Tag Archives: holiday plants

Recycling Christmas Trees in Colorado

For anyone who’s invested in a real Christmas tree this season, it can be a hassle trying to figure out how to dispose of it. In years past, it was the norm to just toss used trees out on the curbside with the rest of the week’s trash. But today, more environmentally conscious citizens look for sustainable ways to preserve Christmas trees.

According to Colorado’s Recycle Your Christmas Tree, 93 percent of real Christmas trees are recycled through community programs. Interested in recycling your tree? Here are two things to keep in mind:

1. Know that some recyclers are selective about what types of trees they’ll accept. If you plan to recycle, try keeping your tree in the same condition it was in when you purchased it. Lights, ornaments, wire and other accessory-related items should always be removed from the tree prior to recycling.

2. Christmas trees are biodegradable, so recycling them is great for the environment. The tree bark is converted into mulch or wood chips, which are then used to support local parks, hiking trails, walkways and flower beds. So before you think about throwing your tree out for good, consider the environmental benefits of recycling it instead.

For more information about recycling your Christmas tree in Colorado, keep checking the Recycle Your Christmas website as well as the Colorado Recycles website.

Photo courtesy of Southern Living

Holiday Plant: Paperwhite Narcissus

For this week’s Holiday plant, let’s discuss the Paperwhite Narcissus. You may not know this flower by name, but chances are you have seen it on display on a front porch or in a neighbor’s holiday landscaping. The Paperwhite Narcissus is a great holiday plant because it’s one of the easiest bulbs to force if you want a beautiful floral display. There are not really any preparation requirements to be concerned with and you can plant them as soon as you get them home. It’s best to buy the bulbs that are firm to the touch and show no signs of discoloration.

If you are planting your Paperwhite Narcissus in a decorative container, make sure that it is shallow and use an inch or two of potting soil that is sterile. Plant the bulbs close together with the pointed end up. After, you want to add more potting soil to ensure that the bulbs will be held in place. Also, leave the top half of the bulbs uncovered and water the flowers thoroughly and often so they stay moist.  Paperwhites blooms will usually last between 4 to 8 weeks. They only bloom once, so once done, properly discard of them.

If you want to learn more about decorative landscaping for your Colorado home or property, contact Lifescape Associates at 303-831-8310.
Photo: Grandma Tina via Flickr

How to keep your Holiday Poinsettias healthy

You probably only have your poinsettias out in the garden or front landscape during the Holiday season, so how do you keep your poinsettias healthy during the cold Colorado winter? You may be surprised to know that it is not difficult to keep poinsettias healthy during the Holidays.  However, poinsettias do require specific lighting and are sensitive to temperature changes.

Here are a few tips to help you keep your poinsettias looking beautiful all season long:

1. If your plants have pale yellow, green or fallen leaves, there is a possibility that it has root disease, has been excessively watered, has had an excessive dry period or wasn’t given enough fertilizer.

2. When the temperature hits 35 degrees and below, make sure that the plant is wrapped well or sleeved before taking it outside. Once the poinsettias are transported, remove the sleeves to prevent the downward bending of the leaves, which is called epinasty.

3. Keeping the plants away from cold drafts and excessive heat will prolong the color of the bracts.

4. Make sure to remove all damaged or diseased leaves and bracts.

5. Check the soil daily and if it feels dry to the touch, make sure to water. If planted in a clay pot, water a little more. You want to make sure you are keeping the soil moderately moist.

Do you need help keeping your Colorado landscape presentable for the Holiday season? The professionals at Lifescape Associates can help! Visit us at LifescapeAssociates.com.

Photo: vernabob.com
http://vernabob.com/blog/2008/12/22/post-rain-poinsettia/

Holiday Plant: Poinsettias in the Garden

During the Holiday season, people love to decorate their landscape with lights and other festive ornaments, but if you prefer to decorate your landscape in a more elegant and natural fashion for the holidays, consider planting poinsettias in your garden or in front of your house.

Poinsettias are known to be tropical plants but it has been the traditional Christmas plant ever since the United States first ambassador to Mexico, Joel Poinsett, introduced them to America back in the early 19th century. The plant is available in varied colors: pink, gold, white but the most popular color is of course is red.

When looking for poinsettias for your garden, make sure the foliage is dark green and healthy with strong stems and bright colored bracts. And since Colorado winters can get well under 50 degrees, have the poinsettias wrapped before taking them outside. When you do take them outside, place them out of reach from direct sunlight and cold drafts but in a well-lit area. If you prefer to keep the plant in the decorative foil wrapping, put a hole in the bottom to allow for good drainage. Letting the plant sit in water can result in root rot.

Outside, the colorful bracts will probably last for several weeks but the poinsettia can be kept as a green houseplant all year round. Need some help getting your landscape set for winter and presentable for the holidays? Call Lifescape Associates at 303-831-8310.

Happy Holidays!

Photo:  christmasiscoming.co.uk