Gardening season is upon us! As questions about gardening and waterwise landscaping have emerged from Utah residents, Localscapes has stepped up with answers offering a variety of free gardening and landscaping classes. In partnership with the Central Utah Wasatch Conservancy District (CUWCD), Localscapes classes are specifically created around the challenges of Utah’s climate. 

“Creating Your Ideal Utah Yard” has been one of their most well-attended community classes. Casey Finlinson, CUWCD Conservation Program Coordinator, taught this course to Cottonwood Heights residents on April 2 and to Sandy residents on May 24. 

“Get some function and curb appeal out of the yard,” Finlinson said.

An average Sandy/Cottonwood Heights residential home typically has approximately .27 acres of yard-area. With a “traditional” Utah Landscape, 90% of that tends to be lawn/grass. If a resident is watering that lawn area with the 40 inches of water grass required per season, that’s about 176,250 gallons of water use per year.

Localspaces invites residents to consider redeveloping their yard’s landscaping so it isn’t so lawn/grass centric. By implementing some of their research-driven landscaping suggestions, homeowners can save water, lower their annual yard maintenance and irrigation, improve functionality of their yards, and improve the curb appeal of their home. 

“Waterwise landscaping requires minimal maintenance,” said Water Education and Public Outreach Coordinator for Sandy City Nikki Wyman.  

Residents who incorporate landscaping elements (like plant bed and hardscapes) to reduce their grass areas to 20% (instead of 90%) typically average out to save 110,000 gallons of water per year. (A 20% grass yards typically need 64,766 gallons per year.)

Specifically, Finlinson recommends keeping lawn/grass areas usable. 

“Keep lawn off of steep slopes,” Finlinson said. “If you can’t sit on a lawn chair comfortably than it’s too steep to have a grass slope.”

When beginning a Localscapes landscaping journey, Finlinson recommends taking some time to analyze the area with a needs assessment. A Google Maps image of the area can help to identify specific areas like central open space. 

Then, consider the desired functions of the yard. (Do you need privacy from neighbors? Do you need specific areas for kids to play? Where do plants struggle? How sunny or shady are different parts of the yard? Where do you need more sun or shade? Where is wasted space? Do you need room for things like an RV pad?)

Finlinson recommends considering multiple gathering areas throughout the yard. For those gathering areas that do require grass, Finlinson and the Localscapes team suggest planning grass spaces of yards with sprinklers in mind. If landscapers are considering first how sprinklers will be using water, it makes the grass areas more usable without overwatering the lawn.

Finlinson mentioned how residents shouldn’t be planning to put grass in areas less than 8 feet because of guidance coming down from the State Legislature that will soon be written into new city ordinances. 

Once central gathering spaces have been identified, consider where connective pathways need to be. Pathways should be designed to connect elements of the area.

“We don’t want to have blandscapes,” Finlinson joked. “Think about your gathering areas and how to connect space with some paths; anything leftover becomes planting beds.”

For pathways and area lines, Finlinson recommends material like pavers, flagstone, gravel and chat for the hardscape.

“Gravel gets kicked around and doesn't compact very well so it’s challenging for pathways and creates tripping hazards,” said Wyman. “Chat has a binding agent in it and it compacts well enough that it’s hard for seeds to take root in it. If we see weeds coming up, it’s in the margins.” 

Finlinson also recommends thinking through which paths needs to be primary and secondary. Primary paths should be built with hardscape material to be able to clear snow in the winter. Secondary paths won’t require snow removal so they can be as simple as bark. 

“We don’t want lawn to be a pathway. It’s so much easier to have a hardscape material because then you don’t have to water or maintain it,” Finlinson said. 

For aesthetics, Finlinson recommends planning to utilize contrasting and permanent materials. 

“Make it look like it’s on purpose,” Finlinson said. “Make defined edges.”

Once gathering areas and pathways are mapped out, planting beds can begin to fill in additional open space and provide some privacy. Finlinson recommended planting annuals in pots and decorating all gathering areas with perennials. 

“Don’t mix annuals and perennials in planting beds because they have different water needs,” he said. “Bulbs are considered water efficient with moisture and soil.”

Irrigation drip lines are recommended to water those planting beds, with in-line drip holes measured 12 to 18 inches apart. Inline drips are measured by gallons per hour instead of gallons per minute like sprinklers. 

“In Sandy soil, 12 inches apart is a must. Sandy soil goes straight down so you need the lines closer,” Finlinson said. “Water two days per week for 30 minutes for Sandy soil.” 

During this class, Finlinson answered a few resident-specific questions. Here’s a quick glance at the Q&A breakdown:

• Tree roots pop out of the lawn when they need more oxygen. The soil’s probably too wet.
• Bermuda grass is illegal in Utah. If you don’t know what kind of grass you have at home, it’s probably Kentucky bluegrass.
• Rotor sprinkles run twice as long as fixed-head sprinklers.
• Typically, most Utah homes have full sun areas on the south and west sides. Partial sun is to the east. Shade is generally on the north.

Want to learn more specifics for gardening beds? Next month we’ll recap the “Creating a Plant Bed Design” Localscapes class. 

Before digging, residents should remember to call Blue Stakes of Utah for a free utility line location service. Any digging in residential areas needs to be at least five feet away from a gas line for trees. Call 1-800-662-4111 or visit www.bluestakes.org. Local residents can also call 811. 

Sandy’s free demonstration garden currently has some eco-lawns on display. Visit Sego Lily Gardens at 1472 E. Sego Lily Drive. 

To learn more about Localscapes and their classes, search their events through EventBrite or e-mail [email protected]. 

CUWCD’s office is located in Orem at 1426 E. 750 North. To review this course or view recordings of past classes, visit www.CUWCD.gov/classes