Selectionand Culture of Landscape Plants in Utah, a Guide For
SELECTION AND CULTURE OF LANDSCAPE PLANTS IN UTAH A GUIDE FOR SOUTHWESTERN AND CENTRAL UTAH (IRON, BEAVER, KANE, MILLARD, JUAB, SANPETE, SEVIER, PIUTE, WAYNE, GARFIELD, AND PARTS OF WASHINGTON COUNTIES) Teresa A. Cerny Ornamental Horticulture Specialist Larry A. Rupp Dept Head and Professor, Plants, Soils and Biometeorology Dept Chad R. Reid Iron County Extension Agent Mike Kuhns Forestry Specialist December 2002 HG 500.3 What traveler, driving across Utah, has not marveled at its diversity of geography, climate and vegetation? From Joshua-trees in the Mojave Desert, to alpine meadows, to pinion- juniper forests set against the red sandstone of the Colorado Plateau, it is truly a state of contrasts. Ideally, Utah landscapes should be designed to be adapted to local conditions and to enhance the natural beauty of the state. Unfortunately, most of our landscapes are patterned after those found in Europe or northeastern America. Such landscapes are difficult to maintain and require more resources, such as water and fertilizer, than adapted landscapes. While there is no simple recommendation that would be valid state-wide, localized guidelines can address the diversities of climate, soils, and other factors which affect plant growth. The purpose of this series of publications is to recommend plants and landscape management procedures for various regions of the state. This edition targets the communities of Southwestern and Central Utah (Iron, Beaver, Kane, Millard, Juab, Sanpete, Sevier, Piute, Wayne, Garfield, and parts of Washington counties). These valleys are characterized by moderate to cold temperatures and short to moderate growing seasons. Cold winters, hot summers, little rainfall, and poor soils make this area one of the state's most difficult sites for growing and maintaining landscapes.
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