Garden Answers
Landscape Design
What zone are we in? Also, when can we start planting?
What can we plant to create a privacy screen?
What should I do to get my birdbath and fountain ready for winter?
What plants thrive in this area and encourage visiting hummingbirds?
Can you tell us where to start on landscaping our yard?
Is September too late in the year to re-landscape my yard?
What is the best time to drain my irrigation system?
Question: My husband and I are new to the Valley and we're
planning on putting a new yard in this spring. Can you tell
me what zone we're in? I'm hearing different things from different
people. Also, when can we start planting?
Answer: You're right to start thinking about your yard
now. Spring catalogs are coming in, people are getting excited
about getting going in the yard. Every season we get lots of
questions about what works well here, which zones are okay,
and what needs extra care. Zones primarily refer to how cold
an area gets in the winter. The higher the zone number, the
warmer the area; the lower the zone number, the colder. According
to the USDA, Grand Junction is a zone 6, though they've recently
modified that to a 7. Honestly, I'm a little skeptical about
this change. We're staying cautious here, and waiting to see
how those plants do through the cold. A zone 6 plant is hardy
to -5°. You can incorporate plants rated zone 6 and lower
and expect them to do well in this area with the proper care.
The Sunset Western Garden Book has a different zoning system
that is really great in California and along the Pacific coast,
but not as helpful for us here in the cold country. They rate
us as a zone 2, but they also include Denver and Rifle in the
same zone, both of which are different from the Grand Valley.
As for planning your yard, if you're looking at doing the entire
yard, I'd urge you to consider talking with a landscape designer.
I know it can be hard for folks to spend several hundred dollars
on "a piece of paper", especially if your budget is
tight, but landscaping your yard can be a huge undertaking,
and it's money well-spent to have it done from the ground up
exactly the way you want it. Having a plan helps keep you on
track, so that even if it takes a couple of years to put in
your yard, you end up with a pleasing, unified landscape. If
you decide to use a designer, now's the time to look into it.
They get very busy as the spring progresses, so having a plan
well in advance of the busy season gives you a head start.
If you only plan to work on a small section of your yard (a
perennial bed, rock garden, etc), it might make more sense to
work it as a 'do-it-yourself' project. One thing to keep in
mind is the water requirements of the plants you want to use.
Designing your yard with that in mind will help you decide what
types of plants to group together. We have loads of books that
include such information, and would be happy to talk with you
about your needs.
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Question: Our neighbors recently built a deck off their
second story, and now they're looking directly into our backyard.
What kind of planting can we do to screen their view and give
us a little privacy?
Answer: I'd say a lot depends upon if you're looking
for year-round screening or something more seasonal. If you
want an evergreen, concentrate on upright junipers or arborvitae.
These will work well, but are slower growing and don't have
much in the way of color contrast or change (as opposed to a
deciduous tree).
If you're thinking of deciduous trees, you have lots of choices.
You might consider planting Aspen. Using a number of them to
create a grove looks pretty and very natural. You can zigzag
or clump them, placing them strategically wherever they're needed.
(Take a chair and sit in different areas in your yard and decide
where you most want coverage.) Some of the disadvantages of
Aspen include the fact that they're a relatively short-lived
tree (about 20 years for an average); they can sucker, and have
a shallow root system.
Another possibility is a Hawthorn. For your particular situation,
I'd recommend a Washington Hawthorn which grows upright when
young and then rounds out as it matures. You can use several
of them (as with the Aspen) to form a grove, arranging them
so that they're most aesthetically pleasing to you. The foliage
looks like miniature maple leaves and are a deep glossy green
that turn orange-red in the fall-giving great screening and
color. In the spring, Washington Hawthorn is covered with clusters
of white flowers that produce persistent bright-red berries
which the birds love!
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Question: Is there anything special I need to do to get
my birdbath and fountain ready for winter?
Answer: Good question, because you DO need to take some
steps to protect birdbaths, fountains, and statuary during the
winter months. First, always remove the pump from your fountain
and store it inside. Letting the pump freeze can crack the plastic
housing or damage the seals of the pump.
Most fountains, statuary, and bird baths are made of concrete,
which expands and contracts with extreme changes in the climate
and can lead to cracks, breakage, or damage to the finish. It's
important that you drain all of the water from your fountain
or birdbath. If ice forms in it, the surface may begin to flake
off. Depending upon the size of your fountain, birdbath or statuary
it's best to store it indoors. If you have a large fountain,
however, that's not practical. In that case, use terry towels,
burlap bags, or something absorbent to fill the bowl of your
fountain, cover the entire fountain with heavy-duty plastic,
or a waterproof tarp and secure it with twine. Ready-made covers
are also available. Taking the time to properly winterize your
birdbaths, fountains and statuary will allow you to enjoy them
year after year.
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Question: Are there plants that thrive in this area I can plant to encourage hummingbirds to visit my yard?
Answer: We have a great variety of flowering plants
that will attract hummers. You'll find a list of some of them
below. To provide nectar throughout the season, pay attention
to the blooming times of each plant. Plan a hummer garden with
a variety of plants that flower at successively later dates.
Then you'll be sure to have a happy hummer haven in your own
backyard. It's always a good idea to keep a hummingbird feeder
in your yard, too.
Vines and Shrubs: Butterfly Bush (Buddleia), Honeysuckle, Trumpet
Vine,
Perennials: Bee Balm, Hollyhock, Cardinal Flower, Columbine,
Coral Bells, Daylilies, Foxglove, Hosta, Hummingbird Mint, Hibiscus,
Lupine, Penstemon
Annuals: Canna, Lantana, Four O'Clocks, Fuchsia, Impatiens,
Jacobiana, Jewelweed, Petunia, Salvia, Shrimp Plant, Snapdragons,
Nicotiana, Gladiolus, Scarlet Runner Bean
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Question: My husband and I have been thinking of landscaping
our yard but we're a bit overwhelmed. Right now we only have
dirt, so we're starting from scratch. We're not sure if we'll
do it ourselves or have someone else do it. Can you give us
an idea of where to start?
Answer: Actually, this is a good time to be thinking
about what you want to do with your landscaping. It can be overwhelming,
but there are several things you can be doing now that can help
get you started. The first thing I always tell folks is to start
with the design. Decide what you want your landscaping to look
like. Make a list of your wants and needs as well as favorite
trees and plants you would like to see in your yard that fit
your lifestyle. You wouldn't dream of building your home without
a blueprint, nor should you work on your landscaping without
a detailed design.
You then need to decide if you are going to design it yourself,
or have it done professionally. If you choose to do it yourselves,
take the time to research your choices thoroughly. There are
a myriad of ideas in books available here, at the library, or
any of our local bookstores. If you're interested in having
it done, there are several great designers in the valley. Come
on out and we'd be happy to suggest some folks to you.
Once you have your plan, you'll once again need to decide if
you want to carry it out yourselves, or hire someone to do it
for you. If you intend to work on it, be patient! There is a
lot to consider and starting from scratch can take 2 years (or
more) taking on a little at a time. You'll need to think about
the sprinkler system (being sure to have zones that best work
with the plants you've selected for each area), grading, soil
preparation (always best done BEFORE any planting gets underway),
edging, grass (whether to seed or sod), types of plants, how
to plant them, and mulching materials. Of course, you'll also
need to remember any hardscaping you'd like to include in your
plan: items such as patios, walkways, ponds and water features.
If the thought of all that discourages you, look around to
find someone with whom you'll be comfortable working. Many folks
will start by looking in the phone book and pick the nicest
looking advertisement! While that may be a place to start, I'd
recommend you take the following steps when looking for a landscaping
company.
First and probably most important is to be sure you're dealing
with a reputable company. Ask about their experience, number
of years in the business, insurance and any guarantees they
may have. Be sure they are members of ALCC (Associated Landscaping
Contractors of Colorado) an organization intended to foster
professionalism in the industry. Personally, I wouldn't do business
with anyone who was not a member. Check the company's references-talk
to their customers, look at their yards, ask them about how
the company followed up to any questions, comments or complaints
they had. Ask them how happy they are with their landscaping
and with the treatment they received. Follow up is extremely
important and can often make or break a company in the eyes
of its customers.
You may want to get prices from more than one landscape contractor.
Having your plan in hand will make it easier for you to get
bids from several companies. Remember too, that while most all
of us have to live on a budget and that costs are something
we all need to consider, you often end up getting just what
you paid for.
Finally, realize that you may have to wait a while to have
your project begun as often the more "sought after"
landscapers get busy early in the season and stay busy! You
could end up waiting weeks even months before your project is
started. That's actually another good reason for you to start
your planning now. The faster you know what you want to do,
the more quickly you can get in line to get your work done.
Hope this long-winded answer helps you out. Please feel free
to stop in and let us show you how we might help you!
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Question: Is September too late in the year to re-landscape my yard?
Answer: No it's not! Fall is a wonderful time to plant. The soil is still warm so roots grow well without the stress of our hot summer weather. What it means is that your plants get a good head start on establishing themselves in your yard and can take advantage of the big flush of spring growth next year.
Most plants these days are sold as container plants, just a plant growing in a pot. You can plant something like that essentially year-round. You're not messing with the roots when you plant them so there's no shock or stress, whether the weather is 35° or 105° when you do it. The plant is simply "changing addresses".
Fall is also probably the best time of the year to seed a new lawn. I'm not sure what all you have planned to do, but this is a good time to go for it.
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Question: What is the best time to drain my irrigation system?
Answer: It depends upon the weather, but you probably want to drain your irrigation system by the middle of November. The underground parts won’t be damaged until the soil down at that depth freezes which is usually late November or December sometime. Be careful, however, about any above ground parts like pumps, filters and back flow preventers as these can freeze and be damaged with just a good stiff freeze one morning. Many people have drain cocks to quickly drain these devices so they can be recharged when the weather warms up and you want to water again.
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Bookcliff Gardens
(970) 242-7766
755 26 Road (North 1st at I-70) • Grand Junction, Colorado 81506
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