Gardening in this year’s dry season doesn’t have to mean a barren yard. The pros at USU Extension have all the resources you need for landscaping that is as beautiful as it is sustainable.
Creating a successful drought-tolerant landscape is both an art and a science in Utah’s arid climate. According to Utah State University Extension horticulturist Michael Caron, proper irrigation, patience and soil care ultimately determine whether a garden thrives.
When planning garden beds, Caron recommends grouping plants with similar water needs, but cautions against getting too focused on fine-tuning. “These are living plants, after all,” he says. “They have a lot of ability to adapt.”
Patience is equally important. Water-wise plants are only truly drought-tolerant after they have established themselves in the landscape. In Utah’s climate, that process can take up to two years, requiring more frequent watering during the early stages than many homeowners expect.
Once established, however, these plants can thrive with less water. Caron notes that while drip irrigation can reduce evaporation, it is only effective when paired with an appropriate watering schedule. “It doesn’t matter how you deliver the water if you don’t have an appropriate schedule in mind,” he says. Over watering can leave plants susceptible to root rot and other problems.
Caron’s most overlooked tip? Mulch. Organic mulches such as wood chips and shredded bark help soils retain moisture, improve soil health and support long-term plant success. “It helps immensely,” he says.
To help with your garden research and planning, add the ultimate almanac for Utah planting to your library: “Combinations for Conservation: Recommended Plant Groupings for Low-Water Landscapes” is a collection of drought-friendly plants compiled and explained by the pros at USU Extension’s Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping. “Combinations for Conservation” is available at usuextensionstore.com
Combinations for Conservation
$21.18, available online at the USU Extension store.
Want to dive a little deeper into water-wise gardening? USU Extension’s “Combinations for Conservation” aims to give homeowners and designers the confidence to create beautiful, low-water landscapes by showing them examples of plant combinations that have been successful in drought-tolerant gardens throughout the Intermountain West. The plant combinations are grouped together by water requirements and there are tips throughout the book about conserving water and efficient irrigation.
