Maintaining Wild Tips
by Besa Schweitzer, chapter member
Swales direct water through the landscape.
Stand in your landscape during a rainstorm and watch as the water flows across it. If there are areas where you would like to direct it you can build a swale. A swale is a small ditch that can be as small as an inch deep. The rainwater follows the swale through the garden. Swales that are very curvy help to slow the speed of the water and promote infiltration. Slowing water as it moves across the landscape prevents erosion and flash floods.
Water new shrubs
Water new shrubs periodically during dry spells with enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 8-10 inches. Remember that new plants are working hard on growing roots and their root systems can be significantly larger than their above ground growth. Water soil in a wide area around plants to water the entire root system.
Annuals
There are several garden worthy native annuals; keep an eye out for them at nurseries. Collect seed from annual plants each year so that they can be replanted in the garden next year. At the end of the growing season, annuals can be broken up and scattered where you want them to grow in the future. One downside of using annuals is that many emerge late, and I forget where I planted them.
- Red whiskers
Polanisia dodecandra - Wallflower
Erysimum capitatum - Snow on the mountain Euphorbia marginata
- Jewelweed, touch me not Impatiens capensis
- Wax weed
Cuphea viscosissima - Spanish Needles Palafoxia callosa
- Wild petunia
Ruellia humilis - Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta
Planning planting in the right of way
Before planting in a right of way, be sure to have clear communication with the utility company or other landowner about the intent of the planting and new maintenance schedule before getting started. There is nothing more heartbreaking than finally seeing a planting get established only to have an uninformed employee come by and cut it down or spray it with herbicide. Now is a good time to make contact to establish a relationship before planting.
Right of ways also are filled with many utilities. Call Dig Right to find out what is underground before planting. Pick trees and shrubs that will not grow too tall and interfere with power lines.
