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Old 05-04-2003, 12:11 PM
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Default Xeriscape Gardening News #40 - Xeriscaping Across the U.S.

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Subject: Xeriscape Gardening News #40 - Xeriscaping Across the U.S.

Xeriscape Gardening News
from
High Country Gardens
Issue #40 - March 2003
David Salman, Chief Horticulturist

--------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to our Monthly E-Zine.

For live links to plants and products mentioned in the articles,
use the web version of this newsletter found at:
http://highcountrygardens.com/nl/nl40.html

------------------------------------------------------------
In This issue:

+ Xeriscaping Across the U.S.
+ Soil Preparation for Optimum Drainage
+ Plant Profile: Agastache "Blue Fortune"
+ Pre-Planned Gardens
+ Internet Specials
+ Employment Opportunity

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------------------------------------------------------------
Xeriscaping Across the USA: The Have’s and the Have-Nots

As the 2003 planting season approaches, water availability across
the United States is a mix of good and bad news. The Eastern U.S.
is in the grips of a vicious winter with record snows, and as this
region’s reservoirs, lakes and river levels return to normal, the
outlook for ample irrigation water looks good. Meanwhile, in the
Intermountain region from New Mexico to Montana, snowfall has been
scant and many areas are looking at watering restrictions--some
perhaps for the second year in a row.

For the “have” gardeners in the East, this season is ideal for
replacing thirsty, drought damaged landscapes with more
water-smart plantings. After all, even xeric plants need adequate
rainfall and irrigation to establish their extensive roots and
become resistant to heat and drought. (See Washington
Post Article.)

For the “have nots” in the West, this will be a challenging time.
Those of us with existing xeriscapes will still have nice yards.
But others whose drought-stricken yards are damaged, undertaking a
complete replacement could be chancy. There may not be enough
water to establish new plants. Instead, smaller plantings of xeric
perennials and preparations for larger scale changes can be
undertaken.

Following is a quick review of the key Principles of Xeriscaping
(water-smart gardening): 1) downsize water intensive turf areas,
2) use appropriate plants, 3) improve the soil, 4) use mulches, 5)
irrigate efficiently, 6) capture rain and snow run-off and 7)
maintain your landscape properly to minimize water use.

Whether you are a “have” or “have not” gardener this season,
planning your conversion to a water-smart landscape is wise for an
overall environmental concern. Water is fast becoming a precious
resource worldwide. When you consider your own yard, take
appropriate steps. Traditional lawn-dominated landscapes use
water equally on all parts of the yard. A xeriscaped yard saves
water by budgeting its use and prioritizing how much water the
different areas of a yard will receive. This is accomplished by
zoning water use.

Visualize your yard as an archery target with your home as the
center. The “oasis” zone is the part of the yard that surrounds
the house, porch and patio. These visually important areas are the
focal point of your landscape. This is where you should place any
water features such as ponds and fountains and plant your most
water intensive greenery. The “transitional” zone is the next ring
out as you move toward the edges of your lot. Use moderate to low
water-use plants here. The “xeric” zone encompasses the furthest,

least frequently used and seen parts of your yard. This is where
you plant the most xeric plants that rarely need supplemental
water after becoming established. In dry times, a zoned landscape
conserves water by needing less. When water restrictions occur,
watering is concentrated on the “oasis” area of the yard.

For maximum water savings, reducing the square footage of your
lawn should be your first step. Particularly in the Western U.S.
replacing water intensive Kentucky Blue Grass with native turf
grasses, water-thrifty Dwarf Fescue blends or groundcovers will
result in dramatic water savings. Using native turf grasses also
reduces lawn care expenses and lawn chemical and fertilizer use in
all parts of the country. In many commercial and residential
landscapes, lawns are not functional (kid’s play areas) and are
used only as green groundcovers. A lawn can be replaced with
herbaceous and woody groundcovers where foot traffic is not an
issue, and with native turf grasses where it doesn’t get intensive
foot traffic or kids’ play. In rural areas, homeowners with larger
properties are re-establishing prairie grasses and wildflowers
around their homes.

Converting old lawns to native Blue Grama or Legacy® Buffalo Grass
turf is water intensive during the first growing season. For
“haves” in regions where there are no watering restrictions, this
season is the time to do it. For “have nots” in areas with water
restrictions planting Buffalo Grass plugs or sowing grama grass
seed as replacement lawns must wait. But all is not lost. New
perennial beds can be carved out of lawn areas, sprinkler systems
can be reconfigured to accommodate a smaller lawn while portions
of the lawn that you plan to replace can go dry. Alternately,
Kentucky Blue Grass can be removed and replaced with xeric
groundcovers (Snow-in-Summer, Hardy Plumbago and groundcover
Speedwells). Or if watering is permitted at least twice a week
plant low growing woody plants (Gro-low Sumac, Gray Santolina and
various groundcover junipers).

When it is time to plant more xeric (water-smart ) plants, educate
yourself about the wide variety of native and adapted plants that
are suited to your region, climate and soil type. One key to the
use of xeric perennials is to make sure that soil drainage is
adequate. Many native plants like Beardtongues (Penstemon) require
fast draining soil. When planting in areas of the U.S. that
typically receive more abundant rain and snow, examine your soil
for its clay content and test the drainage (see the following
article). If clay soil is what you have to work with, then be sure
to select clay-loving plants like Buffalo Grass, Poppy Mallow
(Callirhoe) and the European sage cultivars (Salvia x sylvestris
'Blue Queen' and Salvia nemerosa 'May Night'). As a practical
matter, the use of xeric plants that require quick drainage will
be confined to smaller bermed (mounded) areas and raised beds.

A well designed water-smart yard or commercial landscape is not
only more water efficient, but less labor intensive. At the same
time smaller swatches of water intensive turf allow us to plant
more perennial flowers, trees and shrubs. This adds beauty, color
and shade to surroundings while creating a more environmentally
friendly place for songbirds, hummingbirds, butterflies and
beneficial insects. So whether you are a “have” or “have not” this
planting season, there are many positive steps you can do to move
toward a more water-smart landscape.

David Salman
Chief Horticulturist

------------------------------------------------------------
Soil Preparation for Optimum Drainage

One of the cultural requirements of xeriscape plants is the
soil has excellent drainage. In some cases this is easily
accomplished while in others it will take a considerable amount of
work to improve the drainage. The effort it takes, though, will
be worth it if you want healthy plants, trees and lawns. Having a
loose soil that is well drained will not only retain the
appropriate amount of moisture but will also provide sufficient
pore space so plant roots get enough air. Pore space is the space
between solid particles.

How do you tell if you have good drainage? A simple test is to
dig a hole about 12 inches deep and 6 inches wide. Fill the
hole with water and allow it to completely drain. Then, fill it a
second time. Observe how long it takes to drain. If it takes
more than 8 hours, you have a drainage problem.

Many drainage problems occur due to a high percentage of clay
particles in the soil. However, there are other possibilities
including soil that has been compacted because of foot or
vehicular traffic. Springs in the vicinity or a high water table
will also slow drainage. In the Southwest, another likelihood for
poor drainage is the presence of caliche, a white or light colored
layer of soil in which the soil particles have been cemented
together by lime (calcium carbonate, CaCO3). When planting in
soils with a caliche layer, it is necessary to “punch through”
this water impermeable layer by digging deep holes into the
non-caliche soil below.

The first step in creating well-drained soil is determining the
texture and composition of your soil. Texture refers to the
proportion of sand, silt and clay in the soil. Sandy soil drains
rapidly but also dries out quickly. Clay soil drains poorly and
sometimes remains waterlogged. One remedy that improves the
texture of most soils is the addition of organic matter,
with compost being the most commonly used amendment. Compost is
typically incorporated in a ratio of 1 part compost to 2 parts
existing garden soil. Any organic matter will continually
decompose so more must be added on a regular basis.

If clay soil is the problem, the addition of compost may not be
enough. You may need to add generous quantities of coarse sand or
crusher fines, the end result of screened crushed rock. Do not add
fine sand as that will result in a concrete-like consistency.
Gypsum is also sometimes added to improve the texture of clay
soil. As it breaks down, gypsum helps the clay particles lump
together, improving the circulation of air and water. Greensand
is another additive that helps improve the texture of clay soil.
But you need to consider that the use of gypsum and Greensand will
take time to effect a change.

For native plants that demand great drainage, immediate fixes like
berming (mounding) the soil with the addition of coarse sand or
creating a raised bed is a good solution. As the soil in beds with
added compost or gypsum become more water permeable, drainage
sensitive plants can then be added.

As you continue to add organic matter to your soil, beneficial
organisms such as earthworms will appear and gradually become more
numerous. These creatures are Nature’s best soil aerators and as
a bonus, their castings are an excellent fertilizer. Earthworms
prefer soils that are moist, not too wet or too dry.

Don’t forget to use mulch in hot arid areas. The mulch will
moderate the soil temperature and will help retain water in sandy
and loamy soils. It will help prevent cracking that occurs in
clay soils and minimize the chance of tiny roots being exposed to
the hot sun.

Always be alert for areas where drainage problems still occur. If
a plant dies, examine it to see if the roots have rotted. After a
rain, observe standing water in any garden spot. If drainage
problems persist in some areas and defy correction, you might
consider using containers or building a raised bed.

Mary Ann Walz
Garden Writer

------------------------------------------------------------------
Plant Profile: Agastache x ‘Blue Fortune’

The genus Agastache is a member of the huge Lamiaceae or Mint
family, and are commonly known as Hyssop. It’s a genus of about
30 species, and has become quite popular of late due to its many
properties such as being cold-tolerant, drought tolerant, long
blooming and aromatic. Some gardeners describe the scents as
being like root beer, licorice and bubble gum. The plant is a
favorite of butterflies and humming birds. Pronounced
“a-gah-sta-kee” or “a-gah-sta-kee” the name comes from Greek word
agan, meaning very much, and stachys, meaning spike. Literally,
the name refers to the numerous stalks of flowers on one plant.

These plants like the full sun and any well drained, neutral to
alkaline soil. In northern Mexico and the southwestern US many
species grow in arid higher altitude areas and are quite cold
hardy, some even to USDA zone 5. It’s best transplanted when
temperatures are warm. Though a member of the mint family,
Agastache won’t take over the garden. They grow in clumps and don’
t spread.

They bloom beginning in mid to late summer continuing into the
fall. With an average height of 18 inches, ‘Blue Fortune’ is known
to be about three feet high. This superb hybrid is a relatively
new introduction from Europe and is proving to be a robust,
non-stop bloomer. The husky 5" long flower spikes are a
mesmerizing powder blue, and the large green leaves are striking
with their silver undersides. ‘Blue Fortune’ is a rich nectar
source for butterflies and bumblebees.

Later in the season, as the plant matures, a light mint scent
develops in the flowers. Like Korean Hyssop (Agastache rugosum),
this cultivar will also perform well outside of the West in the
wetter winter climates of the Midwest and East. "Blue Fortune" is
suited for zones 6-10. Try planting it with cherry-red Salvia x
‘Maraschino’.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Planned Gardens

Unsure how to design a pleasing, long blooming perennial garden?
Concerned about clashing colors? Don’t fret, try our pre-planned
garden collections. Your neighbors will think you had them
professionally designed just for you!

Our Pre-planned garden collections are the easy way to add a
color-coordinated, low maintenance perennial garden to your yard.
Designed by professional designers with years of practical
gardening experience, the gardens use some of the thier favorite
flowers.

All of these gardens use easy-to-grow perennials that are well
suited to a wide range of soils, climates and growing conditions.
We have many different designs suitable for many different
gardening preferences, including the new “The Inferno Strip
Garden” (for hot, dry narrow beds), the “Jumbo Waterwise Garden,”
the “Big Easy Waterwise Garden,” the “Hot and Sunny Cottage
Garden,” the “Butterfly Paradise Cottage Garden” and the “Colors
and Textures Garden” that is a perennial/ornamental grass garden.

Each garden collection comes with an easy-to-follow planting
diagram (with maintenance hints for each plant) and our 16-page
planting & soil preparation guide.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet Specials

Visit our site each week for new sale items. Sometimes we have
a bumper crop of plants that we want to make sure get used. Other
times we have specials on products we want to pass on.

To see what's special this week, go to:
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/sh...class=specials

------------------------------------------------------------------
Employment Opportunity

Work with great people--gardeners! High Country Gardens, the
catalog division of Santa Fe Greenhouses is currently interviewing
for Customer Services Representatives.

Customer service, phone and computer skills necessary.
Horticulture background a plus.

Full and part time seasonal positions available.
Call 505-428-7383, fax 505-438-9552 or e-mail
http
------------------------------------------------------------------
----------- Support Our Students ------------

Responsible Water Use Symposium - March 29, 2003

The Longwood Graduate Program will host their 12th annual
Symposium, "Responsible Water Use in the Garden." The daylong
event will be held at Winterthur, An American Country Estate, near
Wilmington, DE. The symposium will focus on water-wise gardening,
from selecting beautiful plants and proper garden design to easy
maintenance techniques and tips for conserving
water. For more information please call 302-831-2517 or visit
online at www.udel.edu/LongwoodGrad.

======
To send this newsletter to a friend, just forward this issue
to your fellow gardeners and they can subscribe by visiting
our website at http://www.highcountrygardens.com/

Send comments, questions and reprint requests to the editor at:
?Subject=Fee dback

Copyright 2003 by High Country Gardens, Inc.

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