Summer Color Has Arrived at New Leaf!

Summer Color Has Arrived at New Leaf!

Great news, plant lovers — truckloads of summer perennials and shrubs are rolling into New Leaf Nursery! Now is the perfect time to plant for lasting summer color, and the nursery is filling up fast with gorgeous new arrivals ready for your garden beds, containers and landscape.

Hydrangeas are pouring into the nursery, the greenhouses are absolutely bursting with color, and fresh shipments are arriving almost daily. From bold statement plants to pollinator-friendly favorites, we’ve carefully stocked the nursery with varieties that will keep your landscape vibrant all season long.

Whether you’re refreshing a flower bed, updating patio pots, or creating a garden full of summer blooms, there’s never been a better time to shop the nursery. Come wander the greenhouses, soak in the beauty, and discover your next garden favorite — your summer garden starts now!

Summer Garden Prep—

Getting Ready for a Season of Blooms

As the warmth of summer approaches, it's time to roll up your sleeves and prepare your garden for a season full of flowers, lush foliage, and colorful new growth. Summer garden prep is a crucial phase that sets the stage for a successful and thriving garden throughout the coming months, ensuring that your outdoor space becomes a haven of beauty and tranquility.

As you embark on your summer garden prep journey, here are some insights, tips, and inspiration to help you create a lush and thriving garden oasis that is ready to bloom in all its Summer glory!

1. Start with Soil Health: Ensure your soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and at the right pH level for optimal plant growth. Consider testing your soil and amending it as needed with organic matter like compost.

2. Choose Summer-Blooming Plants: Select a variety of flowers and plants that thrive in the summer heat and provide a spectrum of colors to create visual interest in your garden. Our plant specialists would be happy to assist you in choosing the right plants and flowers for your area!

3. Strategic Plant Placement: Place sun and shade-loving plants where they'll receive adequate amounts of required light, and consider the mature size of your plants to prevent overcrowding.

4. Mulching Matters: Apply a layer of mulch around your plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature during hot summer days.

5. Proper Watering Techniques: Water deeply to encourage deep root growth. Consider using soaker hoses or drip irrigation systems to water plants at the root zone.

6. Deadheading and Pruning: Regularly deadhead spent flowers and prune overgrown branches to promote continuous blooming and maintain plant health.

7. Attract Pollinators: Plant pollinator-friendly flowers to attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects that aid in pollination and contribute to a healthy ecosystem.

8. Pest and Disease Monitoring: Keep an eye out for common garden pests and diseases, and address issues promptly to prevent damage to your plants.

9. Fertilization Schedule: Follow a fertilization schedule tailored to the needs of your plants, ensuring they receive the necessary nutrients for vigorous growth and abundant flowering.

10. Consider Edible Plants: Integrate edible plants like herbs, vegetables, or fruiting trees into your garden space for a functional and delightful addition to your landscape.

11. Garden Maintenance Routine: Establish a regular maintenance routine that includes weeding, feeding, watering, and monitoring plant health to keep your garden thriving throughout the summer season.

It is now prime planting time! The fear of the last frost has passed, and it’s time to get outside and plant. Zinnias, Cosmos, Dahlias, Peonies, Hollyhock, Yarrow, Echinacea, Iris, and Salvia are all great choices for flowers that can now be planted in your garden. We have all of these in stock here at the nursery, ready to be purchased and taken to their forever homes!

THE FARMSTAND — Hayden’s Hub for Locally Grown & Sourced Fresh Goods, Weekly

The Farmstand at New Leaf is back for its third season! Join us THIS TUESDAY, June 2, from 2–5 PM as we kick off another season of fresh, local goodness with both returning favorites and exciting new vendors.

Our goal with The Farmstand is simple: to provide our community with locally sourced food and products that support a healthier lifestyle while supporting small farms and makers right here in our region. We hope to become your weekly “go-to” stop for fresh produce, locally raised meats, farm fresh eggs, baked goods, cold-pressed juice, fresh-cut flowers, and so much more.

Our first market of the season will feature:

The Farmstand will run throughout the growing season from June through September and is designed to be more than just a market. We want it to be a place where neighbors gather, families connect, and our community has the opportunity to meet local farmers, learn about their growing practices, shop small, and enjoy truly fresh products straight from the source.

This is the kind of small-town market experience we all love — set in the beautiful atmosphere of New Leaf Nursery.

We hope you’ll join us this season, and we look forward to connecting with you, our friends and community, at New Leaf Nursery!

Employee Spotlight

Meet Cheryl!

If you’ve been to the nursery, chances are you’ve seen Cheryl! She plays a vital role here at New Leaf, making sure everything stays well-watered and thriving. Cheryl is also incredibly knowledgeable and always happy to help customers find just the right plants and answer gardening questions. Next time you’re here, make sure to say hello!

MAY IN BLOOM

April Showers Bring May Flowers

It’s that time of year, when gardens come back to life and outdoor spaces start calling your name. From hanging baskets and colorful annuals to vegetable starts, fruit trees, roses, perennials, and flowering shrubs, New Leaf is fully stocked with everything you need, carefully selected for our unique North Idaho climates.

With all the new homes in our neighborhoods, these hanging baskets won’t last long! Seriously, they are gorgeous this year! Come by and see them soon. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and veggie starts are also here and moving quickly. If you’ve got your eye on something, now’s the time to come in and grab it before it’s gone.

A stunning selection of annuals are bursting with color, ready to help you design everything from patio containers and window boxes to custom hanging baskets of your own creations. We’re getting close to the time of the last frost…anyone excited?

Perennials are poppin’—peonies, lilies, delphinium, foxglove, daisies, and more are ready to settle in and bring your garden lasting summer beauty year after year.

And of course, we’ve got all the essentials to bring your outdoor space together—soils, bark, rock, gardening supplies, and garden and home décor to finish it off just the way you like it.

Everything you need to grow something beautiful is right here at New Leaf.

Exciting Events at New Leaf Nursery

This is the weekend of our annual TOMATO CRAZE! Did you know? Rachel, of Rachel’s Salsa will be joining us for our Annual Salsa Tasting event during the Tomato Craze weekend on Saturday, May 2, from 10 AM - 2 PM in front of the greenhouses. The nursery carries the vegetables that Rachel uses in her salsa available for you to purchase in greenhouse 1.

On Saturday, May 2nd, New Leaf plant specialists will be available in greenhouse 1 at 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, and 1:30 PM to answer your questions about growing tomatoes, and offer assistance in selecting the correct varieties for your garden! Get all your tomato-growing questions answered and gain valuable insights into nurturing these vibrant fruits to perfection.

Celebrate Mom With Something Special From New Leaf! Stop by and explore our wide selection of thoughtful gifts for all the special women in your life. From forever blooms and dried flower bouquets to handmade jewelry and unique home and garden décor, you’re sure to find something that feels just right.

Looking for something extra meaningful this Mother’s Day?

Our in-house designers have created a one-of-a-kind flower purse arrangement—featuring a beautiful blend of fresh blooms and lush moss, each piece is artfully arranged to feel both natural and elevated. This one of a kind design is made to be long lasting, offering beauty that continues to be enjoyed well beyond Mother’s Day.

While you’re here, enjoy delicious food and drinks from local vendors throughout Mother’s Day weekend—The Walking Taco, Pascendi’s Italian Ice, Kozy Coffee Co, and Vesper Charcuterie—the perfect way to celebrate and spoil Mom!

Planting Potatoes—

Tips & Tricks from the Experts!

Join New Leaf Nursery's garden specialist, Jen, as she shares her knowledge on cultivating a bountiful potato harvest this summer. From selecting the right seed potatoes to the intricacies of planting techniques, Jen provides insight to ensure a successful growing season. Discover the art of seeding, spacing, and caring for your potatoes as Jen unravels the secrets to a thriving potato crop. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a novice enthusiast, Jen's guidance will equip you with the skills and confidence needed to cultivate your own homegrown potatoes and enjoy a fruitful harvest when summer arrives!

Making Magic in the Garden

MEET CASSIE!

She is our landscape designer specializing in thoughtful, functional outdoor spaces. She works closely with clients to understand their vision and lifestyle, then brings it to life through intentional plant selection, creative layout design, and a strong eye for detail. Cassie believes a great landscape should be both beautiful and livable—spaces that feel natural, inviting, and tailored to the people who use them. Whether she’s designing a full property transformation or refining an existing garden, she focuses on creating outdoor environments that thrive through every season.

Join Us for Our Spring Festival!

Party Like an Animal at the Big SPRING BASH!

Spring is finally here! Our Spring Festival & Easter Egg Hunt is happening this Saturday! Help support our local 4H by visiting the petting zoo, and meet the cutest barnyard buddies ever! Kids can go on an egg hunt, get their faces painted, and take photos with the Easter bunny. Mom and Dad can visit Rosemary Manor Winery—the wine slushies are back! Grab a plate of tacos, a warm bowl of chili or savory crepes, and for the kids hot dogs or mini cheeseburgers. And of course there’s plenty of sweet treats too. Easter decor will be 30% off in the barn, and come see all the beautiful plants throughout the nursery. It will be a great day for everyone to enjoy, and as always, admission is FREE!

Be sure to join in on our community art project before you leave the nursery—just follow the signs throughout the grounds to take part in this fun new activity! We’re also excited to welcome back the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Don’t forget to stop by their booth and pick up one of their magic eggs!

As we gear up for our Easter egg hunts, we ask that you take a few minutes and read our egg hunt details below to ensure everyone has a crackin' good time this weekend. Everyone that is participating in our egg hunt must grab a ticket in front of greenhouse 5, located in the south parking lot of the nursery. We suggest grabbing your tickets 30 minutes before the scheduled egg hunt times.

EGG HUNT DETAILS: Our annual Easter Egg Hunt is intended for kids 3-12 years old. We will have six Easter egg hunt times, all held every hour, and there will be a time limit; a maximum of 10 eggs is allowed per child. At the end of the egg hunt, kids will be able to turn in their eggs and receive a bag of treats! We will allow 100 kids at a time per egg hunt. If there’s a specific hunt time you want, we encourage you to arrive early. There is no guarantee that you will get that time, but the hunts are scheduled an hour apart. We will have lots of fun and activities to keep the whole family entertained!

EGG HUNT TIMES

  • 10:00 AM

  • 11:00 AM

  • 12:00 PM

  • 1:00 PM

  • 2:00 PM

  • 3:00 PM

You will need to bring your own basket to participate in the egg hunt. Parents are encouraged to spend time with their kids during the hunting!

For more information on daily activities, food/craft vendors, and to sign up for an Egg Hunt time, CLICK HERE.

Prune for Perfection—

Expert Tips for Spring Growth

Before the buds begin to burst and new growth emerges, it's crucial to give your plants the attention they need through proper pruning practices. When pruning, it is important to have the right tools and know what techniques to use in order to make clean cuts that promote healthy growth and prevent disease. In our step-by-step guide, we will take you through the process of assessing your plants' needs, identifying dead or damaged branches, and sculpting your plants to encourage proper structure and abundant blooms. With expert tips on timing, methods, and aftercare, you'll be equipped to tackle spring pruning with confidence and precision!

Step-by-Step Guide for Spring Pruning

  • Assess Your Plants: Begin by evaluating your trees, shrubs, and roses to identify any dead, damaged, or diseased branches that need to be pruned. Look for crossing branches that may rub against each other and weak growth that needs to be removed.

  • Gather the Right Tools: Make sure you have sharp, clean pruning tools such as hand pruners, loppers, or a pruning saw. Disinfect your tools with rubbing alcohol to prevent the spread of diseases between plants.

  • Timing: For most plants, early spring before the new growth emerges is an ideal time for pruning. Avoid pruning too late in the season as it can impact the plant's ability to flower or fruit.

  • Start with Deadwood: Begin by cutting out any dead, broken, or diseased branches. These branches can be pruned back to healthy wood, following the branch back to where it connects to a larger stem.

  • Shape and Structure: Next, focus on shaping the plant by removing any crossing or rubbing branches. Prune to improve the plant's structure and allow for better air circulation and light penetration.

  • Thinning: Thin out crowded branches to allow for increased air circulation and sunlight penetration. When thinning, cut back to a lateral branch or bud to encourage new growth in the desired direction.

  • Prune Flowering Shrubs: For shrubs that bloom in Spring, such as forsythia, viburnum and lilac, wait until the flowers have faded, then prune for shape. Then they have all summer to form next year’s flowers!

  • Clean Up: As you prune, collect and remove all pruned branches and debris from around the plants to prevent the spread of diseases and pests.

  • Aftercare: After pruning, consider applying a light fertilizer to support new growth. Water the plants well to help them recover from the pruning process.

  • Monitor and Maintain: Keep an eye on your plants in the following weeks to ensure they are responding well to the pruning. Continue to monitor for any signs of disease, pests, or additional pruning needs as the season progresses.

New Leaf Nursery Rose of the Year — ‘Red Ribbons’

Bold, classic, and incredibly reliable, ‘Red Ribbons’ is stealing the spotlight this season. Its rich crimson blooms hold their color beautifully without fading, while its strong performance and naturally deer-resistant, thorned stems make it as hardworking as it is stunning. We love it so much, you’ll spot it planted throughout the nursery—stop in and see this standout rose for yourself!

Seeds of Knowledge — Understanding Seed Packets

Navigating the world of seed starting can sometimes feel like deciphering a secret code – but fear not, our seasoned gardening expert, Jen, is here to shed some light on the topic! When it comes to planting your seed starts, timing is key, and understanding the information on seed packets is crucial for a successful garden. In this short video, Jen breaks down the information found on seed packets, from sowing dates to planting depth, to help you make informed decisions about when and where to plant your seeds.

Do you Bonsai?

Whether you’re just getting started or have been shaping trees for years, you’ll want to check out our newest arrivals at the nursery! We’ve brought in a fresh selection perfect for training, styling, and creating your own miniature masterpiece. Stop in, get inspired, and find your next bonsai project waiting for you—these beauties won’t stay on the shelves for long!

Employee Spotlight — Meet Kelly!

As our office manager, Kelly keeps everything running smoothly behind the scenes. She handles the finances, manages daily operations, answers the phones (chances are you’ve spoken with her), and keeps all the moving pieces of the nursery in sync. Her hard work and attention to detail help make everything we do possible, and we’re so lucky to have her as such an essential part of the New Leaf family!

KALE YES! We are so excited that once again, you chose us as the best garden center in North Idaho for 2026. Not only in the CDA Press, but in the Inlander as well! We are beyond grateful to all of our loyal customers for their support and trust in us. Thank you for being a part of our gardening community and for inspiring us to grow and flourish each day!

Native & Water Wise Gardening

Native Gardening

Definition:  Native means - for our purposes - that the plant grows naturally and is indigenous to the Pacific Northwest or the Rocky Mountains.  Plants from the east coast or the southern half of the US are not considered “native”.  Plants that naturalize and become invasive may or may not be native.  Plants that were introduced by pioneers are not native, even though they have been around for hundreds of years (cheat grass and goat heads are good examples).  Keep in mind that our nursery will often list the “cousins” of native plants as natives (like ninebark) because they are the same genus and have similar characteristics.  We may also call them “native adjacent”.

Benefits of Native Plants:  Native plants will often use less water and require less fertilizer than plants that come from other parts of the US and elsewhere around the world.  They are accustomed to our native soils and will require less work to establish.  Native plants are also important for native species of insects and animals.  Less fertilizer means less overall pollution to the environment.  Native plants generally tend to need less maintenance.  They can be just as aesthetically pleasing as non-native species with less work. We carry a lot of plants native to Japan and Europe but we try not to carry species that are invasive so they work well in a home garden environment without affecting our beautiful forests.  Invasive plants that our nursery does carry that you may wish to avoid are species of Euphorbia, Genista and Aegopodium or species that spread by rhizomes or reseed aggressively.

Care of Native Plants:  Keep in mind that if you put a native plant into your flower bed and water and fertilize regularly, it may become just as high maintenance as an introduced species.  Native plants should be given some “tough love” and encouraged to fend for themselves as much as possible.  This will encourage deeper root systems to help sustain them through the dryer months. This deeper root system will also give them access to more minerals, which means less fertilizer.  Our job is to keep the soil as healthy as possible.  We can do this by using minimal sprays and fertilizers, along with spreading good compost and mulching well with bark.  Use the general rule of thumb “deep soak, then let the top dry out” to encourage deep rooting.  Use an all purpose, organic fertilizer in the spring and top dress with good compost before winter.  After plants are established (one to two years depending on the size of the plant) you should only need to water them sparingly during the hottest 8 weeks of the year.  Native plants will have native pollinators as well as native predators and diseases.  Some native plants can get more infections than non-native plants since they have no predators here.  You may need to use a dormant oil spray to reduce infestations as well as utilizing spacing and companion planting.  Keep in mind that some disease is normal in moderation and supports the life cycles of things that keep the ecosystem in balance.

List of Native Plants:  This plant list is from https://idahonativeplants.org/northern-idaho-guide/

**note: ! indicates plants that naturalize (spread) **

Tall Shrubs (usually over 8 feet)

  • (All shrubs are deciduous unless noted otherwise.)

  • Alder, Sitka (Alnus sinuata). 

  • Bittercherry (Prunus emarginata). 

  • Cascara or buckthorn (Rhamnus purshiana).  

  • Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana). .

  • Currant, golden (or yellow) (Ribes aureum). 

  • Hawthorn, black (Crataegus douglasii). 

  • Hawthorn, red (Crataegus columbiana). 

  • Maple, Rocky Mountain (Acer glabrum var. douglasii).  

  • Mountain mahogany, curlleaf (Cercocarpus ledifolius). 

  • Ninebark, Pacific (Physocarpus capitatus).  

  • Syringa, or mock-orange (Philadelphus lewisii).  

  • Willow, Scouler’s (Salix scouleriana).  

Medium shrubs (5 to 8 feet)

  • Buffaloberry (Shepherdia canadensis). 

  • Currant, red-flowering (Ribes sanguineum).  

  • Currant, snow (Ribes niveum).  

  • Dogwood, red-osier (Cornus sericea, C. stolonifera).  

  • Elderberry, blackbead (Sambucus racemosa var. melanocarpa).  

  • Elderberry, blue (Sambucus cerulea). 

  • Mountain-ash, Rocky Mountain (Sorbus scopulina). 

  • Ninebark (Physocarpus malvaceus).  

  • Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor).

  • ! Oregon-grape, tall (Berberis aquifolium). 

  • Rose, baldhip (Rosa gymnocarpa).

  • Rose, Nootka (Rosa nutkana). 

  • Rose, Wood’s (Rosa woodsii).  

  • Serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia). 

  • Sumac, smooth (Rhus glabra). 

Low Shrubs (ordinarily under 4 feet)

  • Bearberry or kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi).  

  • ! Blackberries and raspberries (Rubus species).

  • Pacific blackberry (R. ursinus). 

  • Snow bramble or snow dewberry (R. nivalis).

  • Strawberry bramble (R. pedatus). 

  • Thimbleberry (R. parviflorus). 

  • Oregon grape, creeping (Berberis repens, Mahonia repens).

  • Sagebrush, big (Artemisia tridentata). 

  • ! Snowberry, common (Symphoricarpos albus). 

Broadleaf trees

  • Alders (Alnus species).

  • ! Aspen, quaking (Populus tremuloides). 

  • Birch, river (Betula occidentalis).  

  • Birch, paper (Betula papyrifera). 

  • Cottonwood, black (Populus trichocarpa).  

Conifers

All of our native conifers do well in cultivation except whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) which is a very, very slow grower.  In situations where irrigation is not possible, plant trees adapted to your elevation zone.  The following list includes all but a few, high-elevation, species.

  • Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii).  

  • Fir, grand (Abies grandis).  

  • Fir, subalpine (Abies lasiocarpa).  

  • Hemlock, western (Tsuga heterophylla).

  • Juniper, Rocky Mountain (Juniperus scopulorum).  

  • Larch, western (Larix occidentalis). 

  • Pine, ponderosa (Pinus ponderosa).  

  • Pine, lodgepole (Pinus contorta). 

  • Pine, western white (Pinus monticola).  

  • Redcedar, western (Thuja plicata).  

  • Spruce, Engelmann (Picea engelmannii). .

  • Yew, Pacific (Taxus brevifolia).

Perennials

A multitude of native perennials (herbaceous plants other than grasses) conform well to the home garden and there are many more for which we have no first-hand information.  The following can provide beautiful and interesting additions to your home landscape.

  • Camas (Camassia quamash).  **note: ! indicates plants that naturalize (spread) **

  • Columbine, red (Aquilegia formosa). 

  • Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria). 

  • Fairy-bells (Disporum hookeri and D. trachycarpum). 

  • ! False Solomon’s seal, starry (Smilacina stellata). 

  • False Solomon’s seal (Smilacina racemosa). 

  • Kittentails, evergreen (Synthyris platycarpa). 

  • Kittentails, mountain (Synthyris missurica var. major). 

  • Lupine (Lupinus polyphyllus). 

  • Lupine, silky (Lupinus sericeus). 

  • Meadowrue, purple (Thalictrum dasycarpum). 

  • Meadowrue, western (Thalictrum occidentalis).

  • ! Strawberry, wild (Fragaria vesca bracteata).

  • ! Violet, Canada (Viola canadensis). 

  • Violet, Nuttall’s (Viola nuttallii). 

  • Violet, pioneer (Viola glabella).

  • Wild ginger (Asarum caudatum). 

  • Some plants to avoid in home gardens

These species need lots of room to spread:

  • Asters (Aster spp.)

  • Goldenrods (Solidago spp.)

  • Pearly everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)

Ferns

Our native ferns from forest habitats do very well in cultivation.  They are ideal in shade or partial shade, but need summer irrigation to succeed. These species may be available from nurseries that specialize in ferns. There are also several species of rock ferns from dry habitats in northern Idaho that can be very difficult to grow in the rock garden.

  • Ladyfern (Athyrium filix-femina). 

  • Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum). 

  • Male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas). 

  • Swordfern (Polystichum munitum).

  • Swordfern, Anderson (Polystichum andersonii). 

  • Mountain woodfern (Dryopteris austriaca and D. carthusiana). 

  • Grasses

  • (The first four are the major components of northern Idaho grasslands)

  • Bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum, Pseudoroegneria spicata).

  • Bluegrasses (Poa spp.).

  • Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis). 

  • Junegrass (Koeleria cristata, K. macrantha).

  • Mountain brome (Bromus marginatus). For moist sites and cooler aspects.

  • Tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia cespitosa). Moist sites.

Waterwise Gardening

Water is an amazing resource that needs to be managed as much as any other natural resource.  People with big brains get together to figure out how much water is available and where it is going and whether or not we have enough to do what we need to do.  Managing this resource starts with the knowledge of where the water is coming from.  Surface water is easy to see; it comes from the lakes, rivers and streams in our area.  The snow pack can be measured and calculated for its water content. Most of the water that normal homes use here in North Idaho comes from the Spokane Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer - a large underground lake that spans from western Spokane up to the bottom of lake Pend O’reille.  Multiple studies have shown that our area has been experiencing a drought for several years.  In order to have enough water for everyone, we should all learn to conserve the water resources we have. 

Temperature

Remember that the temperature of the soil and how much wind is blowing are the primary drives for water loss in the ground.  Overnight temperatures are a good indication of how cold your soil is.  For example, if the average overnight temperature for the week is 56͒ your surface (top foot of soil) soil temperature should be within a few degrees of this number.  Keep in mind that the average deep soil temperature (6ft deep) here in North Idaho stays at a consistent 45͒ but the surface temperature varies based on overnight temperatures, wind speed and water concentration.  Soil temperatures that are less than 40͒ can hold water almost indefinitely here in the inland northwest because of our humidity and frequent precipitation.  Most gardeners here in North Idaho don’t need to start watering their whole yards until the average overnight temperatures exceed 48͒.  This knowledge can also affect the time of day that you water.  Gardeners need to wait until the soil temperature has dropped to minimize water loss from evaporation.  Soil is usually cool enough to hold more water between the hours of midnight and about 10am here in the inland northwest.  Soil temperature is also the reason that hanging baskets, pots and raised beds need more frequent watering.  Because their root mass is exposed to more sun and wind, the soil temperature is hotter than the ground, drying out plants faster.  You can insulate raised beds, double pot plants or move hanging baskets into the shade during the hottest part of the year to reduce the frequency you need to water.

Keep in mind that the wind picks up around sunrise and sunset.  Make sure your sprinklers are done by sunrise so those morning breezes can dry the leaves of your plants to prevent disease and sunburn.  It is not a good idea to water when the wind is present. Steady wind as low as 4mph with our average humidity can result in a water loss of up to 25%!  Wind driven evaporation is as high as 47% in arid areas!  

Mulch: Blankets and Food

This is one of the reasons why mulching your garden beds (even your lawn!) is important.  A good layer of mulch in your garden beds acts as an insulator, lowering the temperature of the soil.  As we just learned, colder soil holds water longer!  Mulch has other benefits, however.  Organic (not stone) mulch decomposes and adds nutrients back to the soil.  As those organic particles get smaller they become humus, the smallest particle of organic material in soil.  Humus helps soil to retain water in the soil instead of your applied water running straight through all the sand and gravel we have in our area.  Mulch can also help to break up clay soils both physically and chemically.  Humus also feeds the microbiome of the soil making everything you plant healthier.  Mulch has the additional benefit of helping to reduce weeds!  Remember that these ideas apply to organic mulch, not decorative stone.

How’s Your Dirt?

Soil is composed of decomposed rock (sand, silt, clay), organic material, water and organisms; usually at 50% per volume.  This percentage varies with the type of soil.  To balance the composition of soil, you need the proper mixture of these soil components for the type of plants that you hope to grow.  Succulents and Lavender, for example, enjoy a higher percentage of sand while Ligularia likes rich, wet soil.  You can try digging a hole and filling it with water.  How quickly the hole empties and dries out can give you a hint of how much sand, clay or organic material your soil contains and how you may need to amend it to ensure it holds the right amount of water.  Organic material can act like a sponge, holding water in sandy or gravely soil while it can also help (with sand) to break up pockets of clay soil both mechanically and chemically.

Soil is an ecosystem all its own.  It has great biodiversity and a food web with amazing interdependency.  This ecosystem is balanced in a healthy soil system.  Disturbance of the soil, severe drought, flooding or excessive use of chemicals can throw the system out of balance to the detriment of the plants we try to grow.  Reintroducing compost, mulch and good management practices can improve the soil’s ecological balance. Using mulch that decomposes will inoculate the soil with beneficial microbes and mycorrhizae by using organic compost can also help improve soil.  It is usually recommended that gardeners test their soils before fertilizing so too much is not added.  Excess fertilizer just washes away and ends up where it shouldn’t be.  NPK and pH tests are available at the nursery.  For testing other elements, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and heavy metals, soil tests can be mailed to testing agencies or the USDA.  

How to Water

Water is critical to any landscape.  Some water is even necessary in the soil to maintain decomposition and to dissolve minerals from rocks and acids from decaying plants.  Water can help evenly distribute chemicals in the soil.  Too much water, however, can wash away all of your hard work, since most of the nutrients that plants need are water soluble.  Excess water in the soil can also suffocate the roots of plants, causing them to rot.  How we water our plants is critical.  While all plants need water, it is important to realize that one of the primary drives for root production is dry soil.  Dry soil sends a signal to the plant to direct more energy into root production (Help!  We are running out of water!).  It also stimulates roots to reach deeper into the ground.  Not only does this extend the root system below the hot surface during summer months, but it also gives roots greater access to minerals.  The general rule of thumb is to deep soak the ground (to the bottom of the root ball) and then let the top 15% of the root mass dry out completely.  Soaking a plant does not mean to dump a bucket of water on it.  Drought stressed root balls shrink and become water repellant, just like a dry kitchen sponge.  Water should be applied slowly to saturate the root mass and allow it to hold as much water as it can.  You can use drippers, put the hose on a trickle or drill small holes in a bucket to slowly water plants. Keep in mind that in September our overnight temperatures go back down (cooler soil!) and we need to reduce the frequency of our watering.  In addition to triggering more root growth, drought stressing plants in the fall can help them go dormant so they don’t get hit by our frequent, early frosts.  By October, you shouldn’t be watering hardly at all, regardless of daytime temperatures.

Native Plants

It takes approximately 2-3 years to establish a root system whether starting from scratch or retraining an existing root system.  By frequently drought stressing your plants in the spring and fall when the overnight temperatures are low, we can establish a landscape with deep roots that only needs to be watered a few times during the hottest part of the year.  Having soil with a good balance of organic material and a healthy layer of mulch will help keep the proper amount of water in the soil where roots can reach.  Xeriscaping is the science of using low water plants and native plants in your landscaping to reduce water consumption.   Using plants with grey/green leaves, narrow leaves, waxy leaves or no leaves (needles or scales) will all help with water use.  Native plants will often use less water and require less fertilizer than plants that come from other parts of the US and elsewhere around the world.  They are accustomed to our native soils and will require less work to establish.  Native plants are also important for native species of insects and animals.  Less fertilizer means less overall pollution to the environment.  Native plants generally tend to need less maintenance and have deeper root systems.  They can be just as aesthetically pleasing as non-native species with less work.  Keep in mind that if you put a native plant into your flower bed and water and fertilize regularly, it may become just as high maintenance as an introduced species.  Native species are also the regular food for the critters that live here and will be browsed on.  Native plants should be given some “tough love” and encouraged to fend for themselves as much as possible.  Proper soil, good watering practices and the right plants can help us conserve the water we use while still enjoying a thriving landscape. 

Maintenance

As much as we would love to just “set it and forget it” one of the best ways to conserve water is to keep an eye on your systems.  Check your sprinklers twice per year to check for breaks, overspray or misdirected sprinklers.  You will need to top off the mulch in your beds at least once per year.  Remove plants that are using up too much water and replace them with lower water species.  One of the most critical jobs is going to be watching the weather and turning off the system when it rains, when it’s overcast, too windy or when the overnight temperatures go down.  After 2-3 years of babysitting them, your plants will need less water and upkeep, but you will still need to feed them and maintain your sprinklers.  Every 5 years or so your soil should be retested to ensure that your fertilizer requirements haven’t changed.

One last note, capturing and storing rainwater for use in your garden is legal in both Washington and Idaho but it must not be taken from existing streams or ponds and it cannot be gathered from a building constructed for just that purpose.  Your collection of water cannot interfere with the water rights of others.  Be sure to check your local rules before collecting rain water for your garden!

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