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If you enjoy a home in the mountains, you may have found both challenges and unique benefits in your high-altitude gardening.

Mountainous areas have intense sunlight which can extend the length of your growing season.  The high altitude is not hospitable to pests and plant disease, so your plants can be healthier and may produce more vibrant blooms.

The challenges are plentiful – extreme temperature fluctuations, light rainfall, and a heavy clay soil are just a few.  

Try some of these tips for a successful high-altitude garden: 

• Use a heavy mulch (to last longer in heavy winds) and mulch generously to help your garden retain water and discourage weeds.
• Use trees, shrubs, and natural geographic features (such as large rocks) to provide windbreaks. 
• Try to plant in south and west exposures,  They may be drier, but they will provide more warmth for your plants.
• Terrace beds to avoid erosion and water runoff.
• Consult with a local landscaper to help choose native plants that are already conditioned to thrive at high elevations.
• Water with a careful eye.  Your climate will lean toward arid, but the heavy clay soil drains poorly and you could easily overwater your plants.

With some smart choices and careful attention, you can have a beautiful garden to complement your mountain views.

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