Publications and Presentations

Brochure describing 10 low water grasses best for the central Utah town of Eagle Mountain.

Brochure describing 10 low water shrubs best for the central Utah town of Eagle Mountain.

Brochure describing 10 low water perennials best for the central Utah town of Eagle Mountain.

Brochure describing 10 different low water trees for use in a central Utah landscape.

This fact sheet provides descriptions of 16 tree species that are less commonly planted in Utah towns and cities.

Apache plume is an evergreen shrub that can reach five feet tall and wide in a landscape setting. This plant’s most distinguishing and attractive feature is the feathery, redturning-pink seedhead that emerges after the white rose-like, five-petaled flower...

The basic practices of turfgrass care include mowing, fertilization, and irrigation. In Utah, our climate has a unique effect on the turfgrasses that we grow and proper basic care will help to keep your lawn healthy and attractive.

The adaptation of native plants of Utah to local soils, moisture, temperatures, and pests make them prime candidates for sustainable, low-water landscaping that also fosters habitat for pollinators and wildlife.

Water conservation ideas on a budget.

Curl-leaf mountain mahogany is a marvelous large shrub to small tree that would look good in any ornamental landscape, but is especially adapted for low-water landscapes.

A landscape design should meet the needs of the people who will use and maintain the area while incorporating the site’s existing environmental conditions into the design. Water is a limiting resource in Utah, so designing the landscape to efficiently use...

The DROUGHT database is based on an extensive review of literature of the water requirements for woody plants adapted to the Northern Utah region. It is intended to increase the resources available to the public to incorporate water-efficient principles a...

Scheduling irrigation according to landscape plant water needs can reduce excess water use. In addition to conserving water, proper irrigation can encourage deeper root growth and healthier, more drought tolerant landscapes.

Bright scarlet flowers that shower from arching stems of firecracker penstemon have made this plant a favorite of many penstemon enthusiasts. The species is found throughout the West at elevations from 3,000 to 11,000 feet.

Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.), commonly called scrub oak, Rocky Mountain white oak, or Utah white oak, is native to the western part of the U.S., including Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Arizona.

Irrigation system maintenance is necessary to ensure the most efficient use of the water that is being applied. Efficient irrigation is important because over two-thirds of the total water used in the average Uta home is applied to the landscape. With the...

Description of dormancy in lawn grasses.

Don’t start performing funeral rights on your brown grass. It most likely is not dead, just dormant. It’s normal for the grasses that are traditionally grown in Utah to struggle with the heat and drought we are experiencing now, says Kelly Kopp, Utah Stat...

Document describing recommended plants for low-water landscaping in Eagle Mountain, Utah

The following is a list of 15 plants for dry shady spots.

This plant can be found naturally in desert surroundings, along waterways, and in rock crevices. This is a long-living plant that can be used ornamentally as a specimen, in a rock garden, or anywhere soil stabilization is desired. In winter, the seeds are...

Mexican cliffrose occurs throughout the southern regions of the Intermountain West and has great potential for use in low-water landscapes.Cultural Requirements:

This mound-forming perennial is typically seen in higher elevations in the interior West. The lavender or rose-purple flowers are attractive to insects, especially bees and butterflies. This plant is easy to establish and maintain in Intermountain West la...

Describes various products and methods to preserve your lawn.

Cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass or the fescues, may be seeded any time from midspring to early fall, but late summer is the optimum seeding time in northern Utah. The warmth of the soil in late summer is more advantageous for seed germinat...

This publication is a compilation of successful protocols from research literature for native woody plants in Utah. The guide is laid out much like a recipe; listing the various ingredients and materials for each 'dish', and step-by-step instructions to r...

Extremely drought-tolerant perennial to 5 feet, tall with a large mound of coarse foliage at the base and tall plumes of lemon yellow flowers in summer.

The first step in producing native plants with greater application in the landscape industry is to propagate or reproduce exceptional selections of these plants.

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 the high mountain valleys of the state (Rich, Morgan, Summit, and Wasatch count...

Urban and suburban landscapes present special challenges concerning shrub selection in Utah. Due to our distinctive climate, shrubs must be able to withstand intense sunlight, low relative humidity, drying winds, and limited seasonal precipitation.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (10 inches of annual rainfall in Beaver County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (14 inches of annual rainfall in Blanding) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (17.25 inches of annual rainfall in Brigham City. 17.80 inches in Tremonton) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (17 inches of annual rainfall in Cache County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (6-8 inches of annual rainfall in Carbon County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (24 inches of annual rainfall in Davis County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (8.4 inches of annual rainfall in Duchesne County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (5.5 to 8.5 inches of annual rainfall in Emery County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (15 inches of annual rainfall in Fillmore) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (8 - 10 inches of annual rainfall in Garfield County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (6 inches of annual rainfall in Hanksville) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (14.7 inches of annual rainfall in Juab County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants. Since landscape irrigation is the single largest residential use of water, effic...

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (8 - 10 inches of annual rainfall in Kane County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (8 inches of annual rainfall in Millard County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (10 inches of annual rainfall in Moab) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants. Since landscape irrigation is the single largest residential use of water, efficiently us...

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (8 inches of annual rainfall in Monticello) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (18 inches of annual rainfall in Morgan County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Landscape irrigation is the single largest residential use of water. Efficiently using that water is a very effective way of doing your part to conserve water for the future.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (13.4 inches of annual rainfall in Salt Lake County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (10 inches of annual rainfall in Sanpete County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (8.12 inches of average annual precipitation, KSVC radio, 1893-2005) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (14 inches of annual rainfall in Summit County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (8 inches of annual rainfall in Uintah County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (16 inches of annual rainfall in Wasatch County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (8 inches of annual rainfall in Washington County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Landscape irrigation is the single largest residential use of water. The efficient use of that water is a very effective way of conserving precious water resources.

Our arid climate and low annual precipitation (17.6 inches of annual rainfall in Weber County) make supplemental irrigation an essential requirement for many landscape plants.

Cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass or the fescues, may be seeded any time from midspring to early fall, but late summer/early fall is the optimum seeding time in southeast Utah. The warmth of the soil in late summer is more advantageous for s...

Cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass or the fescues, may be seeded any time from midspring to early fall, but late summer is the optimum seeding time in the St. George, Utah, area. The warmth and dryness of the soil in late summer is more advan...

Despite what the snow-covered peaks might indicate, we are not as abundantly blessed with water as those who live in most other states. Without supplemental water, many of our plants and lawns would dry up and die.

This Fact Sheet provides steps for an effective remodel of your landscape to low water use while still keeping existing trees.

For many purposes, the turfgrass seed that may be purchased from a reputable garden center or nursery will usually fit the needs for most Utah lawns. When making such a purchase, look for a quality mixture of named turfgrass varieties avoiding those seed ...

Fact sheet discussing the seven aspects of water-wise landscaping.

Amenity landscapes in Utah use a large portion of the state’s treated potable water. Not only can this cause a shortage of water necessary for human consumption and other uses, but it can also be expensive for homeowners. The good news is that there are m...

Monitoring the depth of wetting and uniformity of water application can improve water management and conservation. Various types of probes can be used to monitor soil moisture conditions both before and after an irrigation. Probes can also be used to chec...

Mulch can provide many benefits in water-wise landscapes. Mulch covers the soil and prevents crusting, compaction, and water evaporation. In fact, mulching around trees, shrubs, and in flower beds can result in a ten-fold reduction in evaporative water lo...

Of the seven guiding principles of water-wise landscaping (a.k.a. Xeriscaping™), the most controversial involves the use of turfgrass in the landscape. At times it has seemed that water-wise landscaping might not allow for the use of turfgrasses at all. I...

This fact sheet includes a water-wise list of ornamental trees, shrubs, herbaceous perennials, ornamental grasses, and ground covers. The plants on the list are (1) water-conserving, (2) adapted to Utah’s arid climate and cold winters, (3) available in th...

Fact sheet explaining how to use ET to efficiently irrigate your landscape.

This book gives homeowners and designers the confidence to create beautiful, low-water landscapes with examples of successful plant combinations in low-water gardens throughout the Intermountain West. The plant combinations are grouped together by water r...

A practical volume for the home or business owner on landscaping with native, drought-tolerant plants in the Rocky Mountain West. Filled with practical tips on landscape design, water-wise irrigation, weed control, and descriptions of over 100 native pla...

This publication is a compilation of successful protocols from research literature for native woody plants in Utah. The guide is laid out much like a recipe; listing the various ingredients and materials for each 'dish', and step-by-step instructions to r...

Convenient and comprehensive, Water Wise provides specific information about shrubs, trees, grasses, forbs, and cacti that are native to most states in the Intermountain West, and that can be used in landscaping to conserve water, reflect and preserve the...

"Written in an easy to follow format, this book will be beneficial to anyone wanting to install a new xeriscape landscape or renovating a traditional landscape to a more xeric landscape." -James E. Klett, author of Best Perennials for the Rocky Mountains...