Gardening Archives - DeckTec Outdoor Designs

Time to Plant Sweet Berries and Fragrant Herbs

May 16th, 2018|Blog, Gardening, Outdoor Recipes|

Berries and herbs tend to grow slowly, and because of our short growing season here, are best cultivated from starts, which are available now at garden centers, farmers markets, supermarkets and hardware stores. If you try to grow these from seed, well, it might be winter before you see anything! Keep in mind that container plants in general are considerably more exposed to the elements, (heat, cold, moisture and dryness) than plants in the ground. In Colorado it’s advisable to go with plastic pots which won’t evaporate water as quickly than the porous earthen terra cotta pots. (That being said, there’s good news for diehard terra cotta lovers – Sturtz & Copeland in Boulder, 303-442-6663, is now carrying a line of waterproof German terra cotta that will work just as well as plastic.) Herbs Herbs in general can tolerate our hot and dry Colorado summers and because of that are [...]

Deck to Table Dining

April 18th, 2018|Blog, Garden & Lawn Care, Gardening|

Our March issue offered helpful tips for designing an “on deck” container garden. Now we’re ready to “get growing!” If you’re up for the container gardening adventure, the rewards are great – imagine the joys of watching plants you’ve carefully tended grow into maturity. How wonderful is a dinner party with friends and family gathered round enjoying the “fruits” (and vegetables) of your labor from the deck where they were raised? There’s just no better way to impress your guests! Salad greens such as arugula, mustard, and mesculun, sassy, baby and braising mixes as well as lettuces grow quickly and easily from seed. They do well in cool weather and ideally should be planted now, as rain and snow will aid germination. These greens are especially great for pots because they don’t take up much room, and, even better, they grow back after being cut for multiple harvests. You can [...]

Spring Is in Bloom – Get Your Garden in Shape

April 14th, 2016|Garden & Lawn Care, Gardening|

Here at DeckTec, we work hard to design, create, and maintain beautiful custom outdoor living environments for you to enjoy with friends and family. Once your deck has been built, stained, and sealed, it’s up to you to turn it in to your ideal space. One of the most beautiful and environmentally friendly ways to perk up your outdoor room is to decorate with various flowers and plants. You’ll be surrounded by colorful blossoms and luscious greenery just in time for spring! Whether you’re interested in starting out with your first potted plant or have been tending a garden for years, use these tips and tricks to keep your deck as comfortable as possible and your plants looking great. One of the few downsides to springtime in Colorado is that once the weather inches above 70 degrees, mosquitoes come out to wreak havoc on anyone who forgets to light their [...]

Fall is Time to Play in the Dirt

September 20th, 2014|Garden & Lawn Care, Gardening|

The first cold of the autumn hit recently, and with it comes the desire to pack everything into the garage and snuggle up under your nearest blanket. But for gardeners everywhere, this change in weather is all part of the rhythm of life. There is still plenty of work to do at this time, and plenty to enjoy about being outside. Right now is a great time to be thinking about next spring. We gardeners can run to our garden shops and catalogs and picture great color for when the last of the snows melt away, even if we haven't experienced the first touch of winter yet. Now is a great time to amend the soil for next year's gardens. Betsy Kelson, staff horticulturalist with Jared's Nursery spent a little time with us to review this past summer's challenges and getting the ground ready for next spring. "The problem this [...]

Harvest Abundance? Give It Away!

August 9th, 2014|Garden & Lawn Care, Gardening|

Have you ever been hungry, really hungry? Have you ever wondered where your next meal might come from or if it will come at all? According to a report from the United States Department of Agriculture, one in seven people in Colorado are food insecure. "Food insecure simply means that people are not sure where their next meal is coming from," said Jodi Torpey, a member of Garden Writers Association and volunteer coordinator for Colorado's Plant a Row for Hunger organization. "They're not sure about tomorrow or next week. Even if they are working, minimum wages aren't enough to ensure they'll eat." Carol Ledbetter, the Program Administrator for Plant A Row's national effort concurs. "It isn't just derelicts that are going without food," she said. "It's also a lot of people working two jobs, or who can't find a job while they're taking care of their kids. We have to [...]