5 minute read
Utah Water Savers
Planning Early for Spring Projects
By Madeline Sueltz, Utah Water Savers
The days are shorter, the nights are longer and the temperatures have officially dipped below freezing. Winter has arrived! For many garden enthusiasts the arrival of this season comes with the melancholy feeling of putting your tools back into the garden shed for the last time this year. While this seasonal change can often seem dreary to those who thrive off of being in their landscapes it can also provide an excellent opportunity to get the jump on next year’s projects! At Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District’s Conservation Garden Park we use the winter to do just that! Here are a few simple steps to help you utilize cold-season downtime so you’ll be ready to act on your plans as soon as the weather warms next spring.
Start with a Plan
One of the most important, and often overlooked, steps in creating your ideal yard is to start with a plan. Taking the time to draw out your own landscape design plan can seem daunting, but with The Localscapes Design Workshop (and a cup of hot cocoa) you will be amazed what you can do yourself. This workshop will walk you step-by-step through the Localscape landscape design process, developed specifically for Utah landscapes. You will learn how to apply the 5 basic elements of a Localscape; the central open shape, gathering areas, activity zones, paths, and planting beds, to your own landscape. In addition, this course will teach you the basics of planting bed design and why seasonal interest is important in your landscape.
Everyone finds the idea of drawing a physical plan intimidating. The good news is that you don’t have to be an artist to create a plan that’s drawn to scale and contains the information you need to estimate materials and costs. The Design Workshop walks you through the sketching process and provides access to free tools to help you accomplish the task. More than 50% of Utah’s population can participate in the landscape incentive programs offered through Utah Water Savers and one of the requirements of participation is a basic, drawn to scale, sketch plan. When you consider receiving up to $2 per square foot in a cash-back incentive for completing the installation of the plan, the creation process is definitely worthwhile.
If you plan to hire a professional designer or contractor to plan and/ or install your landscape, now is the time to engage a provider. Waitlists for professional services can be months long.
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Planning for winter interest:
Winter can often seem like a drab time for us garden enthusiasts. Trees have shed their leaves and most perennial plants have entered dormancy. Still, with Evergreen trees, bright berries and very few leaves the winter can also be a great time to explore adding some seasonal interest into your yard. Just because flowers have stopped blooming does not mean that your landscape needs to be dull!
Simple tricks like waiting to cut ornamental grasses down until the spring will add visual interest to your landscape and provide shelter and food for overwintering bird populations. Providing a habitat for winter wildlife in your yard is just one more way that you can interact with your landscape all season long. Who knows? Maybe bird watching will become your new thing! Take a look around you and see what sparks your interest this winter.
Are you seeing a lack of winter interest in your yard but not sure about how to fix it? Visit Conservation Garden Park for some exceptional examples. All plants are labeled and cross-referenced in their online plant database, so you can get all the information you need to make decisions.
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Get paid to improve your landscape:
Another way to get the jump on your upcoming landscape plans is to explore what landscape incentives are available in your area! Visit: UtahWaterSavers.com and create an account to see what’s available. Most programs will require before photos of your landscape, a landscape design sketch plan, and a free, online course to ensure you create a landscape that succeeds over the long-term in order to be eligible for incentives. What a better time than winter to check these requirements off your to-do list? With the New Year fast approaching be sure to check Utah Water Savers for the most up to date information on incentives in your area.
If applying for incentive programs, submit your application as early in the season as possible. Once the weather begins to warm, spring rush ensues and the wait time for program participation dramatically increases. A signed participation agreement is required before work begins in order for a project to be eligible so don’t procrastinate on this step!
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