year of the corn
NGB always includes an edible plant among their recommendations. This year they’ve chosen corn, which is a delicious crop worth the effort.
Fun fact: Each ear of corn will have an even number of rows and one strand of silk for each kernel.

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Here are winter care tips to protect your lawn in winter.

Your irrigation system should be shut down for the season, but you still need to give the lawn a drink. You’ll need to drag out the hose and sprinkler.

You may have seen—or still see—snow on the ground, but don’t count on that snow to be enough to get your lawn through the winter. Snowfall usually provides far less moisture than rain, so you’ll need to supplement that with some winter watering—though not while the ground is frozen.

Don’t just spritz the grass—water long enough so that the soil is thoroughly soaked without run-off. Be sure to water areas in high sun exposure which tend to suffer winter kill. Water sloped areas using cycle-and-soak: several shorter periods of watering let the moisture soak in without running off. Dry winter conditions can also attract turf mites, but proper watering can deter them.

If you aren’t able to water your landscape this winter, hire a landscape pro to do the work for you. It’s a good investment in the long-term value of your property.

Follow these guidelines from CSU on when and how to water this winter:

• Water when air and soil temperatures are above 40 degrees with no snow cover.
• Water mid-day so that the water doesn’t freeze overnight and cause damage.
• Watering one or two times per month, depending on conditions, is usually sufficient.

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Upgrade your lawn with classic blue. Talk with your garden center/landscape professional about plant select today!

For 2020, The Pantone Color Institute^TM has chosen Classic Blue (PANTONE 19-4052) as its Color of the Year. This classic color is meant to evoke thoughts of the night sky and a feeling of dependability.

Right now, you might not see a lot of bright color in your landscape, but why not think about how to incorporate this trendy hue into your environment next spring? Talk with your garden center or landscape professional about Plant Select^©, which develops plants that can thrive in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain and high plains conditions. They offer a number of plants that can give your garden the blues—in a good way. Here are just a few:

• Smoky Hills Skullcap (Scutellaria) – This “true blue native wildflower” can handle dry or xeric conditions, is deer resistant and attracts pollinators.
• Grand Mesa beardtongue (Penstemon mensarum) – Deer-resistant, pollinator-friendly, and brilliantly blue, this North American native perennial blooms from April to June.
• Blue jazz dwarf piñon pine (Pinus monophylla) – If you want a deer-resistant, low-water plant that provides color year-round, give this “everblue” a try.

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