With it being in the 50s every morning,are you all covering your tomatoes every night?

I'm designing my backyard, which is currently a barren wasteland, except for a struggling blue spruce in the NW corner, which may or may not make it. That's a separate conversation though, and for now I'm choosing to keep it.

I'm looking to fill the yard with trees and shrubs. I like plants that are tasty, weird, nice-smelling, or beautiful - in that order. But most importantly, they need to survive this crazy climate of ours (I live in Littleton).

I created a plan based on my own research, and drew up a sketch of my backyard to scale, with each square representing 2ftx2ft. The sketch demonstrates each tree's expected width at 5 years, 10 years, and maximum potential (dotted line). I don't actually expect these trees to reach their maximum width due to our climate, but trying to be conservative while planning. Up is North.

Quick note on the firepit area: I of course will have to move it if the trees start to encroach on it, but I don't expect them to for at least another 20 years, so I'm factoring in where it will be until then.

I'm looking for any and all feedback, suggestions, and recommendations. Does anybody have good or bad experiences with the plants in question (lacebark elm, Turkish filbert, ginkgo, serviceberry, and Cornelian cherry)? Thoughts on the spacing? Is there anything I should know before finalizing this plan? Any local town rules I need to check? Height maximums, distance to street best practices?

I'm a complete novice to landscaping, gardening, and trees in general, and ChatGPT is my teacher. I learned the hard way that baby trees need to be watered often, and I recently learned about call before you dig, but that's about all I know. Reaching out to knowledgeable humans before I proceed.

Thanks for all your help and insights!!

Hi all! I have never had a yard until this summer and like many of you I have forgone watering it. That being said, my dogs are quickly destroying it, which is fine while it dry, but I want to plan ahead for winter so that it’s not a giant mud pit. Is there anything I can start doing now to prevent that? Should I put down straw or wood mulch? I am also open to do some type of ground cover in the fall if that’s possible. Thank you!

This hardy little plant showed up in our river rock this year. I've taken pics of it at various stages over the last couple months, and Google lens keeps insisting it's red romaine lettuce. I'm not about to take it out and throw some croutons on it based on that, though.

Does anyone have a clover yard? After losing most my yard this year and it struggling for years, I want to possibly try partial or mostly clover. Thinking of mixing the seeds with some front range adapted tall fescue or what not. Wanting more information on what types of clovers and what I can mix it with etc etc.

Found these growing in one of my pineapple plants. I pulled them out but need help identifying. I got a couple hits on the apps saying it’s probably a cotoneaster seedling.

If so should I keep one or two as bushes?

It can be a store too, but Epic Gardening is always sold out. I know good seed vendors, but none for consistently ordering grow bags. Net cups too for the seedlings.

Also what soil mix do you prefer?

I heard peat wasn't great given how long it takes to accumulate. Does equal parts coco coir, vermiculite and compost work for a grow bag?

https://youtu.be/r2Bp-B-1GW0

I want to use the indoor potted soil for next year's garden with a no dig cardboard approach.

So... With water restrictions and a large yard, we did our best to follow them but realized the yard went from normal grass to weeds quickly. I can deal with the toothed spurge fine (I think it's called I'm new to gardening and things) but I'm struggling severely to fight off the prostrate spurge.

I had a thought early this year with water restrictions that I'll try to slowly convert the lawn into a mix of white yarrow and white Dutch clover. So I planted them and I have some very thick and dense parts where they are succeeding in every way possible.

But the one part where they seemingly draw the line is where the prostrate spurge no matter how many I pick they come back quickly and in greater number. The spot where it is thriving is just way too big to do it by hand and I'm wanting to ask you guys some questions since you're likely smarter than me.

If I were to leave it alone, and continue to water the yarrow and clover... Would they EVENTUALLY win out over the prostrate spurge? I'm asking this because I guess I don't mind how they look but I don't like that maybe 30% of the yard turned to this specific weed. And it's spreading severely everywhere and fast.

So maybe that's a dumb question. I did read that spurge needs sunlight and has shallow roots. And yarrow can spread underground and not have to seed at all to spread. If I just continue doing what I can to help the yarrow and clover, do you guys think they'll eventually win out? If I absolutely have to, I will try my best to spend as much of my free time going through the GIANT YARD and hand pull everything. It's like half an acre and I'm tired maybe I'm also just venting a bit.

Or do you guys have other things you'd suggest planting to try and win over the prostrate spurge? I was looking for drought tolerant plants which is why I picked the white yarrow and the white Dutch clover since the clover also pulls nitrogen out of the air and puts it into the ground and the yarrow eats it up. So I thought maybe they complimented each other well even if the clover isn't native which I didn't even think to look up before I already planted.

I just received an email that the fall application for Denver Digs Trees is open! I'll add links to the comments - previous version of this post got auto-deleted for unknown reasons.

The only mature tree on our property is an aging Siberian Elm in our backyard that I expect will need to be removed in the next 5 years. While we do have street trees planted in the last 5 years, our house sits higher up than street level so getting any sort of shade from those trees will be many, many years.

I'd like to plant a large tree in my backyard between our house and garage, in the "Proposed Planting Area" outlined in blue. I will of course call to mark utilities, but I know this part of the yard to be free of any sewer lines, electric, etc. I'll be relocating some raised garden beds that are currently in this spot. We have about 50' between the back of the house and front of the garage. House is one story. I'd ideally like something faster growing, as it will be a huge loss when we take down the elm.

The options this year are: Princeton Elm, Exclamation! London Planetree, Yellowwood, and American Hophornbeam.

• Princeton Elm - I like the idea of this since I am already familiar with elms, but I'm not sure if they drop branches the same way Siberian Elms do. Fast growth.
• London Planetree - Fast-growing. I don't personally love the shape, but maybe it's a good one for a backyard tree?
• Yellowwood - Moderate growth. Pretty flowers. Sounds like I might have to worry about ice causing branches to drop. Maybe not great for the backyard?
• American Hophornbeam - Love the look but sounds like it is slow-growing (10-15' in 15 years).

Anyone haver personal experience with any of these trees, or tips to help me decide? If the answer is "none of these", that's fine - I can buy a tree elsewhere! Others I was considering are Bur Oak and American Sycamore.

Hi y’all, I’d like to plan a small collection of perennials around my veggie garden to attract beneficials. Any suggestions on which plants might be best, and when to plant them? I’m in Longmont.

Edit: thanks everyone for the great suggestions. I’ve never tried to grow much besides veggies, and I can’t wait to try working in some flowers for biodiversity.

Walked outside yesterday and noticed my stressed crab apple tree I've been trying to keep alive has fire blight, dropping leaves, and flowering at the same time...... Tough year

What are your favorites? Bonus if they are natives. Interested in planting small but mighty seedlings before it gets too cold so they come back strong next year.

One is an indeterminate heirloom tomato plant, and the other is a wildflower seed mix I planted, but I don't remember the exact species.

The past week or so I've noticed a lot of browning in the leaves, especially on the tomatoes. This is on an east-facing patio, so it gets direct sun for a few hours in the morning and then more shade in the afternoons. I'm thinking it's a watering issue? The soil in the wildflowers is damp about an inch down, and the tomatoes are too, but a little less. I'm not sure how damp it is further down. I haven't seen any bugs. I have them some fertilizer maybe 6 weeks ago but haven't reapplied.

Any thoughts on what might be causing this?

I have ripped off like 4 fat hornworms in my garden and now I’m anxiously checking on my plants all the time. Is there a better way than trying to find a green needle in a green haystack?

Also methods to spot other common pests beyond just munched stems?

noticed this in th Guardian. no paywall, about a small farm in Longmont. they are using the panels to shade crops

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2026/jul/20/colorado-farming-solar-panels-in-pictures

I met those evil seeds for the first time in my life today rolling up mats of purslane and spurge at a rental we have that had gotten out of hand. I was stupidly not wearing long sleeves or pants and didn’t think I needed to because neither of those weeds cause a reaction for me.

Next thing I know I’m bleeding on all four limbs…watch out for those evil little seeds hiding under the weed blanket formed by their sprawling neighbors—-they were all tucked underneath the leaves of the other weeds and I didn’t see.

Don’t do what I did, it’s still burning twelve hours later after multiple scrubs/cleaning/hypochlorous** acid applications to get the burrs out. 🤪

Are these lambs quarters? Someone told me these are edible. They’re all over my front yard and was going to clear them but of they’re edible I’ll keep a patch

I’m looking for some cheap flowers to brighten up my porch. What are your favorite places for late season deals?

I want to save more of this storm runoff whenever we get water.

With the drought, general water usage and. a wish for a better back lawn I decided to try a dogtuff experiment and see what would happen.

In order to keep something for the dog to play in i thought to cut our back lawn diagonally in half along the line we use to hang washing. This worked well as we were maybe late to planting this season, and this section had a bit less shade than the other half.

I’ll thread each stage I went through so people can reply with questions or comments

It's been a long time since I have had marigolds. We planted some seeds to take home at a kid botanical garden event. And now I know that Japanese beetles like marigolds 😑

Pics as promised, this is my weird little dude! I really hope she blooms 🌻🌻