Plan to plant perennial plants and shrubs for landscape and Water Wise Gardening
Now that you have a plan it is time to think about what you want to plant. Tree and shrub selection, perennials, and hardscaping. Creek Side offers over 400 varieties of perennials including sun/shade, hot/dry, pollinator plants, ornamental grasses and xeric plants.
- Considerations: *Sun or Shade, East, West, North or South, Wind and Water
- What is xeriscape or water wise gardening and why it is important in Colorado landscapes
- Learn about native plants, nativars and xeric plant selections, including ‘Plant Select’ perennials
- What to use for anchor plants in the overall design
1) Anchor Plants in the Colorado Landscape
- Trees
- Shrubs
- Native & Non-Native Selections
- *Where to Use
- Plant List
- Color and Seasonal Bloom
- Height & Form (Winter Interest)
“A native species is a species that moved to that habitat by natural methods, like a seed being spread by the wind or an animal moving to a new location. A non-native species arrived in its habitat by human intervention”.
Xeric, native and other plants that thrive on the Front Range (within the climate cycles) do better in “lean” soil with good drainage. Rich organic soils can lead to unhealthy and uncharacteristic growth for these species.
Creek Side Gardens https://www.plantsbycreekside.com/blog/low-water-shrubs-for-colorado/
Front Range Tree Recommendation List is a resource compiled by professionals in the landscape industry in connection with Colorado State University and the Denver Botanic Gardens. An excellent guide to selecting varieties of deciduous and evergreens best suited for our Colorado landscape. It is available by typing the title in your computer’s browser.
FAVORITES:
2) Perennials for Colorado Landscapes
- Native & Non-Native Selections
- *Where to Use ~ Sun or Shade, East, West, North or South, Wind
- Plant List
Color and Seasonal Bloom
Height & Form (Winter Interest)
Some of the distinguishing features of a xeric or native plant will be a soft grey-green, fuzzy, leaf structure. Thesel create an “air-conditioning” effect by deflecting the sun’s rays and heat. Many have a thick, fleshy leaf (succulents/sedums) which acts as a storage area for moisture. Look for these descriptors when choosing varieties.
FAVORITES:
3) Landscape Maintenance
- Irrigation
- Weed Control
- Pest Control
- Fertilizer
- Trimming/Pruning/Deadheading
Just like nature, there are four seasons of care ~ Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall ~ in the Colorado landscape and garden.
Know the irrigation needs of a Native, Non-Native (Xeric) landscape will be the key to success.
The first couple of seasons watering will occur on a regular schedule then a tapering off the water resource.
Weeding-the best time is when they are small and can be removed easily. This alleviates having to use chemical treatments or manual labor to remove when the weeds have grown larger.
The need for understanding fertilization of plants or amending the soil can be assessed with a simple soil test so the proper amounts can be applied at the appropriate times. Many Native, Non-Native (Xeric) plant varieties need very little soil amending or fertilizer.
Pest control. It is better to be proactive and learn which pests cycle in an out of the seasons in Colorado and be prepared to meet them head on, before considerable damage or loss has occurred in the landscape.
Schedule time to manage the different type of plant material in the landscape. Regular, seasonal trimming, deadheading and pruning benefits the overall health of the plants.
4) Additional Information
- The Longest Flowering Perennials
- Deer Resistant Varieties
- Don’t Forget the Pollinators!
Bloom Season or Bloom Charting of plant selections will ensure a landscape which will offer visual interest and diversity for pollinators throughout the year. Plan for Early Bloomers , mid-season, and late blooming varieties. Don’t forget Winter Interest as part of your Bloom Chart with perennials, as well as Trees and Shrubs! https://www.plantsbycreekside.com/blog/more-longest-flowering-perennials/
Catmint (Nepeta), Salvia (Caradonna & Rose Marvel), and Coral Baby Penstemon are good Early Bloomers.
Mid-season selections are Stella d’Oro Ever-blooming Daylily, Coneflower (Echinacea) Sombrero & Kismet, and Yarrow.
Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) and Fall Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum ‘Shenandoah’) are two excellent fall species.
Browsing animals (Deer and rabbits) can undo many a landscape. Both animals are generally repelled by strong smelling plants. Barrier plants can be effective when planted around desirable plants. Physical and other repellants can be effective. You may need to employ several methods and change them up throughout the season. https://www.plantsbycreekside.com/blog/deer-resistant-perennials-and-shrubs/
When designing a landscape to include pollinators, remember the adults get their nutrition from one plant and lay their eggs on a different plant species. Both need to be present for a successful pollinator garden. https://www.plantsbycreekside.com/blog/plan-to-plant-flowers-for-pollinators/
Creek Side Gardens is here to help you make your garden and landscape the best ever. Stop by anytime and discuss your questions with our Green Team staff of gardening experts. Contact us with your questions at [email protected] and check out our weekly ‘Planting Trends’ at www.PlantsByCreekSide.com
Another great reference is the Colorado State University Extension website which publishes many free “ Fact Sheets” which list plants and plant care. Search www.extension.colostate.edu
