Year-Round Landscaping Tips for Westminster’s One-of-a-Kind Climate

Spring Landscaping Tips

Get Your Soil in Shape

Good soil is the foundation of a great garden—without it, your plants don’t stand a chance. Here’s how to set the stage for success:

Test and Amend: Pick up a simple pH and nutrient test kit at your local garden center. If your soil runs acidic, add some lime. Too alkaline? Work in a bit of sulfur.

Add Organic Matter: Spread a couple of inches of compost or aged manure over your beds. Many local compost sites offer bulk deals if you need a lot. Turn it into the top six inches of soil with a garden fork or tiller.

Mulch & Cover Crops: Not planting right away? A cover crop like winter rye can help keep weeds down and improve your soil’s structure. When you’re ready to plant, toss on a light layer of mulch to lock in moisture and keep those weeds from crashing the party.

Healthy, nutrient-rich soil gives every plant—from veggie starts to flower bulbs—a strong, solid start.

Sow Bright Flowers and Fresh Greens

Spring weather here can be a bit unpredictable (hello, random freeze in April!). Stick with hardy, cool-season plants to get growing early:

Tough Flowers: Pansies, snapdragons, sweet alyssum, dusty miller, forget-me-nots—they’re all champs at handling the chill while adding pops of color.

Early Veggies: Lettuce, spinach, peas, radishes, kale—get these in the ground as soon as the soil’s ready.

Planting Basics: Dig holes about twice as wide as the root ball, loosen the roots a bit, set your plant so the top of the root ball sits at soil level, backfill, and water well. For seeds, follow the packet instructions—radishes like about a half-inch of soil cover, peas about an inch deep.

Mix in deer-resistant picks like lavender, salvia, and ornamental grasses to help keep curious critters at bay.

Prune, Clean, and Mulch

Think of spring cleanup as hitting the reset button on your garden:

Remove Debris: Clear out fallen branches, old mulch, and last season’s spent annuals.

Prune with Purpose: Wait to prune spring bloomers like lilac and forsythia until after they flower—cutting too early means fewer blooms next year. Summer bloomers like butterfly bush and rose of Sharon can be trimmed lightly now. Always snip just above a bud or branch collar with sharp, clean pruners.

Fresh Mulch: Spread two to three inches of shredded bark or cocoa hulls around your trees and perennials, but keep it a few inches away from the stems to avoid rot.

Not only will your yard look neat and refreshed, but you’ll also help keep pests and diseases from moving in.

Summer Landscaping Tips

Water Smart, Not Hard

Colorado summers can be tough on plants, but smart watering will keep your garden thriving without wasting a drop:

Deep & Infrequent: Aim for about an inch of water per week, delivered in one or two good soakings. This helps roots grow deeper and stronger.

Water Early: Morning is best—before 9 a.m.—to beat evaporation and give plants time to dry off before nightfall (which helps fend off diseases).

Drip & Soak: Drip lines or soaker hoses under the mulch deliver water right where it’s needed. Many local rebates can help offset the cost of installing a smart irrigation system.

Consider adding a rain barrel to catch spring runoff—it’ll come in handy when summer gets dry. And grouping plants with similar water needs makes the whole process easier.

Fight Pests Responsibly

Summer is prime time for bugs, but there’s no need to reach for heavy-duty chemicals right away:

Inspect Weekly: Check under leaves for aphids, mites, or caterpillars (ragged holes are a dead giveaway).

Recruit the Good Guys: Ladybugs, lacewings, parasitic wasps—these natural helpers keep pests in check. Invite them in by planting yarrow, dill, and cosmos.

DIY Pest Control: Try a gentle mix of neem oil or insecticidal soap for small infestations. Always spray early or late in the day to avoid leaf burn, and test a small patch first.

A healthy, balanced garden often keeps pests from turning into a big problem on its own.

Create Cool, Shady Retreats

Summer sun can be brutal—for both you and your plants. Here’s how to cool things down:

Fast-Growing Trees: Honey locust, elm, and redbud grow quickly and create shady spots in just a few seasons.

Shade Sails & Pergolas: Add a sailcloth canopy or build a pergola. Train clematis or climbing roses to cover it for natural shade.

Potted Solutions: Move containers to shadier spots, hang baskets under eaves, or group thirstier plants beneath taller shrubs.

Bonus: These shady spots double as the perfect place to kick back and relax on hot afternoons.

Fall Landscaping Tips

Prepare Your Garden for Winter

As the air cools, it’s time to tuck your garden in for the season:

Mulch & Insulate: Add a fresh two- to three-inch layer of mulch around perennials and at the base of trees. Just be sure to keep it off the trunks so air can circulate.

Wrap & Shelter: Move tender potted shrubs under cover or set up burlap windbreaks on the north and west sides of plants in the ground.

Final Deep Watering: Give everything one last long drink—especially your evergreens—before the ground freezes. Hydrated roots handle winter stress much better.

Plant Bulbs for a Spring Spectacle

Now’s the time to plant bulbs that will burst into color next spring:

Pick Your Bulbs: Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, alliums—they all do great here.

Planting Tips: Set bulbs about three times as deep as their height, pointy end up, and space them two to three bulb-widths apart.

Compost Top-Dress: Add a light layer of compost to nourish the soil while your bulbs settle in for their winter nap.

Clean Up & Compost

 Rake and Shred Leaves: Clear leaves off your lawn to avoid smothering the grass. Shred them and toss into your compost pile.

Cut Back Perennials: Trim down dead stalks, but consider leaving seed heads on natives like coneflowers and rudbeckia—they’re a great food source for winter birds.

Divide and Move: Fall is perfect for dividing perennials like hostas, daylilies, and bleeding hearts. Replant them to keep things healthy and thriving.

Winter Landscaping Tips

Winterize Thoughtfully

Good soil is the foundation of a great garden—without it, your plants don’t stand a chance. Here’s how tEven while your garden sleeps, a little work now sets the stage for spring:

Prune Dormant Fruit Trees: Late winter (January–February) is the sweet spot for pruning apple and cherry trees.

Wrap Evergreens: Use burlap wraps on the windward sides of shrubs to protect them from winter burn.

Mulch Check: If early snow buries your mulch, check for bare spots and top off where needed.

Plan for Next Year

Winter’s the perfect time to dream and scheme for your next garden season:

Sketch Your Ideas: Break out the seed catalogs, dream up new beds, and map out changes for the year ahead.

Care for Your Tools: Sharpen blades, oil handles, and get your gear ready to roll when spring hits.

Prep Greenhouses & Cold Frames: If you’re thinking about stretching the growing season, now’s the time to set up a mini greenhouse or cold frame.

Appreciate Winter’s Quiet Beauty

Your yard doesn’t lose its charm just because it’s winter:

Evergreen Structure: Juniper, holly, and dwarf spruce bring life and color under a blanket of snow.

Bright Berries: Plants like winterberry holly, cotoneaster, and pyracantha add cheerful pops of red and orange.

Create Ambiance: String up some soft LED lights, fire up the patio heater or fire pit, and keep cozy blankets nearby—you might find yourself enjoying your outdoor space even on chilly nights.

Final Thoughts

Landscaping in Westminster isn’t about chasing perfection—it’s about working with the natural rhythms of the seasons. Spring brings fresh starts, summer calls for smart care, fall is time to prepare and plant, and winter gives you a chance to rest, plan, and appreciate the beauty all around you.

By focusing on the right tasks at the right time, you’ll grow a landscape that feels vibrant, resilient, and uniquely yours—all year long.

For more tips and answers to all your questions, Call Us Today!