Lo ca ls ca p e s Un ive rs it y :

Plants & Site Considerations

Hardiness Zone

• You want to check the hardiness zone for your area, and the hardiness of the plants you are selecting.

• Most of Salt Lake County was upgraded from a Zone 5 to a Zone 6 in 2012.

• Check all plant tags before you buy a plant.

• Buy plants based off of the botanical name, not the common name.

• Look for:• Size• Light Requirements• Perennial vs. Annual• Water Requirements

P la n t Ta g s

Site location affects plants

• South and West Facing Walls

• Collect and release heat. This is the best place for heat loving plants.

Masonry walls retain heat

Ex p o s u re - s u n n y

Morning sun is less intense

Ex p o s u re - p a r t s u n

Site location affects plants

• East Side Walls

• Can get sunlight for half of the day, but the sun is far less intense

Shady north side path

Shady north side walls

Part-shade side yard path

Ex p o s u re - s h a d y

Microclimates• The climate of a small area that is

different from the area around it.

• It may be warmer or colder, wetter or drier, or less prone to frosts.

• Microclimates are very prevalent in side yards and near foundations.

Mic ro c lim a t e s

Micro c lim a t e s - m o is t u re

Plants at the bottom of a slope will generally

have wetter conditions than those at the top

S l o p e s

Th e P o w e r o f Fo lia g e

A mix of plants with colorful foliage is the secret

to a designer landscape

F o l i a g e

Weeping White Spruce

TREES

‘Green Vase’Zelkova

Trees

• Provide shade

• Block unwanted views

• Provide great multi-season interest

TREES

Trees should be located outside the lawn for tree

health and ease of maintenance.

L o c a t i o n

P a s s ive So la r

Summer Winter

‘Sea of Gold’ Juniper

Sh ru b s

‘Diabolo’NinebarkShrubs

• Low maintenance color

• Privacy

• Provides great multi-season interest

• They are the backbone plant of any good design

P e re n n ia ls

Perennials• Provides bursts of

color through blooms and/or foliage.

• Water efficiency has to do with large root system

Summer-blooming mix

Orn a m e n t a l g ra s s e s

AlkaliSacaton

Flame GrassOrnamental Grasses

• Provide movement and sound.

• Add light and texture

• Provide winter interest

• Habitat for birds

De s ig n co n ce p t : re p e t it io n

Repetition of foliage color

Repetition of bloom colorRepetition

• Important to unify the design

• Makes things look organized

• Create by using the same plant/group OR with repeating color

Gro u n d co ve rs

Creeping Thyme Mix Plumbago

Groundcovers• The carpet of the landscape

• Living mulch!

• No need to mow

• Outcompete most weeds

Bu lb s

Tulips (early spring)

Allium(late spring-summer)Bulbs

• Waterwise

• Provide early spring color

• A mix of bulbs provides color spring through fall

• Low maintenance

Plant ScheduleTrees

TYPE/ SYMBOL COMMON NAME BOTANICAL NAME SIZE QTY NOTES

EVERGREENT1

WEEPING WHITE SPRUCE PICEA GLAUCA ‘PENDULA’ 25’ H X 6’ W 3- 6’ UPRRIGHT/ COLUMNAR W/ ELEGANT DRAPING FOLIAGE

T2 COLUMNAR ATLANTIC CEDAR CEDRUS ATLANTICAARGENTEA ‘FASTIGIATA’

25’ H X 6’ W 2- 6’ UPRIGHT/ TIGHT FOLIAGE/BLUE-GREEN

FLOWERINGT5

LOLLIPOP CRABAPPLE MALUS ‘LOLLIZAM’ 10’ H X 6’ W 4-2” CAL

SMALL GLOBE SHAPE/ WHITE FLOWERS SPRING/ YELLOW FALL

T6 WEEPING REDBUD CERSIS CANADENSIS ‘COVEY’ 8’ H X 8’ W 1-2” CAL

WEEPING/ VIVID PURPLE-RED FLOWERS SPRING/ YELLOW FALL C

SHADET9

‘LACELEAF’ ELM ULMUS PARVIFOLIA ‘ALLEE’ 40’ H X 30’ W 1-2” CAL

DECIDUOUS/ YELLOW-PURPLE FALL COLOR

T10 SILVER LINDEN TILIA TOMENTOSA ‘STERLING ’ 40’ H X 40’ W 1-2” CAL

DECIDUOUS/ FRAGRANT SILVER UNDERSIDE TO LEAVES/ YELLOW FALL

P la n t Sch e d u le

A list of plants you wish to use in your landscape,

organized by type.

P l a n t S c h e d u l e

Th e Co n s e r va t io n Ga rd e n P a rk

http://conservationgardenpark.org/plants

L o c a l R e s o u r c e

Lo ca ls ca p e s Un ive rs it y :

Plant Maintenance

Planting TimesFall• This is the best time for the plants• Smaller selection

Spring• Also a good time to plant• Selection is much greater

Summer• Plants will struggle to establish

Tree Planting

• Too high is better than too deep

• Don’t cover the trunk flare

• Remove burlap and cage

• Staking is not always necessary

Mulch

• 2-4” in depth, re-apply as needed

• Best line of defense against weeds

• Compost, Bark Mulch, or Gravel

Watering New Plants

• New plants have small root balls

• They need water several times a week or more during the first growing season

Watering Established Plants

• Established plants in a Localscapeneed on average water one time per week

• All plants should be watered with drip irrigation

• Drip Irrigation needs to be run for longer than spray heads

• You can start out by running drip for 1 hour and adjust from there

1. Water with drip irrigation

2. Apply 2-4” of mulch

3. Avoid soil compaction

4. Minimize soil disruption

5. Use herbicides only AFTER you’ve done the first four steps.

Lo ca ls ca p e s w e e d co n t ro l re c ip e

We e d co n t ro l

Maintenance

• Avoid compaction by creating paths or adding stepping stones in beds

• Minimize tilling as turning the earth brings dormant weed seed to the surface

Pre-Emergent Herbicide• Granular product• Creates a chemical layer that stops

weeds from germinating• Won’t kill existing plants

Organic Version: • Corn Gluten Meal

We e d co n t ro l- h e rb ic id e

Post-Emergent Herbicide• Glyphosate• Kill all for weed control• Be careful around ornamental

plants

Organic version:• Vinegar (extra strength)

We e d co n t ro l- h e rb ic id e

Sk ip t h e w e e d b a r r ie r fa b r ic

Weed barrier fabric damages soil and hurts

plants. Only works temporarily

N o W e e d F a b r i c

Ne x t s t e p s ?

Qu e s t io n s ?