For many folks, owning real estate in Summit County Colorado means relaxing summer vacations and time to be out in the garden. Breckenridge real estate from Main Street to Breckenridge Golf course homes to rural cabins in Blue River get all caught up in colorful displays of flowers.
Mud season is a great time to plan to brighten up a corner of your vacation home in Frisco or a condominium terrace in Silverthorne CO real estate. Plan to put in lavish baskets and flower beds of peonies, crocus, poppies, lupine, tulips, columbine, delphinium—and peek-a-boo stands of hearty wildflowers along the hillsides.
Gardening at an elevation of 9,600 feet requires a bit more patience than at sea level, however. Our local landscapers are wonderful guides to successful high-altitude gardening. They know what works and what plants tend to struggle in the cooler climate.
Annuals and perennials are slow to start. They can be started indoors using the short-season or high-altitude seeds that are available through a variety of plant suppliers and local landscaping companies. Additionally, seed-starting mixes such as Redi-Earth Seed Starter and Ferti-Mix are available on the market. They really do help our high-altitude gardeners achieve maximum success. After germinating, seeds must stay inside for 4-6 weeks so start in early May. To shortcut the process, buy plugs to plant in June.
When temperatures consistently reach the 40s, prepare the flower beds outdoors but wait to plant until the middle of June when warm weather arrives. By covering the plants with mulch and regularly watering and weeding, most gardeners enjoy beautiful blooming gardens by late July or early August. After the middle of August, it’s best to stop fertilizing and start planning for next year. Most watering should end by the end of summer.
Wildflowers prefer soil with low fertility that can be watered. If seeded with a carrier such as fine sand, they will spread evenly. The key is to barely cover them with dirt and to keep them moist. If planted in the spring, they will bloom by late summer.
New gardeners may get the hang of it more quickly by joining the Summit County Garden Club, which works on beautifying public spaces. Mid-summer, they hold an annual tour of some of the most fabulous gardens in the area. Everyone shares gardening ideas, including inspiration about healthy bushes and flower bulbs like daffodils that can be planted in the fall for an easy garden in 2010. By the way, water bulbs until snow or freezing temperatures arrive.
Jonna Beardsley of Breckenridge Associates offers a wealth of information about real estate in the Rocky Mountain region. Call Jonna at (970) 453-2200 for friendly, professional assistance.
