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Rocky Mountain Gardening

Help! Moving to Colorado in the summer.

16 years ago

Hi everyone. I'm moving from Seattle to Colorado Springs in the middle of the summer. I have a huge garden here. I plan on building up a garden there with native, low water type plants..but..I don't want to give up some of my favorites here. Can someone give me a heads up on how a few will do there? I've seen mixed feeling about roses but what about; lilies, daylilies, irises, gladiolias, spring flowers like daffodils and tulips? I'm thinking bulbs will be easiest to move. Most others I'm already decided on. I was thinking to purchase locally, but leave bulbs that I bring in containers. That way I can move them in/outside. Any help would be appreciated.

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Comments (7)

Skybird - z5, Denver, Colorado
16 years ago
Hi Amy,

Welcome to RMG!

IÂm not really into roses, so I wonÂt try to give you an answer about them, but ALL the other things you asked about will do just fine here with the exception of the glads. The glads will do well here tooÂbutÂthey need to be dug in fall, stored over winter, and replanted in spring to be sure they make it thru the winter. If theyÂre planted next to something like a brick wall facing south, or some other really warm and protected place, they may make it in the ground, but you never know for sure till early summer. And maybe I should qualify the lilies since some of them are tropicals. It depends on what kind you have, but most of them are hardy, like tiger lilies, Asiatic, Oriental, and trumpet liliesÂso chances are what you have will be hardy.

Maybe you'll be able to join us at the Fall Swap and get a few freebies to help get you started!

ThereÂs always somebody around here with an answer, so let us now when we can help!

Glad you found us,
Skybird
lilacs_of_may
16 years ago
I've been growing irises, daylilies, tulips, daffodils, and roses. They seem to do all right. My tulips and daffs didn't bloom quite as well this year, but I think that was a lack of fertilization more than anything else. You'll no doubt have to amend your soil, a lot, and keep track of how moist the soil is. It dries up fast. Very different from Seattle. We have a lot of sun, though. Over 300 days a year of it.
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I've never had any problems moving plants around when I need to, I never stop tweaking, during most of the year except the coldest months. Make sure nothing is thirsty, water the night before if needed, or just wait until after a nice rain. Doing the moves early in the morning or late in the evening works best, on a cloudy day if possible. If you're not sweating much, that's good weather for it. Anything you can scoop up intact probably won't even show any signs of distress. I like to have the new holes ready before I start excavating, and re-plant each plant as it's excavated, nothing would be "dug up" for more than 1-2 minutes. If you do get some wilting, a lawn chair can provide temporary shade for a few days. When bulb foliage is about finished dying down, I think that's the best time to move them. They're going dormant, but you can still see where they are. They'll have most of the year to adjust & should be ready to bloom on time again next spring.
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yoda_chan
16 years ago
I love spring bulbs and they've been doing well for me here. I tend to plant the large tulips and daffodils near areas where they'll get snow, such as near my driveway, but other areas that I don't water int he winter do fine too.

In the hottest driest areas I've also planted the smaller species tulips (see High Country Gardens). I have lots of crocuses, small irises, and they do wonderfully.

a couple pics I get to share with you for fun :-)

{{gwi:1205039}}

{{gwi:1205040}}
highalttransplant
16 years ago
Welcome to Colorado, Amy!

My garden is similar to what you are planning, mostly xeric stuff, but a few things thrown in just because I like them.

I'm not sure where in the Springs you'll be, but just a heads up, if you are in an area that has deer, they LOVE tulips and daylilies, not the whole plant though, just the blooms!

Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. There are plenty of people here that love to help out a newbie ... I know, I used to be one : )

Bonnie
plantladyco
16 years ago
I live in Colorado Spgs and grow all of those things....except glads. And yes, they don't overwinter here.
I grow lots of roses, but not hybrid teas.
I grow old heirloom own root roses.
michelle_co
16 years ago
Welcome to CO. I moved from Durango to Seattle area (Redmond), then back to Durango eventually. Love the sunshine here and I hope you do, too!

What area of Seattle do you live in?

There are a lot of roses that do well here, esp. shrubs and OGRs. Better add peonies and lilacs to your list of choice Spring flowers. :-)

Cheers,
Michelle
Azura
16 years ago
Hi Amy and welcome!

Michelle- I grew up in Redmond myself although it has now been annexed into the town of Sammamish. My dad, grandmother and great grandmother were natives of Issaquah. I love to visit in summer but I have to say I have a cheerier disposition living here where there are over 300 days of fun!

Please let us know if you have more questions, Amy.

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