Wasp & Yellowjacket Prevention
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Aug 8th 2026
August is the time when wasp and yellowjacket activity ramps up. These social bugs become more aggressive in August and are more likely to sting. That being said, wasps are important pollinators for g…
Pond Plant 101
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jul 6th 2026
By PFC
Having a pond with plants seems at odds with our drought-ridden state, yet it can be a boon to any garden across the western slope. Ponds create a calming atmosphere and provide homes for wi…
Most Commonly Requested AI Plants & Real Alternatives
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jun 4th 2026
By PFC
Here at Rick’s Garden Center, we are unfortunately familiar with AI. From misidentifying plant species via plant identification apps to recommending “home remedies” to treat numerous plant d…
Establishing Roses 101
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on May 1st 2026
This year is a big year for roses because we’ve totally revamped our rose selection. Now, our rose selection is handpicked just for front-range planting. A concern for growing roses this year is the w…
Guide To Hardening Off Tender Plants
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Apr 10th 2026
Guide to Hardening Off Tender PlantsDownload…
2026 Tomato & Pepper Book
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Mar 29th 2026
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Growing Onions 101
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Mar 3rd 2026
Our onion, leek, and shallot sets have just arrived, which means it’s soon time to plant them! These flavorful plants are a clear favorite for cooking around the world and are surprisingly easier to g…
2026 Tomato & Pepper List
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Feb 27th 2026
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Colorado Seed Starting 101: Advice From Rick’s Grow Team
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Feb 5th 2026
If you want lots of fruits and veggies come summer, the best gardening advice we can offer you is to start early and indoors. Colorado’s growing season is too short for many garden favorites. Eg…
The Importance of Winter Watering
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jan 10th 2026
The Importance of Winter Watering
While your favorite ski resort may be open for business, snowfall in the mountains as well as the front range is down this year. Reports show that snowpack levels…
AI & The Garden: A Hard NO
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Nov 22nd 2025
If you’re a gardener, you should be aware that relying on AI can be dangerous. Running the AI data centers are detrimental to the environment, consuming 10 times the normal electricity compared to oth…
How To Plant Amaryllis & Paperwhites
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Nov 3rd 2025
Our holiday bulbs are here! Make way for Amaryllis & Paperwhites! Because these plants need to be planted about eight to ten weeks in advance, to flower around Christmas, we thought we’d provide t…
2025 Fall Donations: Giving Back to the Local Community
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Nov 1st 2025
By Katherine Placzek
November is the month where humans best emulate nature-we participate in the magic of giving without the expectation of receiving in return. I hope you all find abundance in yo…
A Visit To Scotland: Learning About Gardening From The Scots!
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Sep 30th 2025
By Katherine Placzek
Recently, I was able to go to Scotland for vacation. While I was there, I was blown away by the plant life, of course, but I also learned so many new ways to garden! In this bl…
The Short & Sweet Fall Bulb Guide
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Sep 8th 2025
Fall bulbs, also known as hardy bulbs, are always much anticipated in the garden center. Capable of surviving (and often requiring) cold, through the gloom of winter, hardy bulbs provide beautiful ear…
Helping Pollinators Through Fall
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Aug 4th 2025
Fall will be fast upon us, and no one knows that better than native pollinators. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees all continue to toil before cool weather hits. Many of them are either gearing up t…
Protecting Tomatoes Against Heat
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jul 1st 2025
Temperatures are rising, and plants are taking a beating, especially tomatoes. From blossom loss to poor growth, this South American fruit can’t always beat the heat. “Tomatoes grow best at uniformly…
Planning For Trees
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jun 2nd 2025
Gardening is for everyone, and that includes those who want a tree! How can this be? Not everyone has the space for these kinds of big plants. Not so fast-trees also include bonsai and indoo…
2025 Tomato Book
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on May 1st 2025
Tomato Guide 2025Download…
Preventing Water Loss
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Apr 14th 2025
We understand it’s not easy to garden this year-especially with how expensive watering can be. Trust us, it’s no easy feat to maintain watering our plants either. But we don’t think you should have to…
Encouraging Kid’s Green Thumbs
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Apr 4th 2025
There is a saying that “green thumbs are not born, they’re grown.” And here at Rick’s we heartily agree! Green thumbs come in all shapes and sizes, and even ages. Today we want to encourage youn…
2025 Garden To-Do’s Recap 1#
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Mar 23rd 2025
Here are the gardening references we shared over the past month. We’re big fans of Colorado State University extension, so you’ll see us referencing them all the time. However, we also have some writt…
On Crop Failure
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Feb 27th 2025
By Emma Seibert
A few nursery Ricksters had been growing tomatoes in our greenhouses this winter as an experiment. In hopes of helping gardeners sample certain varieties before they commit to growi…
January 2025 Recap
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Feb 3rd 2025
Monday: Rick’s Highlights
On Mondays, we like to post about things happening around the store! There will be LOTS MORE in February!
Astrophytum asterias Superkabuto
Originate in Nort…
Getting Home & Garden Ready For Sale
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jan 25th 2025
Despite mortgage interest rates continuing to climb in the past several months, in this military base-saturated city, we continue to have a thriving real estate market. If you are prepping a hou…
Norfolk Pine
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jan 23rd 2025
Ah- the Norfolk Pine! The perfect gift for someone who has just moved into their first home around the holidays. The Norfolk Island Pine is also an elegant house plant to welcome into a home for year-…
Rescuing Houseplants
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jan 9th 2025
Listen…shhhhh…if you listen closely, you can hear that neglected plant in the corner crying for help. You did not mean to cause harm. Whether you left for your holiday travels in a rush and failed to…
Holiday Houseplant Care
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Dec 19th 2024
So many of us travel around the holidays- sometimes traveling the whole stint of Christmas through the week of New Year’s. This stretch can be long for plants (and you- depending on who you are visiti…
Tool Care Guide
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Dec 19th 2024
Fall is here! This is a bittersweet moment for me. Harvest has hit its finale, and I am beginning to accumulate a stack of books that will keep me growing while my garden begins to take a snooze. …
New School Fall Gardening Stretegies
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Sep 27th 2024
By Katherine Placzek
With fall approaching, many of you are getting ready to put your garden beds and other portions of the landscape to bed. With a more eco-friendly mindset, we would like to sugg…
Coco Coir vs Peat Moss
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Sep 5th 2024
By Katherine Placzek
Dear reader,
This article began initially with a straightforward trajectory. I was going to lay out why using peat moss in soil mixes is environmentally harmful and th…
Protecting Our Watershed While Gardening & Landscaping
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jul 29th 2024
By Katherine Placzek
Every item that we use in our green spaces– fertilizers, pesticides, sprays, powders and granules, etc. all make their way into the water, after it rains or when we water…
ECO-BRAN BRAN FOR GRASSHOPPERS DIRECTIONS
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jul 16th 2024
DIRECTIONS PULLED FROM PEACOCK INDUSTRIES BOOKLET ON ECO-BRAN
WE CLAIM NO OWNERSHIP OF GUIDE…
Blossoms on Your Plate
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jun 27th 2024
Are you ready to elevate your gardening game to a whole new level of deliciousness? Well, we’re about to dive into the vibrant world of edible flowers that will not only make your garden pop but also…
Embracing Nature’s Way: Integrated Pest Management
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jun 3rd 2024
Integrated Pest Management is like the Gandalf of gardening – a wise, all-encompassing strategy that balances the forces of nature to keep your greenery flourishing. At its core, IPM is a holistic app…
2024 Pepper Book
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Apr 22nd 2024
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2024 Tomato Book
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Apr 22nd 2024
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The Gothic Vegetable Garden
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Mar 29th 2024
By Katherine Placzek
Black & purple vegetables are not only for someone who is looking for a fun or Gothic vibe in their garden. Purple-ish fruits and vegetables have higher antioxidants, which…
An Interview With Allisa Linfield
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Feb 29th 2024
While I spoke to Allisa Linfield in November, you cannot sense the time of year as we begin our video chat. Her office space is filled with warm Colorado sunshine and she has plants filling the space.…
An Interview With Larry Stebbins
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Feb 2nd 2024
When asked the softball of a question, “Why do you garden?” Larry responds, “It is much more than that– I have to garden.” With this type of sentiment, you know that Larry Stebbins is committed to a l…
An Interview With Melody Daugherty
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Dec 29th 2023
In mid-November, I met Melody Daugherty at a local gathering spot in Manitou Springs for a hot beverage. Dressed similarly to our regulars who have landscaped or gardened in the region for sever…
Rick’s 2023 Winter Reading List
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Nov 30th 2023
By Katherine Placzek
Winter is the perfect time to curl up with a book. Our staff has accumulated our favorite plant reads so you can get a stack of books from the library or your favorite local bo…
Summer 2024 tomato Variety List
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Nov 30th 2023
In our newsletter we mentioned Rick’s would soon release our 2024 tomato list and we are excited to reveal it to you now! Inspired by Good Earth, we want to grow strong, and flavorful tomatoes of nume…
Rick’s Deep Freeze Guide
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Oct 28th 2023
In preparation for our first deep freeze coming this Sunday, Rick’s Garden Center would like to remind our fabulous customers to take some steps beforehand to help your plant friends and tools out.…
Come Meet Our Geckos!
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Sep 15th 2022
Here at Rick’s Garden Center, we’d like to introduce you to our two new special guests living within the store: Mist and Jupiter! Mist and Jupiter are geckos, Mist being a female common Leopard gecko…
Too Deep in Love: Two Common Killers of Freshly Planted Trees
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Sep 14th 2022
Trees are the cornerstones of our landscapes. No other kind of plant impacts the local ecosystem as broadly and effectively as trees; they create shady, cool microclimates, provide erosion control wit…
Small Pot Sizes, Mighty Plants
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Sep 13th 2022
Here in the nursery at Rick’s Garden Center, we tend towards smaller pot sizes. In the nursery business, pots are sized according (loosely) to their volume in gallons. A #5 pot, therefore, holds rough…
Native, Xeric & Edible Plants: The Three Pillars of Plants in our Nursery
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Mar 15th 2022
Native, Xeric and Edible Plants: The Three Pillars of Plants in our Nursery
Hi there, this is Billy, the nursery manager here at Rick’s Garden Center. We have been very busy preparing to receive th…
Bare Root Fruit Trees
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Feb 8th 2022
What are bare root trees?
Bare root trees are harvested from their growing beds in the late fall, and the soil is removed from their roots. They are kept in cold storage over the winter, and plante…
Winter Watering on the Front Range
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jan 2nd 2022
Our often dry, windy winters here on the Front Range can be especially tough on landscaping plants such as perennials, trees, shrubs, and lawns. Most plants need moisture throughout the winter to prev…
Houseplant Pest Guide
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jan 1st 2022
Stop the Problem Before it Starts
Always check a plant over for pests before you purchase.
Look at the plant’s overall health, checking for correct leaf texture and consistent coloring. There wi…
Understanding Garden Fertilizers
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Jan 1st 2022
The Basics
What is Fertilizer?Fertilizer is best described as plant food. It provides a plant with all the necessary micro and macro-nutrients it needs to grow. Like us, a plant without food will b…
Caring for Evergreen Wreaths & Garland
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Nov 17th 2021
Use these three tricks to keeping evergreen wreaths and garlands looking fresh.
Fully hydrate the greenery prior to displaying it
Water is primarily absorbed through the cut ends of the branches…
Caring for a Real Christmas Tree
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Nov 17th 2021
Fresh Christmas trees require a little more care than fake ones, but their beauty and lowered environmental impact are worth it!
Choosing the Best Spot
Just as with cut flowers in a vase, the trick to…
Choosing a Christmas Tree Variety
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Nov 17th 2021
Questions to Consider
Do you want a fuller tree (one with dense branches) or a more open tree (one with more spacious branches)?If you like the look of a bushy tree, choose a fuller type. If you…
Fall Perennial Planting
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Sep 9th 2021
Planting in the fall can save you a lot of money while also giving plants a jump start next spring! Plants that establish strong roots during the fall will come back bigger and stronger in the spring…
Fern Care Guide
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on May 21st 2021
Light
Most fern varieties naturally grow on the floor of thick, forested areas so they prefer a bright but indirect light. Given the delicate nature of their leaves, they can easily burn if put in…
Rick’s Deer Resistant Plant List
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on May 19th 2021
A Note About Deer Resistant Plants
The plants listed here are not guaranteed to be deer resistant. This is merely a guide of what deer generally do not eat. If they are hungry enough, they will eat…
Tree and Shrub Planting Guide
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Apr 27th 2021
Tree & Shrub Planting Guide
Call before you dig! Dial 811
1. Measure the depth of the root ball. Your planting hole should be approximately one inch less in depth than the root ball itself…
Tillandsia (Air Plant) Care
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Dec 10th 2020
Tillandsia species are wonderful indoor houseplants that add a fun and exciting flare to your décor.
What are tillandsias?
Tillandsias, commonly known as air plants, are part of the bromelia…
Forcing Paperwhite Narcissus Bulbs
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Oct 10th 2020
Flowering bulbs can be forced to bloom indoors, creating a beautiful display of color and fragrance even on the coldest days of winter. Some bulbs require a period of cold treatment to bloom, which ca…
Growing Garlic in the Pikes Peak Region
Posted by Rick's Garden Center on Sep 4th 2020
Garlic is a crop that is fun to grow and does best when planted in the fall. There are many interesting varieties, so take your time choosing a variety that suits your taste and cooking preferences.…
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