The High and Dry Demonstration garden at El Paso County was created in response to the recent drought throughout Colorado. It explores the possibility of having a garden that will establish and survive only on natural rainfall. With the residential watering restrictions challenging local landscapes and gardens, we hope the High and Dry demonstration garden will promote the use of native, xeric plant species in the residential landscape. This garden serves as an ongoing study to learn more about plant species thriving on little, or no supplemental water.
The High and Dry gardens are sponsored by the Colorado
Garden Show, Inc. They were installed and are being maintained
and studied by employees of the Colorado State University Cooperative
Extension.
The El Paso High and Dry garden is located on the Northeast corner
of the county office buildings at 305 S. Union Blvd. in Colorado
Springs, CO. The elevation of the garden is approximately 6200 feet.
The soil was originally native Colorado soil, consisting of coarse clay-loam. Compost was tilled into the top 10 inches of the plot in April of 2004. The garden was raised slightly by adding topsoil to create burms. The plants were purchased from local nurseries in April, and held until planting in May to avoid late frost damage. The garden was planted on May 25th, 2004.
Before planting, the plants were soaked in tubs of water to maximize root moisture.
Following planting, the garden was watered thoroughly. No supplemental water
has been added since that day. The plants were fertilized in their pots with
a time-released fertilizer. No other fertilizers have been added since then.
Shredded wood mulch covers the garden plot to aid in moisture retention and
to help control weeds.
All of the chosen plants are xeric, drought tolerant species. All
are native to the Rocky Mountain region except pale purple coneflower,
creeping phlox, globe thistle, sun rose, partridge feather, and
stonecrop.
The Plants at the El Paso County Garden:
Indian ricegrass Achnatherum hymenoides
Nodding onion Allium cernum
Western Serviceberry Amelanchier alnifolia
Small-leaf pussytoes Antennaria parvifolia
Fringed sage Artemisia frigida
Bluebell bellflower Campanula rotundifolia
Pale purple coneflower Echinacea pallida
Globe thistle Echinops ritro ‘Artic Glow’
Aspen fleabane Erigeron speciosus
Common Gaillardia Gaillardia aristata
Sticky purple geranium Geranium viscosissimum
Sun rose Helianthemum nummularia ‘Wisely Primrose’
Scarlet Gilia Ipomopsis aggregata
Fivepetal cliffbush Jamesia americana
Prairie junegrass Koeleria macrantha
Wild flax Linum lewisii
Oregon grape Mahonia repens
Wild four-o’clock Mirabilis multiflora
Firecracker penstemon Penstemon eatonii
Grand mesa penstemon Penstemon mensarum
Pineleaf beardtongue Penstemon pinifolius
Sidebells penstemon Penstemon secundiflorus
Rocky Mountain penstemon Penstemon strictus
Bluemist penstemon Penstemon virens
Squaw apple Peraphyllum ramosissimum
Creeping phlox Phlox subulata ‘Crimson Beauty’
Golden currant Ribes aureum
Boulder raspberry Rubus deliciosus x trilobus
Little bluestem Schizacrium scoparium
Stonecrop Sedum spurium ‘Voodoo’
Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis
Indiangrass Sorghastrum nutans
Scarlet globemallow Sphaeralcea coccinea
Partridge feather Tanacetum densum ‘Amani’
Dakota vervain Verbena bipinnatifida ‘Colorado’
The first month after planting the garden the weather in Colorado Springs was very hot and windy. We saw an immediate decline of both Amelanchier alnifolia and Ribes aureum. Shortly after planting, both shrubs almost completely defoliated and stopped putting on new growth. Ribes aureum also became infested with aphids. During the first month, the rest of the garden remained healthy and began establishing roots and putting on new growth.
The following species began flowering the first month after planting: Achnathrurm hymenoides, Allium cernum, Campanula rotundifolia, Echinacea pallida, Gaillardia aristata, Geranium viscosissimum, Helianthemum nummularia, Linum lewisii, Mirabilis multiflora, Penstemon eatonii, Penstemon mensarum, Penstemon pinifolius, Penstemon secundiflorus, Penstemon strictus, Penstemon virens, Phlox subulata, Rubus deliciosus x trilobus, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Verbena bipinnatifida.
In mid-July we began having cooler, rainy weather. In the month
of July, the garden received over 6 inches of rain. Within a few
weeks following the cooler weather, two of the Amelanchier alnifolia
and all three Ribes aumeur began showing signs of new growth. We
treated the aphid infestation on Ribes aureum with Neem oil. Rabbit
damage occurred on some of the new flowers and foliage, so the garden
was treated with a rabbit repellant several times during the first
two months after planting.
Two months after planting, 91% of all the plants planted are thriving.
Mirabilis multiflora and Verbena bipinnatifida are growing aggressively
and have been flowering continually for over two months. Overall
the garden is growing very well, and flowering abundantly. The plants
which have not significantly grown include: Peraphyllum ramosissimum,
Mahonia repens, and Achnatherum hymenoides.
Our results have also shown that plants which had deeply developed
root systems before planting have established and grown at a faster
rate compared to plants having poorly developed roots. The size
and shape of the container in which the plants were purchased affects
the initial survival rate of the plant. Both Amelanchier alnifolia
and Ribes aureum had poorly developed roots when planted.
We suspect this caused their initial decline during the first month
after being planted.
In the fall we will be planting native Colorado wildflower seeds
next to the High and Dry garden plot. The seeds will also serve
as research for seedling development under natural rainfall and
will not receive any supplemental water.
There is another High and Dry garden in Gilpin
county also planted in 2004. In the near future we plan to have
High and Dry gardens in Boulder county, Custer county, and others.
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