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Gardening ideas for Boulder, Colorado |
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January 31st, 2013 . Posted in Flowers, Orchids |
 Valentine’s Day is an exciting time at Sturtz and Copeland! Whether you are a traditional Romantic or your Sweetheart has a more unique style, our designers are here to create something special for her no matter what her style. Our coolers are stocked with hundreds of premium roses of almost every color imaginable, from the standard red rose to a beautiful peach rose. If roses aren’t your thing, a beautiful mix of oriental lilies, orchids, tulips and other fresh spring flowers is a wonderful choice. We also have an amazing selection of orchid plants to choose from as well. Our designers have over 90 years of experience combined and are passionate about helping make your Valentine’s Day one she won’t forget.
If you want your arrangement to last, be sure to keep the water fresh in the vase. It can be changed every other day. When you change the water, give the stems a quick fresh cut. Try to keep them out of direct sunlight (like a window), and do not leave them outside in the winter.
November 19th, 2012 . Posted in Christmas Trees, Fruits and berries, Garland, Orchids, Poinsettias |
Be sure to cut at least 1” of trunk off of your Christmas tree and put it immediately into your stand with warm water. Dissolve two Aspirin in that 1st container of warm water to facilitate water uptake. Then NEVER let the tree run dry. You may be surprised how much the tree uses at first. So keep on it. By the way, we carry Davis Christmas tree stands. These are the best and sturdiest tree stand available especially for large trees. We carry a nice selection of premium trees from table top size to twelve feet or more with special order. We have Fraser, Noble, Nordman, Concolor and Canaan Firs with access to other types by special order.
 In addition we offer delivery and set up.
We carry fresh mixed evergreen wreaths as well as artificial wreaths and fresh evergreen mantel pieces, which are also nifty as table runners for large tables. We also have loose evergreen tips and boughs including three kinds of Cedar, Shore Pine, Douglas Fir, Princess Pine, Silver and Noble Fir and Holly. The best advice we can give you on fresh evergreen items is to soak them in a tub of water before displaying. It really plumps them up and adds to their freshness and longevity. Additionally, we dip all of our wreaths and swags in a Wilt Pruf solution to lock in freshness. To decorate your evergreens of all kinds, we carry a very nice selection of holiday ribbon, ornaments and berries (fresh and artificial) and even Pine Cones.
Now we would like to talk about the care of you Poinsettia. They require bright light without hot sun and need to be watered thoroughly until it comes out the bottom of the pot when they are dry on top. They hate to be cold and they hate to be wet all the time. We have poinsettias from 6” high to 4’ tall and many unique varieties.
For paperwhite bulbs, this is a tip I like: To prevent paperwhites from getting too tall and leggy give them some gin, (maybe Mom was right about drinking stunts your growth). 7:1 ratio of water to gin. Paperwhite bulbs can be started in soil in a pot with a drainage hole or in water with rocks or marbles as an anchor in any container that does not drain. The same applies for Amaryllis bulbs – though if you do them in water – change it often as it does get stinky.
A very durable holiday plant is a Christmas cactus. We also have Shooting Star Hydrangea, Star of Bethlehem, and the best orchid plants which are popular with every season, Azaleas, Cyclamen, Ivy, Herbal Topiaries and much, much more.
Things that make great gifts this year are Fairy Garden Supplies, fountains, Christmas tea kettles, kitchen towels, and canvas bags. We also have a wonderful selection of fragrant Rosy Ring candles, furry owl ornaments, terrariums and a sweet line of Designer Stone statues. Don’t forget we always have a unique selection of greeting cards and nice boxed Christmas cards.
August 14th, 2012 . Posted in Avant Gardening Series, Gardening, Tomatoes, Vegetables |
 For those of you who don’t know what the latest Tomato craze is – it’s Mighty Matos. They are available to us for the first time this yea. Mighty Matos are some of our favorite Tomato varieties grafted on to some secret wild tomato root stock.
The ides is that a delicious but non-productive variety like Black Krim (my favorite), becomes a giant, disease free, productive one.
Well it worked. Normally this time of year I would have at most about 1/2 dozen fruit on my plant. This year I have at least triple that. Yeah!
The plant seems in good health, but is not giant. Oddly enough this plant was more attacked by flea beetles than my other, but no real harm done. ]
 New this year for me is growing Peppers in large containers. I have never been able to grow large Peppers in my ground soil, no matter how fertile it was. In containers the soil is very warm and that’s what Pepper’s like. SO viola! Large plants = large fruit.
July 23rd, 2012 . Posted in Avant Gardening Series, Flowers, Fruits and berries, Gardening, Tomatoes, Vegetables |
Hi Everyone!
I haven’t blogged in so long and I don’t know if anyone cares. So, if you come to Sturtz and Copeland and say “I read Connie’s blog”, you will receive $5.00 off of a $25.00 purchase on anything you carry away with you.
This season has been remarkable in many ways. Our last frost was April 2rd, which is a month and 1/2 earlier than average. Most people recognize that bloom times are 4 to 6 weeks ahead of schedule. Makes me wonder what will still be blooming by September 1st.
 On April Fools Day (because I thought it was a joke), I planted my squash and cucumber – 6 weeks early! I even planted a tomato seed right in my garden that day. All including the Red Siberian Tomato, have thrived. They sprouted quickly and never looked back.
This is the earliest I have ever harvested full size onions planted from seedlings. Just last week, I pulled them out to store and am doing a second crop from sets. My roses are on their 3rd round of blooms.
The heat has been a challenge. Timed watering set to occur just before the hottest days of the week have helped. By the way, don’t be fooled into over watering when it’s hot. Plants can look like they are wilting on a hot sunny day even when the soil is plenty moist. My biggest complaint about the heat is the way that it prevents much fruit from setting on my Tomato plants and now, just when they have more blossoms on them it is supposed to be 102 tomorrow. The flowers may just drop off again. There is a spray you can buy to help called Blossom Set. Heat Delay is a condition that causes many flowering plants to stop blooming all together. Just feed and be patient.
I have been battling the whitish aphid that loves my Broccoli and Kale for weeks already and I usually don’t see them much until August. Safer Yard & Garden with soap and pyrethrins has taken care of the problem for now. The Leafminer on my Swiss chard and beets has been early and often. I keep them at bay with Captain Jack’s spray containing Spinaseed., but I have had to cut away many ruined leaves and keep on spraying. Many folks are having lots of trouble with beetle’s, weevils, grasshoppers and flea beetles. We are selling lots of Diatomaceous Earth and Spinosad powder for these pests.
February 17th, 2012 . Posted in Avant Gardening Series, Gardening, Herbs, Tomatoes, Vegetables |
What should I talk  about while we have all of this snow cover? Spring and gardens, of course!
When you just can’t wait you could think about building or purchasing a cold frame. A cold frame is essentially a mini greenhouse with a wood or metal frame and plastic or glass for a cover. You must be able to prop open the “lid” on warm days. We are now able to order the “Cadillac” of cold frames that is like a mini greenhouse complete with an automatic venting system for those warm days.
One could set up a cold frame this month and after the snow meets and the ground under it un-freezes you can plant any cool season vegetable plant like spinach and lettuce.
Get a jump start on your gardening, friends, and get a cold frame today!
December 9th, 2011 . Posted in Christmas Trees, Garland, Poinsettias, Wreaths |
Christmas Trees: I don’t think folks realize how important it is to keep your Christmas tree watered. You need to think of your Christms tree as one big “cut flower”.
For best results, cut with a hand saw right before placing it in your tree stand with warm water. You may add 1 or 2 crushed Aspirin in the 1st container of water only. Aspirin helps with water uptake.
Don’t be surprised if the tree drings a quart or more the 1st night. Water uptake then continues usually at a slower pace. Do not let it run competely dry if you expect the needles to stay supple.
Poinsettias are quite easy to care for if you follow a couple simple rules. :
- Place it in a bright spot without direct sun
- water when dry on top until it comes out of the bottom of the pot.
Evergreen Christmas wreaths can be kept fresher for longer by using a natural product called Wilt-Pruf. Every wreath we sell is dippind in Wilt-Pruf as a matter of course – so our customers get teh best possible life out of the wreath. For best results do not hang in Southern Sun.
November 25th, 2011 . Posted in Uncategorized |
 Connie's Dad - Ray Smith My dad and others often ask if it is okay to trim back perennials that are brown, dry and still standing in one’s garden this time of year. The answer is YES – Trim them back to about a 4″-6″ stubble and allow leaves to accumulate in the stubble around the plants. This acts as a natural mulch and keeps your plants moist and warmer for the winter.
November 11th, 2011 . Posted in Flowers, Gardening |
 Connie's Mom - Trish Smith My mom said I’m behind on blogging. So here I go…
Remember when cleaning out your garden in the fall to NOT put diseased or buggy plants in your compost pile. I trash them or put them in the The City Compost. Your compost pile or bin may not heat up enough to kill bugs, disease or weed seeds for that matter.
Now that we have had our first cold spell and the soil has cooled and the snow has cleared – It is a perfect time to plant flower bulbs for a blast of color in spring.
Best to mulch afterward to moderate the soil temp. This will help prevent them from sprouting too early.
Plant your winter pansies now too. You can plant them right over your bulbs for a show of color off and on this winter and a very early jump start to color in late winter / early spring.
October 8th, 2011 . Posted in Deer and Other Pests, Flowers, Gardening, Herbs |
This fall I finally found what seems to be a good solution to the problem of squirrels eating my winter squash. Apparently, they hate the smell of blood, so I sprinkled blood meal all around, on the leaves on the ground and it really worked. EUREKA!
 Tonight 10/8 – looks like the first night it may freeze. I will cover my tender vegetable plants like tomatoes, peppers and summer squash in order to eek out another week or two of harvest. THe frost blanket we sell at Sturtz and Copeland is lightweight so it doesn’t crush the plants. I find it works very well down to about 25 degrees F or so. Below that not much helps.
Happy Fall Harvest!
September 23rd, 2011 . Posted in Deer and Other Pests, Gardening, Uncategorized |
You would not believe how often we discuss fungus gnats with customers.
They are pesty little guys that look like fruit flys that hang around your fresh fruit bowl, but instead are around your plants.
We have found that the best treatment has 2 steps:
- You must kill the flys with sticky traps (sold here) or a pyrethrin spray.
- You must also treat what you can’t see. The gnats lay eggs in the soil and you must kill the maggots that result, (everyone squirms when I say maggot). There is a home remedy that works very well as a drench for the soil as follows:
Fungus Gnat Remedy
· 1 quart warm water
· 5-6 drops antibacterial soap
· 3 drops ammonia
· 1 teaspoon rubbing alcohol
· Pour ½ cup to 1 quart into soil depending on pot size
You must also use a topical spray contacting pyrethrins or sticky yellow stakes to catch the adults
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