East Cheesman Neighbors

LAWN AND GARDEN TIPS from THE DENVER MASTER GARDENERS

Jun 12, 2001

Judy Sedbrook
Denver Master Gardeners

Gardening conditions here along the Front Range are very different from other
areas of the country and we have many people moving into our metro
neighborhoods who are new to Colorado.

THE MASTER GARDENER PROGRAM
A Master Gardener is a graduate of the nation-wide Master Gardener training system. In this system county organizations provide research-based information and educational programs, tailored to fit local needs, using resources from the state land grant university and the United States Department of Agriculture.

In Colorado, the Master Gardener program is administered by Colorado State University, through each county's CSU Cooperative Extension office. Master Gardeners are trained to help the gardening public solve their gardening
problems. We are volunteers and there is no charge for our services.

We have a webpage:
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/">Denver Master
Gardener, Gardening & Horticulture

http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG
(or you can type Denver Master Gardener into any search engine)

Here we have information on most gardening topics (flowers, trees & shrubs,
fruits & vegetables, lawns, soil, ponds, xeriscape, children in the garden,
houseplants, etc.), a glossary, FAQ, community resources; a monthly calendar
of gardening tips, pest alerts and average weather statistics; links to other
gardening sites and more.

You can ask a master gardener questions by phone
(720-913-5278) or email

mailto:denvermg@coop.ext.colostate.edu">
denvermg@coop.ext.colostate.edu

LAWN TIPS

A healthy lawn is less susceptible to invasion. Be sure you care for your lawn properly:

Core aerate the lawn at least once a year to help decrease thatch layers.

Mow grass as necessary to maintain a height of 2 1/2 to three inches. Leave the clippings on the lawn.

Water the lawn to depth of 6 to 8 inches as infrequently as possible without creating water stress.

Avoid excess applications of nitrogen fertilizers. The recommended amount for
bluegrass, the most popular lawn in Colorado, is 2 to 4 pounds of nitrogen annually per 1,000 square feet. This can be divided up into 2 to 4
fertilizer applications timed as follows: 4 applications, one in April, late May, late August, early October.

You can make only 2 applications in late May
and early October or add a third in late August.

The fourth application is only necessary for people desirous of growing extremely high quality turf requiring lots of mowing.