#Telluride altitude free#
Not sure of what your soil is lacking? Gardeners can obtain a free scientific soil test through the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension office (970.327.4393) in Norwood by stopping at 1120 Summit Street for a soil bag and the requisite paperwork.Įven though we’re at the top of the San Miguel watershed, water shortages do occur in the region.
A top layer of mulch-wood chips, shrub clippings, weed-free straw, jute erosion-control blankets (no plastic), or medium-size rocks-will inhibit weed growth and retain soil moisture. If you’re not immediately planting, cover the exposed soil to avoid giving dandelions and invasive weeds a head start. Both can be remedied with the addition of decayed organic matter, preferably compost.įor a healthy start, a garden needs a minimum of four to six inches of good topsoil with well-rotted manure or compost mixed in. Neither is desirable, because sandy soils don’t hold moisture or retain enough nutrients, and clay soils don’t permeate well and are too dense for roots to penetrate. If it’s sticky and gooey, it contains too much clay. If it falls through your fingers, it’s too sandy. Then pick up a handful of soil and roll it in your hand. The first chore is to dig up, loosen and remove some of the rocks from the plot. Even though forest and river corridors support an abundance of plant life, these soils won’t sustain nonnative ornamentals. The soil substrate is also rocky, often with a good amount of silt or a conglomerate of rock and clay. Native soils tend to be thin, loaded with stones and slightly alkaline (the pH level is elevated as opposed to acidic soil, which has a low pH). The San Juan Mountains are an extension of the Rocky Mountains, and they aren’t called the Rockies for nothing. Finding the best location for a garden, whether it’s in a sheltered depression, lee of a house or on an east-facing slope, can make all the difference in its productivity. It sounds daunting, but in actuality, it’s the microclimates that give cultivating an edge. Winds off the arid western deserts also contribute to the dry climate. The sun is intense, and it shines 300 days per year. Annually, the average air temperature is 38 degrees Fahrenheit, with winter lows dipping into the negative 20s and an occasional summer high in the 90s. Because of the altitude, there are only 60 to 80 frost-free growing days per year. This gives way to chilly nights, which can be tough on nonnative species. When the sun sets, the temperature drops dramatically. The climate is also low in humidity, which means the air doesn’t hold heat well. A lot of this precipitation comes in the form of snow, and much is lost to evaporation. The San Juan Mountains are considered semi-arid, despite receiving between 20 to 24 inches of rain annually. Many plant and seed catalogues or nursery tags use this designation to indicate a plant’s cold hardiness, but the zone designation doesn’t take into account a plant’s tolerance of aridity, thin air, intense sunlight and poor soil. Department of Agriculture places Telluride in growing zone 3, based primarily on minimum winter temperatures. Most Telluride gardens are between 8,000 and 10,000 feet in elevation, an environment generally referred to as the montane life zone. But if a bounty of flowers can sprout year after year from a craggy slope above treeline-with only three months to flourish, no artificial fertilizers to nourish, little soil and no protection from the elements, grazers or pests-imagine what you can grow with a little patience, a handful of seeds and some thoughtfully prepared soil. The growing season is short, the soil rocky and the climate harsh. It’s tough to propagate anything but hardy natives at 8,750 feet and higher. Gardening in Telluride isn’t like gardening in Eden.
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