The City of Westminster is committed to this goal each year, and our dedicated horticulture team and 12,000 square foot greenhouse are key to accomplishing this. The Briggs Greenhouse Center located at 7152 Raleigh St. in Historic Westminster is used to produce more than 45,000 plants each year. This includes flowers and herb and vegetable seeds for the city’s annual and perennial gardens, flower beds, pots, and community gardens. Very few municipalities along the Front Range own a greenhouse, making Westminster’s horticulture program unique and benefiting the community by providing beautified landscapes and habitats for pollinators, in addition to introducing an increased number of drought tolerant plants to the city.
The greenhouse is managed by staff from Westminster’s Parks, Recreation & Libraries Department who work year-round to grow and maintain the plants. Horticulture Crew Leader Chris Borchers sits at the helm, overseeing all the city’s landscapes and gardens. As she and her team sow seeds of plants that will beautify the city in 2024, Borchers shared ten helpful tips for home gardeners in Westminster to consider in March and early April.
Perennial Plants/Shrubs/Trees
- Wait to prune perennials and rake leaves until late spring, ideally April or May. Old stems and leaves provide cover and homes for beneficial insects, birds, and small mammals.
- Water young plants and trees carefully throughout spring on days with above-freezing temperatures.
- Select and purchase plants ideal for Westminster’s heavy clay, alkaline soils, and erratic climate, such as Turkish Veronica, Chocolate Flower, or Red Yucca through the Plant Select website: https://plantselect.org
Vegetable Gardening
- Plan your garden plots and pots. March is a great time to order veggie seeds or starter plants from respected local retailers or online catalogs.
- Start growing summer veggies indoors now. Tomatoes, squash, and pepper varieties benefit from early starts and longer grow times.
- Once you transition your plants outdoors, sow some flower seeds among your veggies to attract pollinators. Black-eyed Susans and Cosmos are great choices.
City Offerings
- Attend an adult gardening class at The MAC (3295 W. 72nd Ave.). The one-hour classes take place on Tuesday nights and cover a range of gardening topics. Learn more in the Spring Activity Guide.
- In addition to providing residents access to a seed library which offers free plant seeds to residents, Irving Street Library provides classes on beekeeping (May 4), composting (May 18), as well as garden pest and disease control (June 15).
- Register for a “water-wise” garden program through Resource Central, a non-profit organization the City partners with to provide residents with conservation focused programs including xeriscaping. Learn more at https://www.westminsterco.gov/conservation
- Pick up some free mulch for your garden from the City’s self-serve site located at 9920 Westminster Boulevard from March 1 to November 1 while supplies last. Mulch reduces watering and weeding needs and improves soil quality in your garden beds.
Take a video tour of the Briggs Greenhouse Center.
Back to The Westy Word