If you are looking for answers to gardening questions, look no further. The master gardener help desk receives daily inquiries on a wide range of landscape topics, including lawns, trees, shrubs, vegetables, soil, perennials, and insects, and wants to share them with you. Whether you are new to Colorado or a seasoned gardener, there is always something new and interesting to learn.

• Golden Raspberries
• Lawns and Drought
• Tomatoes

I want raspberry plants in my garden this summer and have heard of golden raspberries. Are they OK to plant in our area?

Few gifts from the garden are as rewarding as juicy, homegrown raspberries. Rubus strigosus are perennial plants in the horticultural group called brambles. Recommended raspberry cultivars for growing in the Front Range area are red and golden. Black raspberries can be marginally hardy in the Front Range climate. The golden raspberry is growing in popularity and is simply the result of a mutation of the red raspberry. This mutation of anthocyanin (the pigment giving fruits, vegetables and flowers their red, blue or purple color), impairs the plant’s ability to make the red coloring, resulting in a yellow, white or golden appearance. The mutation has no effect on the taste or nutritional content of golden raspberries, and, like their red counterparts, they are loaded with vitamins B and C, minerals and antioxidants, and a great choice for topping off that morning bowl of cereal. Recommended varieties for our area include Anne or Fall Gold. Purchase disease free plants from an independent garden center or order them from a reputable mail order supplier. Click here for more information on growing raspberries.

Can I fertilize and aerate my lawn given the recent drought conditions?

Normally, these are good lawn care practices, but with the ongoing drought, these practices are conditional, and that condition is water. If the lawn was fertilized in the fall and it is greening up, skip the spring fertilization. Fertilizing during drought has its risks. If you have to fertilize, proceed with caution. Apply a light application of an organic slow-release fertilizer, ½ to 1 pound of nitrogen per 1000 square feet, and be sure to water in thoroughly with ½ inch of water. Check local water restrictions and watering schedules. Similarly, aerating turf is usually done in spring and fall. Core aerating encourages deeper root growth and water infiltration and reduces compaction. After core aerating, water turf well to moisten the root zone. To manage turf with reduced watering schedules, run the irrigation system using a cycle and soak technique; that is, running it multiple times and leaving time in between for water to soak in and not run off. Kentucky bluegrass is resilient. It can be kept alive in a dormant state in drought situations simply by watering it every two to three weeks. This keeps the crowns of the plant hydrated even though the turf won’t green up. To make the best use of the water applied, look for persistent dry spots in the lawn. Check for clogged nozzles and alignment of nozzles. Set out plastic cups to capture water and fix the coverage where there are irrigation gaps.

It has been a warm winter. Can I plant my tomatoes now?

Colorado State University recommends following the standard planting schedule regardless of drought conditions. Colorado weather patterns can change vastly, even in a single day, so it is difficult to predict the future. Wait until late May to plant tomatoes. Cool season vegetables can be planted now, and other vegetables can be planted by mid-May. Consider mulching vegetable beds to conserve water and to suppress weeds.