Free plant list helps landscapers

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Continued hot, dry weather will prove a challenge for grasses, flowers, trees and shrubs in yards and gardens, which means xeriscape continues to be the best bet for landscaping.

Xeriscape is a design concept that saves water by using plants that adapt to site-specific soil and climate conditions. Xeriscape is becoming increasingly popular with people who recognize its benefits in environmental flexibility and reduced costs.

The Larimer County Planning Department has produced two award-winning landscaping documents on xeriscape. The "Larimer County Landscaping Guide" has detailed sections on approaches to xeriscape design and plants. The guide provides specific information on what xeriscape is and what it is not.

The 125-page "Larimer County Plant List" is written specifically for this area. It provides information on recommended plants for a site based on several factors, such as where it is located, how much sun it gets, and how much water is available. For example, someone wanting to know what to use for a shady yard in Red Feather Lakes will have a different list than someone wanting to landscape a sunny site near Wellington.

The guide and list are available free online at the county's home page, the Virtual Courthouse, www.larimer.org/planning/planning. Readers will find the guide under the documents and publications heading. The documents can be printed from the Internet site, or both documents can be purchased at the county planning department for $9.

In 2001, the planning department received an award in the Planning and Urban Design category, a professional design award from the Colorado Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, for both the plant list and landscape guide.

County planner and landscape architect Sean Wheeler says the department produced the documents to clear up misunderstandings and broaden the base of free information available to citizens on xeriscape. "The guide has a reader-friendly feel and takes an over-the-fence-rail approach to xeriscape planting for residents in Larimer County," he said. An updated and expanded version is expected to be available in mid-May.

In compiling the documents, the planning staff sought help from several county departments and outside experts including county manager Frank Lancaster, county forester Dave Lentz and people such as Gayle Weinstein, author of "Xeriscape Handbook, A How-To Guide to Natural Resource-Wise Gardening."

Larimer County encourages all citizens to consider xeriscape design concepts in large and small landscape design projects. For more information, call Wheeler at 498-7694.