Hedge Plants for Colorado: What Holds, and What Only Looks Hardy
Six of the twelve hedge species tracked on this site survive across the entire state, from the high mountain valleys to the eastern plains.
Gardening in Colorado
Everything we have worked out for Colorado: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Denver, the last spring freeze runs May 1 to May 11 and the first fall freeze runs September 30 to October 12, USDA zones 3b-7b, 3,401 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 30.4 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Colorado: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When to Pull Carrots in Colorado, and How to Keep Them
Colorado carrots don’t wait for a date on the calendar. The plant tells you when it’s ready, and the storage clock starts the moment you trim the tops…
Finishing a Basement in Colorado: Permits, Ceiling Height, Egress and Waterproofing
Explains why Colorado’s basement permit, ceiling-height and egress rules vary by city and county, and what the 2021 IRC’s model figures actually require.
What Do Homes in Colorado Cool With?
Colorado homes cool with a mix dominated by central air: 57% of households run a central system, another 20% rely on an individual unit like a mini-split…
Roof Snow Load, Wind Speed and Ice Barrier Rules in Colorado
Denver’s design snow load, wind speed and ice-barrier rules explained, including why Colorado has no statewide figure and what governs your local permit.
Growing Hydrangeas in Colorado: Types, Color and Winter
Growing hydrangeas in Colorado works best when you match the species to the state’s short, intense season: plant nursery stock after the last spring…
Growing Roses in Colorado: Planting Dates, Varieties and Local Pests
Roses can thrive in Colorado’s dry, sunny climate, but only if you match the variety and the calendar to a growing season that runs shorter and colder…
How High Can a Hedge Be in Colorado? What the Law Actually Says
Colorado has no statewide statute capping hedge height. Search the Colorado Revised Statutes all you want: there is no section stating a hedge can be 6…
When to Overseed a Lawn in Colorado
Overseed cool-season lawns in Colorado between mid-August and early September, and warm-season lawns like bermudagrass or zoysia in late spring once soil…
First and Last Frost Dates in Colorado
Colorado’s frost dates aren’t one number, they’re a window. At the Denver International Airport station, the data used for statewide reference, the last…