Return to Master
Gardener News Releases .
Whether you are working with an established landscape or starting with bare soil a dry streambed may be your answer to reduce water use and keep existing plants alive in a hot and dry spot.
A dry streambed incorporates the theories of xeriscape. Xeriscape does not mean a landscape of rocks, mulch and boulders with a few junipers thrown in. This type of landscaping increases heat and dryness, produces damaging effects to trees and shrubs and can result in wasteful water run-off. In xeriscaping, plants with similar water requirements are grouped together, site location, slope and exposure are considered in determining microclimates and plantings help to control sun and wind effects.
Because south and west exposures are very hot and result in the greatest water loss, extensive use of rock in those areas should be avoided. Slopes also cause water loss because of runoff and quicker evaporation. A drought resistant groundcover, shrubs, evergreens and deciduous trees to create summer shade can cool the temperature, reduce water requirements and still create an attractively landscaped area. If the slope is extremely steep, consider terracing the slope to ease the grade.
A dry streambed works best visually if it follows some slope and variation in elevation, even if man-made, and takes a meandering path instead of a straight line. First clear the area of grass and weeds and lay down landscape fabric to prevent weeds from growing. Next choose the size of stones, rocks and gravel to use keeping in mind that they should be in proportion to the surrounding area. Smooth river rocks placed down the center and interspersed with some gravel looks natural. A few larger rocks and boulders can be added, but most would occur along the “banks” of the streambed in a natural setting. You can also use sand and more gravel to disguise the transition between the bottom of the streambed and the upper banks.
Next intersperse several ground covers creating interest and color, and in many cases providing an interesting scent. To plant, cut an ‘X’ in the landscaping fabric and insert the plant into the soil beneath. The dry streambed can mimic nature with plants that encroach upon it, because there is opportunity for them to become established rather than washed away as in a running stream.
There are a number of groundcovers recommended for shade-to-full sun: Creeping penstemon Penstemon caespitosus, Sweet woodruff Galium odorata, and Halls honeysuckle Lonicera japonica ‘Halliana’ for shade; Border jewel Himalayan Polygonum affine, Hardy Ice plant Delosperma nubigenum and Lavender cotton Santolina chamaecyparissus.
As mentioned above you can incorporate a dry streambed in an area with trees and shrubs. You can use it to landscape a hot, dry area rather than expend water and time with plantings, and it can be used in a cool, shaded spot as well. In shaded areas plants such as Carpet bugle Ajuga reptans, Bishops’ weed Aegopodium podagraria, Coral bells Heuchera sanguinea, hostas hosta species, and Creeping Oregon grape Mahonia repens can be used to add interest.
The way you design your dry streambed can vary in many ways. Watch for ideas in your community, look at landscape books, hike in the foothills or mountains and look at streambeds, both dry and wet, and imagine how different approaches would work in your yard.
For further information refer to Fact Sheets #7.228 - Xeriscape: Creative Landscaping; #7.229 - Xeriscaping: Trees and Shrubs; #7.230 - Xeriscaping: Ground Cover Plants; #7.231 - Xeriscaping: Garden Flowers; #7.232 - Ornamental Grasses ; #7.233 - Wildflowers in Colorado; #7.234 - Xeriscaping: Retrofit Your Yard. You can also call Planttalk Colorado toll free at 1-888-666-3063 and request recordings 1909 through 1912.
Q: What are some flowers that I can grow and then use in recipes?
A: Some vegetables with edible flowers include okra, cauliflower and broccoli, zucchini and artichoke. Perennial flowers include hollyhock, English daisy and hibiscus. African marigold, nasturtium, pansy (or Johnny jump-up) are annuals with edible flowers. For complete information and descriptions on edible plants, refer to Fact Sheet #7.237 - Edible Flowers.
Q: In this climate what is the best way to water my vegetable garden?
A: Overhead sprinkler systems are the most common method. Be sure that they apply water uniformly and at a slow enough rate to prevent runoff. Avoid systems with much of a spray mist that evaporates easily in a wind. Furrow irrigation works if the rows are quite short. It does reduce evaporation but causes erosion and often percolation is heavy in upper areas. A very water conserving method and one that helps prevent leaf disease is the use of a soaker hose or drip irrigation system. Be sure and regulate the water output to each plant and place these under any plastic or mulch that you have between rows. To determine the best method for your situation consult Fact Sheet 7.613 - Efficient water use in the vegetable garden.
Q: I heard that the Larimer County Farmers’ Market has moved from its old site at the County Courthouse. Where is the new location?
A: The Larimer County Farmers’ Market has moved to the parking lot at Remington and Oak Streets just one block east of College Avenue between Oak and Olive in Old Town Fort Collins. The market opens on Saturday, July 7 and will run through September 29. The hours of the market are 8:00 a.m. to 12 Noon. For further information call the Larimer County Cooperative Extension Office at 498-6000 or visit our web site at www.larimer.org/extension
Avoid wasting water when giving your hanging baskets a drink. Use a large container such as an old beverage cooler or large dishpan and place the hanging plant in the water-filled container. Do this for all you hanging plants, one after the other and then use whatever water is left to water other pots.
There are a number of simple things that you can do to prevent and/or lessen disease and insect infestation in the garden:
* To help keep roses free from fungal diseases, pick off any leaves that show signs of black spot, mildew or rush as soon as you see them. Throw the leaves in the garbage and not in the compost pile.
* Inspect your yard, flower and vegetable gardens frequently for signs of pests or disease. Stop little problems before they become big headaches.
* Use mulch in your gardens to reduce soil splash, which
could bring soil-borne diseases in contact with the lower leaves of your
plants.
The authors have received training through Colorado State University Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener program and is a Master Gardener volunteer for Larimer County.
Fact Sheets are available at the Larimer County Extension Office, 1525 Blue Spruce Drive, Fort Collins, Colorado, telephone (970) 498-6000, or contact us by e-mail at larimer@coop.ext.colostate.edu
Return to Master
Gardener News Releases .