Spring Planting Guide for Colorado Springs: What to Plant and When

March, April, and May planting suggestions for landscaping and gardens.

Spring in Colorado is absolutely bi-polar, and we emphasize “polar”. We’ve only experienced 6 days of March so far and at my house we’ve reached into 60 degree temperatures, had 6 inches of show, and lows into the teens. Planting within Colorado Springs proper can also vary greatly with elevations ranging from 9,200 to 5,700 feet – the nearby region ranging from 14,115 (Pikes Peak) to 3,300 (Kansas Border) feet. With all of the variables, how do you know what to plant and when?

The average final spring frost date in Colorado Springs is May 5 at 6,000 feet elevation. For higher elevations, extend this date by 2-4 weeks. For all information outlined below, know that we’re estimating and assuming that you’re planting close to 6,000 feet.

Planting in March in Colorado Springs

• Bare-root trees
• Shrubs
• New sod
• Bare-root perennial vegetables
• Asparagus
• Rhubarb
• Horseradish
• Bare-root can fruit

Planting in April in Colorado Springs

• Bare-root, container, and burlap trees
• Shrubs
• New sod
• Seed sod
• Snapdragon
• Pansy
• Viola
• Cool season and perennial vegetables
  • Peas
  • Onions
  • Potatoes
  • Leafy greens (spinach, lettuce, kale, chard, arugula, mustard greens, bok choy, etc)
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Cabbage

Planting in May in Colorado Springs

• Evergreen trees: container or balled and burlap
• Shrubs: container or balled and burlap
• New sod
• Seed sod
• Early May
• Snapdragon
• Pansy
• Viola
• Primrose
• Cool season vegetables (see above in April)
• Mid / Late May (warm soil)
• Warm season annuals
• Perennials
• Summer bulbs
• Cane fruit
• Strawberries
• House plants can be moved outside for the summer

Lessons Learned

At my home at 7,300 feet, we’ve gotten snow in June. Most of the time it’s quick and the ground is so warm that it causes little damage. However, for sensitive plants and flowers, we highly recommend covering your plants with tarps or insulated blankets when you expect a storm to roll in. Moreover, hail can decimate all of your plants in an instant – and we get hail frequently all throughout the summer in Colorado Springs. Keep some covering / protection available nearby for quick deployment.

When considering patch of grass or a few trees for your yard, it’s best to get them in the ground during the cool spring. The dead heat of the summer can sometimes be too much for these plants, and for best and long-lasting results we recommend that you begin planning and ordering now.

It seems crazy to think about spring and planting with a few inches of snow on the ground, but the time is upon us. Reach out and schedule Alpine Contracting for your landscaping needs–we help with the heavy lifting from new sprinkling systems, raised flower beds and gardens, retaining walls, privacy fences, sod, trees, and outdoor living areas. We understand that some of you have a green thumb and enjoy these types of projects – allow us to set the foundation so all you have to worry about is allowing your paradise to grow.