Gardening is a complex endeavor. A symbiosis with countless living things, both seen and unseen, and the management of numerous interactions with the nonliving world. As such, it can be challenging to troubleshoot the underlying causes of poor garden performance or unexpected behavior of plants in the garden. Sometimes, it's best to go back to basics. And soils are often, quite literally, at the root of it all.</p> This year, the horticulture research team implemented a large field experiment at Chatfield Farms to determine the most effective combinations of soil amendments and mulches to improve soil characteristics, reduce water loss, limit weed growth and promote healthy ornamental plant growth. In early spring, we prepared over 16,000 square feet of land at Chatfield Farms. We removed existing vegetation, incorporated amendments into the soil, and applied mulches to the soil surface. Our team monitored plant growth, phenology and weed invasion throughout the season and sampled soils for physical and chemical analysis. Instruments were also installed in each plot to continuously measure the soil temperature and moisture content throughout the study.</p> Despite a dizzying amount of information in magazines and on the web, there is relatively little empirical research on this subject, especially for semi-arid regions like the Front Range of Colorado. The results from this work will help to inform our Sustainable Landscape Services</a> program and our general horticultural practices at the Gardens.</p> An exciting feature of our study is that only native and regionally adapted plants with low water requirements are included. Generally, this group of plants does not require high soil fertility or lots of organic matter. Instead, excellent drainage and open pore space are thought to be more important, which goes against common horticultural wisdom urging gardeners to apply composts and organic mulches to improve soil fertility and texture. We hope the results illuminate best practices for this understudied group of landscape plants.</p> Mulching and soil amendment practices have also been shown to significantly influence how water from precipitation and irrigation infiltrates the soil and how much of that water is lost through evaporation. Through this study, we can compare how unique combinations of amendments and mulches differ in their ability to capture and retain precious water, recommendations that will further our goal of water conservation horticultural practices.</p> If you are interested in hearing about the preliminary results from this work or taking a deeper dive into soil science, members of our horticulture research team will present at the Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants Conference</a> this February. </p>
At Chatfield Farms, we have just finished our installation of winter containers. Whether they are glittery or natural, DIY winter containers don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg to make. Here are a few tips to help you create your own festive home displays, which are hearty enough to last throughout the holiday season.</p> Start with a foundation of greenery.</strong> We suggest using a variety of plant material types to help create layers and contrasting textures. While there are some great fresh garlands for purchase, with a little effort you can score fragrant varieties of evergreens for free. One of our favorite sources of greenery is Christmas tree lots. Most places that cut the bottoms and bag the trees have scraps for free. Also, local tree sellers usually have a bucket of scraps that gets cleaned out before and after the weekend. Help these businesses get rid of waste, reuse and repurpose what would otherwise be thrown away, and spruce up your place in one stroke.</li> Hydrate your greenery.</strong> Once you bring your greenery home, cut off a half inch of the stems and put them in water for 24 hours. Many florists anchor their displays in floral foam, which is soaked in water. If you have fresh garland or place your branches directly into your potting soil, misting your pots with water daily can extend their life throughout the winter season. We use an anti-desiccant, such as Holiday Magic or Wilt Stop, which when sprayed onto the foliage seals the stomata to preserve the moisture.</li> Use the Thriller, Filler and Spiller Rule: </strong>Arrange your greenery around the “thriller” you have chosen for your pots. This can be anything from trellises filled with ornaments to interesting sticks found in your yard. Add more interest by using dried perennials as fillers such as sedums, yarrow and echinacea seed heads. Tired of raking up pinecones? Throw them in your pots and use a flocking spray to give them that snowy effect. Want bird activity? Create some seed wreaths or pinecone feeders with the kids to bring all the birds to the yard. (Learn more about the thrillers, fillers and spillers in this blog post</a>.)</li> </ul> Don’t just leave those gorgeous planter pots barren this winter! While the garden may be sleeping, you can bring a little bit of joy to your doorstep that can last until spring. </p>
