Spring in many parts of Colorado will be a lot less colorful this year due to unseasonably warm February temperatures that resulted in trees and shrubs blooming early. Subsequent spring storms in March and April dropped temperatures below freezing resulting in a massive kill-off of tree and shrub blossoms. Because trees must blossom to produce fruit, landscape experts say gardeners and homeowners should expect to see a dramatic decline in the amount of fruit production this season.

A "Perfect Storm" led to blossom kill
"It was a perfect storm of weather circumstances that killed our tree blossoms," said Alissa Shanley, an ALCC member and owner of B.Gardening Landscape Design. "The warm temperatures of January and February tricked our flowering trees into blooming early. We were then hit with three freezes in a row in March and a fourth in April which effectively killed most of the tree blossoms."

Flowering trees were not the only plants affected by the spring freeze. Early flowering shrubs including forsythia, lilac and rose bushes also incurred damage. According to Shanley, people who trimmed their rose bushes before the freeze may find them dead or sustaining much more die-back than usual.

"This winter coming into spring has been particularly hard on our plants," explained Carole Kastler, ALCC vice president and owner of Camelot Design. "Not only did the unseasonably warm winter cause an early bloom, the lack of winter moisture adversely affected our trees and shrubs. It is essential to hand-water your trees and perennials during the winter to keep them healthy and in some cases, alive." Kastler noted she has seen many dead boxwood shrubs throughout the metro Denver area as a result of the dry winter.

How to maintain color in your landscape throughout the year
If your flowering trees and shrubs were damaged by the spring freeze, think about adding some extra splashes of color to your landscape by adding a few more annual flowers. Or, look for later-blooming perennials that will add a little color this year and, more color in subsequent years as the plants become more mature. To ensure that you have color and blooms throughout the year, landscape professionals recommend incorporating a mixture of early, mid and late-blooming trees and plants throughout your landscape. "There are several varieties of trees, including seven sons and the Japanese tree lilac that don't bloom until the summer. There are also late-blooming shrubs like serviceberry and peony shrubs," said Shanley.

According to Shanley, "Planting a variety of bulbs ensures color throughout the growing season. Tulips and daffodils for spring color, gladiolus, calla lily and dahlia for summer color and crocus and colchicum for fall colors." Summer and fall-blooming bulbs should be planted now to guarantee color later this summer into fall.

Shanley concluded, "The extremes of our climate can make it very challenging for amateur gardeners. The biggest hurdle that very few people think about is we receive more than 300 sunny days in Colorado. Winter sun can be very hard on plants. When you don't account for the winter sun when planting, coupled with our increasingly dry winters, it makes it that much more challenging to have plants that thrive. If you are unsure of what to plant or when and where to plant, be sure to consult a professional."

With more than 700 members across the state, the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado is the premier professional organization for Colorado's landscape contractors. ALCC has been at the forefront for more than 40 years helping Colorado's landscape industry address Colorado's unique climate and promoting responsible use of water and other natural resources. ALCC member firms provide a wide range of landscape services including design, installation, maintenance, consultation, and water management. To view photos of winning Excellence in Landscape projects or for more information about ALCC, visit the Web site www.alcc.com.