Ep 05: Linda Langelo from Colorado State University

What if the reason your plant failed had less to do with the plant and more to do with the place you put it? In this episode of How We Grow, Chad sits down with Linda Langelo, a horticulture specialist with Colorado State University Extension, to talk about the real-world decisions that make landscapes healthier, more resilient, and easier to maintain.Linda works across the Golden Plains region of northeastern Colorado, helping homeowners, communities, landscapers, arborists, master gardeners, and local leaders solve practical landscape problems. In this conversation, she breaks down why soil testing matters, why xeric gardening is not just rocks, how native plants fit into a modern yard, and why sustainability can also save money.What You’ll Learn🌱 Why soil testing should come before planting💧 How to think about watering based on soil texture, not just temperature🌼 Why native plants are in demand, and why they can be harder for nurseries to produce🦋 How pollinator-friendly planting affects gardens, farms, and backyard yields🔥 What firewise landscaping means in practical terms🏡 How reducing lawn space can make a property more sustainable and lower maintenance🌿 Why “easy gardening” still requires observation, planning, and the right plant in the right placeLinks mentioned: 🌿 Plant Select: https://plantselect.org/🌼 Garden the Plains / CSU Golden Plains Horticulture: https://goldenplains.extension.colostate.edu/horticulture-and-garden/📘 Landscape for Life: https://landscapeforlife.colostate.edu/🎓 Landscape for Life Online Course: https://online.colostate.edu/certificates/landscape-for-life/🏡 CSU Extension Garden & Landscape Resources: https://extension.colostate.edu/topic/garden-landscape/🌾 PlantTalk Colorado: https://planttalk.colostate.edu/