XERISCAPING

Fellow Boomer, Beuna Tomalino,

of Bountiful, is a Garden Coach,
Landscape Consultant, Container
Plant Designer and owner of Her-
barium. She especially loves teaching
others to grow vegetables, herbs, and
edibles and tend their yards organical-
ly. Beuna has tended her own yards organically for over 20 years.
Utah Boomers Magazine asked Beuna for answers to the most
frequently asked questions pertaining to gardening in Utah.
Note: Plants are identified by botanical name (in italics) and
common name to help you more easily find the correct plants.
For the few where only one name is listed, the botanical name
xeri·scape noun, often capitalized \'zir- - skāp: a
and the common name are the same. '
landscaping method developed especially for
UBM: What is Utah's growing season? arid and semiarid climates that utilizes water-
Beuna: Utah’s growing season varies from the long season in St conserving techniques (as the use of drought-
George (about 200 frost-free days) and other parts of southern
Utah to the shorter seasons of the mountains. The town of Ran- tolerant plants, mulch, and efficient irrigation)
dolph which sometimes has the coldest temperature in the U.S. •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
has only 57 frost-free days. With the threat of floods looming over us, you might
be wondering about the benefits of xeriscaping. The
UBM: As you stated above, Utah has a variety of growing truth is most of our water years are not as abundant as
seasons. Does that mean we have as many climate zones? this one should prove to be.
Beuna: Yes. Utah’s USDA Climate Zones vary from zone 2 to
Once a xeriscape is established less water is required
zone 9 depending on the area of the state. To find your climate
for maintenance; saving water, money on your water
zone and/or growing season check with your County Extension
bill, and the time it would take to water and maintain.
Service http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html or
According to www.redbuttegarden.com: by limit-

How does your

the USDA map for climate zones http://www.usna.usda.gov/
Hardzone/hzm-sw1.html.
UBM: Many Utahns seem to have trouble growing plants in
ing landscape water needs, which often account for
30-50% of home water use, xeriscaping principles can
significantly reduce water use and save money.

garden grow?
shady areas, including under trees and the north side of homes. Xeriscapes also provide a somewhat maintenance
What do you recommend? free solution to landscaping. No more mowing lawns
Beuna: For a perennial garden, I recommend Hosta, Coral means more free time and less gasoline pollutants.
Bells (Heuchera), Columbine (Aquilegia), Bellflower (Campanula),
There is the additional weeding to consider, but cover-
Spiderwort (Tradescantia), Bleeding Heart (Dicentra), Lady’s Mantle
ing the soil’s surface with some type of mulch inhibits
(Alchemilla), Bergenia, Brunnera, Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia),
weed growth. Mulch will also help with moisture reten-
Astilbe, Balloon Flower (Platycodon), Dead Nettle (Lamuim),
tion. A wide variety of grasses, cacti, succulents, many

We Asked an Expert
Bugleweed (Ajuga), Vinca minor, Forget-Me-Not (Myosotis) and
flowering plants can be used in a xeriscape. It is best
Violet and Pansy (Viola).
to choose plants native to the area or that require the
The best annuals for shady areas are Impatiens, Begonia, Fuch- same conditions as your garden area.
sia, Lobelia, Coleus, and Pansy (Viola). Pansies may be a peren-
nial if grown in shade or part shade.

14 | June 2011 | 15
 If you are interested in planting shrubs in shady areas, I recom-
mend evergreens: Wintercreeper and various other common
names (Euonymus), Boxwood (Buxus), Yew (Taxus), Bird’s Nest
Spruce (Picea), False Cypress (Chamaecyparis), Oregon Grape
(Mahonia).
Decidous: Currants (Ribes), Elderberry (Sambucus), Ser-
viceberry (Amelanchier), Ninebark (Physocarpus), Chokeberry
(Aronia),Chokecherry and Sandcherry (Prunus).
UBM: What flowers attract butterflies? Birds? Hummingbirds?
Beuna: Some flowers attract two or three of the above so you
will see repeats of plants in the following lists.
Butterflies:
Pin Cushion Flower (Scabiosa), Lavender (Lavendula), Ag-
eratum, Cosmos, Bee Balm (Monarda), Phlox, Rudbeckia,
Lavender and Asters
Parsley (Petroselinum), Dill (Anethum), Fennel (Foeniculum),
Marigold (Tagetes), Gaura, Aster, Verbena, Coreopsis,
Thrift (Armeria), Bachelor Button (Centaurea), Rockcress
(Arabis), Echinacea, Impatiens, Peony (Paeonia), Salvia, Zin-
nia, Milkweed (Asclepias), Violet (Viola), Gallardia, Sedum,
Veronica, Sunflower (Helianthus), Penstemon, Yarrow
(Achillea).
Birds:
Roses (Rosa), Aster, Pot Marigold (Calendula), Bellflower
(Campanula), Celosia, Bachelor Button (Centaurea), Core-
opsis, Cosmos, Echinacea, Sunflower (Helianthus), Phlox,
Portulaca, Rudbeckia, Verbena, Zinnia
16 |
Hummingbirds:
Hollyhock (Alcea), Petunia, Evening Primrose (Oenothera),
Coral Bells (Heuchera), Agastache, Asters, Four O’ Clock
(Mirabilis), Phlox, Nasturtium, Impatiens, Zinnia, Sedum,
Penstemon, Delphinium, Bleeding Heart (Dicentra), Million
Bells (Calibrachoa), Morning Glory (Ipomea), Dianthus,
Dahlia, Lamb’s Ear (Stachys), Savory (Satureja), Red Hot
Poker (Kniphofia), Foxglove (Digitalis), Geranium (Pelargo-
nium), Hibiscus, Flowering Tobacco (Nicotiana alata), Bee
Balm (Monarda), Fuchsia, Honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervi-
rens), Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans), Scarlet Runner
Bean (Phaseolus coccineus), Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus), Sage
(Salvia).
UBM: What about seed planting (flowers). When should they
be planted? Can they go directly in the ground?
Some of the easiest annual flowers to grow from seed are
Cosmos, Zinnia, Sweet Pea (Lathrys odoratus), Nasturtium,
Calendula, Sunflowers (Helianthus), Morning Glory (Ipomea),
Love-In-A-Mist (Nigella), Marigold (Tagetes), Bachelor Button
(Centaurea) and Cerinthe. These seeds can be planted directly
in the ground after frost danger is past.
Morning Glory is a beautiful vining flower which is often con-
fused with the nasty weed Bindweed. Morning Glory and Sweet
Pea seeds should be soaked to speed germination. You may also
want to nick the seeds of Morning Glory using a fingernail file
to gently “sand” the edge of the seed prior to soaking.
Calendula, Nigella, Cerinthe, and Bachelor Button commonly
drop seeds which will usually sprout the next year so I just allow
the seed to drop and never need to replant it. Sunflowers will do
this also, as anyone with a bird feeder knows. If reseeding is not
desirable, simply remove flower heads before they fade.
UBM: Many boomers are empty nesters and don't want a huge
vegetable garden, but would love some herbs, tomatoes, and a
few other veggies. How can they incorporate plants into their
flower garden?
Beuna: Many edibles including herbs are very attractive plants
that work well in a flower garden.
In most cases full sun is required. Peppers, tomatoes, oregano,
thyme, sage, and lavender are a few examples. When growing
tomatoes in a flower bed a small variety of plant such as a patio
tomato type works best.
For a less sunny area chives, parsley, lettuce, and chard are pos- incorporated in a potted arrange-
sibilities. ment and may or may not survive
the winter in a pot.
Lettuces, chard, sage, peppers and some other herbs and veg-
When creating pots I usually put
etables come in a variety of colors which can add more color and
something tall in the middle, or
interest to your flowerbed.
if the pot will be against a wall
When planting edibles in a flowerbed be sure to use pesticides and only viewed from the front
and soil ammendments that are safe for edibles. It is also recom- and sides, I will place something
mended that you avoid pressure treated wood and railroad ties tall towards the back of the pot.
in the area where edibles are planted. Mixing flowers, herbs, and Next 3, 5, or 7 shorter plants
vegetables can reduce pest problems because beneficial insects around the taller plant and 3 - 5
may be attracted to the garden while pests may be repelled. trailing plants of 1 or 2 varieties
around the edge. The number
Edible plants can be used in addition to the usual plants grown or
depends on the size of the pot. I
in place of some of those plants. Chives and garlic chives have plant closer together in a pot than
Coleus and Impatiens
a grassy look, dill has a ferny appearance, herbs for their colors, I would in the ground - almost
scent, or flowers, pole or runner beans in place of another vine. right next to each other.
For small areas a Square Foot Garden is another great solution UBM: What can I do to control slugs and snails?
and can be all edibles or a mix of flowers and edibles. http://
Beuna: Slugs and snails love this damp cool weather we have
www.squarefootgardening.org)
been having. Most slug and snail bait is deadly to pets, wildlife,
UBM: For those boomers who live in a condo, but love garden- and children. Look for bait that contains iron phosphate. This
ing, what are the best flowers for potting? (Assuming partial type of bait will kill slugs and snails without these dangers.
shade)? Crushed eggshells, bits of hair, sharp sand (not playbox sand),
and copper sheeting can all repel slugs and snails. Place these
Beuna: Annual flowers include Impatiens, Lobelia, Begonia, items around plants or around planter boxes to discourage slugs.
Potato Vine (Ipomea), and Coleus. Some plants that are normally
sold as houseplants can add some greenery and color. These in- When weather is warmer and less rainy be sure that you are not
clude Croton, Ti Plant, Ferns, and Dracena. Perennials can also be over watering since slugs and snails love damp ground.
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