Will Dahlias Grow In Utah?

Oh, yes!  Dahlias will grow in Utah!   They are among the showstoppers of the late summer and fall flower garden.  And if you like to cut flowers and bring them in the house for bouquets, dahlias are some of your best friends.   You do need to plan ahead if you want to grow dahlias.  They are planted as tubers (kind of like bulbs, but a little different) in late April or early May.  When the warm weather of summer arrives, the plants will sprout out of the ground and grow.  There are hundreds of varieties of dahlias, ranging widely in height, flower size, color and shape.   They benefit from full sun, compost, regular deep watering and staking.   In the spring, find dahlia tubers at your local garden center or send for them online.  Some great sources are Arrowhead Dahlias, Clearview Dahlias and Longfield Gardens.   Two of my new favorites that I grew this year are 'Cafe au Lait' and 'Thomas Edison'.  The colors are extraordinary and I often find myself staring at them in disbelief.

Dahlia 'Thomas Edison'

Dahlia 'Cafe au Lait'

Harvesting Dill!

Fresh Homegrown Dill

It's that time of year again.  Time to harvest the dill.  Dill is one of my favorite flavors of summer!   All parts can be used for cooking or making dill pickles.  It's easy to cut the whole plant and put it headfirst into a paper sack and let it dry with the sack open.   Check out this post about dill that I wrote a few years ago.

The Snow Is Piling Up And So Are The Plant And Seed Catalogs!

It's that time of year again!  The wonderful time of late winter when we gather up the seed and plant catalogs (oh, the pretty pictures!) and make lists of everything we want.  This is a fiesta - an extravaganza of list-making.  And, if you are like me, you want some of EVERYTHING.  However, when the list party is over, we have to edit.  We must edit before we place the order.  It's painful, but you will be glad in spring when you realize you have enough garden space for the plants and seeds you purchased.  Here is a blog post about seed catalogs from several years ago.
Now is a good time to go over your garden plan.  Or create one.

plant and seed catalogs

Is It Too Late To Plant Spring Bulbs In November?

In Utah, we usually plant spring flowering bulbs in the fall - late September through October.  You are not too late if you plant them in November or December.  The problem can be that you will be planting in frozen ground or through the snow.  Been there, done that . . . and it can be a nightmare.  So, if the weather is still nice and the group has not frozen and you can still get spring bulbs from your local independent garden center, then you can plant them right up until the snow flies.  Also, if you can still get some garlic, it's not too late to get it in the ground.

Planting Spring-Flowering Bulbs In November

Lazy Fall Clean-Up . . . Leave It For The Birds!

I didn't get around to deadheading or cutting back one of my perennial beds this fall.  I have noticed a lot of birds hanging around in there . . .  in the now-dried-out seed heads of the echinacea, agastache, larkspur, lavender, jupiter's beard and veronica.  They also seem to enjoy gathering in the butterfly bush nearby.  So I have decided to leave it all for the spring - let the birds have it as a source of food and shelter this winter.
The Habitat Network is promoting this idea of providing habitat for wildlife in our backyards.  You can visit their website and take the pledge to be a lazy gardener!

Echinacea Seed Heads - food for the birds!

Roses Flower In The Fall Landscape!

When the cooler weather of September and October arrives, the roses go back into action.  Regular dead-heading (snipping off the spent flowers) will keep them blooming right up until the first hard freeze.  As the summer annuals and perennials are finishing up for the season, the roses don't stop.  There is nothing better than a fragrant bouquet of roses in October!

the roses are still blooming in October!

Will Hydrangeas Grow In Utah?

Yes, they will!  Hardy Hydrangeas are excellent summer-flowering shrubs.  They do best in part shade or afternoon shade and they like rich soil - lots of compost.  Add a new layer of compost and mulch every year.  One of the best choices for our area is the Oak Leaf Hydrangea and it comes in several varieties - several flower colors.  Here's a nice Oakleaf Hydrangea I spotted last summer in the Salt Lake area:

Oak Leaf Hydrangea grows in Utah!

  I have noticed other Hydrangeas around the Salt Lake City area that are well established, blooming and looking awesome.  Unfortunately, it's difficult to know the exact varieties.  Yesterday,  I was driving around the east side of salt lake and I saw this long hedge of pink and blue flowering Hydrangeas.  It was absolutely stunning:

Hydrangeas grow in Utah!

Colorful Xeriscape Garden!

Here is an example of a water wise or xeriscape garden that is colorful and beautiful.  I see Catmint (Nepeta), Pineleaf Penstemon, Karl Foerster grass, Hardy Ice plant, Agastache rupestris, Bristlecone Pine and more.  One of the basics of xeriscaping is grouping plants with similar water needs together in order to manage water usage efficiently.  This garden is a great example of this and also the idea that we can conserve water and still have greenery and flowery color!!

colorful xeriscape in Utah

Spring Bulbs - Perfect Flowers For Cutting!

This is one of the reasons I grow spring bulbs - tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, etc.  Because I love to cut them and bring them into the house.  They are so beautiful and they smell divine!  Plant some spring bulbs next fall in your vegetable garden, herb garden, cutting garden or water wise perennial garden.
You'll be glad you did!

hyacinth and miniature narcissus

Any Day Now!!

One of my favorite harbingers of spring is the crocus.  These sweet flowers are among the first to bloom in March.  Crocus are planted in the fall (tiny bulbs) and they are available mostly in white, purple and yellow.  They don't last long but they cheerfully announce the arrival of warmer days and the beginning of the gardening season.

Crocus Flowers

Another Excellent Seed Catalog!

The John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds catalog is AMAZING!  They do lengthy write-ups on the many vegetable and flower seeds that they sell.  You can learn a lot from this catalog about how to create and cultivate a successful garden!  If you visit their website you can request a free catalog and sign up for their eNewsletter.
Here is a gorgeous pic from their homepage:

A Garden Gift For A Gardener!

Here's another gift idea for a gardener - A GARDEN!  At High Country Gardens you can purchase flowering perennials that are grouped into pre-planned gardens.  They will ship the plants at the appropriate planting time for your region and climate.  They offer some super fun collections of plants;  fall blooming, hummingbird garden, heat-loving plants, butterfly garden, lavender collection, etc.  Perfect for someone who needs some help designing a new garden bed!

pre-planned garden from High Country Gardens

If You Garden, You Need This . . .

Ok.  There are seed catalogues and more seed catalogues.  But this seed catalogue is a work of art.   It's arrival in the winter mailbox is an event.  It is a dense book of ideas, imagery, color and information that keep hopes and dreams alive through the dark and cold days of winter.  Loaded with inspiring photos and write-ups about the many heirloom fruit, vegetable, herb and flower seeds that they sell,  The Whole Seed Catalogue From Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds is well worth the $9.95 price (they also offer a free catalogue, but it's different from this one.  Get this one.) .  This is a must have for all gardeners - an excellent gift!

Top 10 Fall-Flowering Waterwise Perennials For Utah

Here is a list of 10 perennials that are water wise and fall-flowering.  They will provide color in your drought tolerant garden in late summer and fall.  Keep the spent flowers trimmed off (deadheading) and they will bloom right up until the first frost - sometime in October or early November.

Fall blooming Anemone

Mums

Plumbago

Gaura

Sedum

Zauschneria

Caryopteris

Buddleia

Hardy Hibiscus

Roses

Roses - Fall Bloomers In Utah!

I have talked about roses before - how they are heat and drought tolerant here in Utah.   They provide excellent old-fashioned color and fragrance to the landscape.  But I haven's talked about what a good choice they are for season extension and Autumn flowers.  If you deadhead (snip off the spent flowers) your roses regularly they will continue to bloom abundantly all through October and right up to the first freeze!

English Rose blooming in October!

Caryopteris x clandonensis - Blue Mist Spirea - Waterwise Shrub for Autumn Flowers!

If you need a small shrub that can tolerate a very hot, sunny spot in the garden, Caryopteris x clandonensis is a great choice for you.  Also known as Blue Mist Spirea (even though it is not a spirea) or Bluebeard, Caryopteris is a very easy-to-grow shrub for the xeriscape garden.  It gets about 3 or 4 feet tall and 3 or 4 feet wide.  The foliage is greenish gray and in late summer and fall it is covered with bright blue flowers.  Bees and butterflies are crazy about it as it provides food for them late in the season when other flower sources have quite blooming.  Caryopteris is hardy in Utah and only needs a deep soaking during the hottest times of July and August - about once every 10 days.   Trim back the spent flowers in late fall or early spring.

Caryopteris x clandonensis - Blue Mist Spirea growing in Utah

fall blooming Caryopteris x clandonensis - shrub for xeriscape garden

Zauschneria garrettii (Hummingbird Trumpet) - Fall Blooming Perennial - Perfect For Xeriscape In Utah!

Zauschneria garrettii - Utah

 Zauschneria or Hummingbird Trumpet is an excellent low-growing perennial for water wise gardens.  It flowers in late summer and fall and provides food for hummingbirds and pollinators.  Native to the Intermountain West (It can even be found growing wild in Albion Basin, Alta, Utah) and California, Zauschneria does very well in the hot, dry climate of Utah and can withstand the extremes of summer and winter.  Once established, this plant doesn't need any extra water other than what falls out of the sky!  Plant it in your xeriscaped hummingbird garden for late season fiery color!  It is a great companion to Nepeta (catmint), Agastache (hyssop) and Russian Sage.

Zauschneria - Fall flowering perennial for xeriscape

Sedum - Waterwise Autumn Flowers!

Sedum is a large genus of succulent plants native to many places in the world.  Here in Utah, there are several varieties found in the wild - mostly small ground covers.  At local nurseries, there are many varieties of ground cover Sedums available as well as taller, fall-blooming perennial Sedums.  These are perfect plants for a xeriscaped garden as they only need extra water in July and August.  The tall Sedums have nice green or gray foliage all summer and then put on a show in September and October with their bright pink or red flowers.  They attract butterflies!

Sedum in Xeriscape

Sedum blooming in Utah

Hibiscus - A Great Fall Bloomer In Utah

There are several Hibiscus species that will grow in Utah and survive the winter.  One is the very common Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus).  This water wise shrub is grown easily in Northern Utah and there are many varieties with flowers mostly in white, pink, dark pink and blue.  Rose of Sharon blooms in late summer and fall providing excellent color in August, September and October.
There are also some smaller perennial Hibiscus (species too numerous to mention here.  Plant Delights catalogue has a good selection) that grow well in Utah and have huge flowers in September and October.  White or pink or red tropical-looking flowers that are 6 or 8 inches in diameter can be quite striking to see on a September day!!

Rose of Sharon Hibiscus - grows well in Utah

Rose of Sharon - Fall Flowers in Utah

Pink Double Rose of Sharon, blooming in Utah 

Hardy Hibiscus - growing in Utah

hardy Hibiscus flower in Utah

Fall Blooming Anemone - Flowers In September and October!

There are several perennials that will bloom in the fall and provide excellent color.  One of the best performers for autumn flowers in Utah is the fall blooming anemone (sometimes called Japanese Anemone, but they don't originate in Japan).  This is a great plant for shade or part shade, though they will tolerate sun.  In September, fall blooming anemones send up tall stems covered with large clusters of flowers - they are available in white or various shades of pink.  Give them plenty of room as they will form a clump about 1 or 2 feet wide and they will reach a height of 4 or 5 feet.  They are moderate in their water needs so give them a good soaking once or twice a week during the hottest times of summer to ensure lots of flowers during the cooler fall weather.

Fall Blooming Anemone

Fall Blooming Anemone