Dear Flora,
With the recent years of drought, I have been worried about using too much water from our well system. I was hoping that you could provide some ideas on how to reduce my water usage while still maintaining my garden and yard.
Warm Regards—Willa Dryer
Dear Willa,
There are many ways to reduce water use while still maintaining a beautiful outdoor space. Thinking about how we use water in our landscapes is key to implementing sustainable strategies. Here are a few ideas for you—
• Planning–evaluate your space and how you use different areas of your yard. Our traditional turf lawns require significant amounts of water to maintain. Consider keeping practical turf areas, while converting less-used areas to native grasses or turf grasses adapted for reduced water requirements.
• Design for water conservation–create zones for low-water vs. high-water-need plants. Place plants that need more water closer to the house for ease of watering. Look for microclimates in your yard where plants could thrive.
• Soil improvement–improve and maintain healthy soil. Dig in organic matter to improve soil conditions. Healthy soils promote better root development for plants, reducing overall water requirements and assisting plants to cope with periods of dry weather conditions.
• Plant selection—drought-resistant native perennials are great choices to create beautiful flower beds that require less water to thrive.
• Irrigation—Avoid watering at the hottest time of the day. Set up drip irrigation lines or soaker hoses to provide direct and consistent moisture to plant roots, where water is needed. Adjust your sprinklers, making sure to identify leaks and avoid overwatering. Water deeper, less often—this helps plants to develop their root systems. Established plants need less water; deep roots help make plants resilient to times of drought.
• Mulching—After plants are well established, add 2-3 inch layers of mulch around the base of plants. This helps moderate soil temperatures and prevents water from evaporating. Mulch also suppresses weed growth and creates attractive areas within the landscape that don’t require water.
• Water harvesting—collecting runoff water from your roof in a barrel for later gardening use is an efficient way to reduce overall landscape water usage. Consider reusing “grey water” from your house to recycle water into your garden landscape. Try something as simple as having a bucket to collect cold water while you are waiting for the hot water to purge your lines.
• Check out books from our local library on Xeriscaping or visit Sage & Snow’s Waterwise Garden on the corner of Maybell & Magnolia Streets in Pinedale for ideas on plants that grow well in our area.
Dear Flora,
Can you suggest some waterwise perennial plants for our area—both native and non-native plants that do well in our area? Can you suggest where to buy seed or plants?
Cordially—Lily Bloom
Dear Lily,
We have many beautiful waterwise plant choices for our Zone 3-4 climate. These are some of our garden club members’ favorites, which can be seen in local gardens. You can also enjoy many of these flowering plant varieties in their native settings, while you are out hiking in the area.
• Penstemons—Rocky Mountain or Pineleaf
Visit High Country Gardens’ website for suggested waterwise perennials for our climate ( Perennial Plants - Shop Perennial Flowers). Wind River Gardens stock many varieties of waterwise plants and seeds that thrive in our area.
Dear Flora,
Some of my gardening friends have been experimenting with vertical gardening. Do you have information on this gardening technique that you could share?
Best Regards–Guy in the Sky
Dear Guy,
Vertical gardening simply means building structures to keep plants from spreading all over the ground. This can be desirable for many reasons:
• More plants. Plants can be spaced closer together because you train the foliage to grow straight upward. Training requires that you work with vines to promote growth up the vertical structure–through weaving vines, tying or securing plants as they grow.
• Plants are healthier. Plants and their fruit are off the ground, making it harder for bugs, slugs, and small rodents to get at your produce.
• Uniform food. Fruit and veggies hang freely and grow straight to produce more uniform produce.
• Make harvest easier. Having produce at eye level makes it easier to track ripening to pick it at the optimal time without having to get on your hands and knees.
• Beautify your yard. Living walls of plants can be a great addition to your garden scheme.
• Vertical structures can be made of livestock panels that are arched between T-posts for support, a recycled metal garden gate, wooden lattice, sturdy strings secured from the roof of a greenhouse, a bean tipi for your kids, built from bamboo poles with support netting for beans to climb.
• Plants that can be grown vertically—pole beans, scarlett runner beans, cucumbers, melons, tomatoes, peas, potatoes, squash, zucchini, pumpkins. Large fruit, like pumpkins or melons, may need extra support as they develop.
• Several local garden members have had good success with this technique–especially in the greenhouse setting. Have fun experimenting with this one!
Dear Flora,
I would love to learn more about gardening in Sublette County. How can I find out about becoming a garden club member?
Ever Grateful,
Sage Snow
Dear Sage,
On Saturday, Aug. 8, the Sage & Snow Garden Club will host its Annual Garden Tour and Dinner. This informative tour will feature 3 local gardens with a free dinner to follow—no charge to attend! Watch for updates on our website, social media, Pinedale Roundup, and Pinedale Online. This is a great way to see what local gardeners are having success with and visit with knowledgeable club members.
The Sage and Snow Garden Club welcomes gardeners, from novice to expert, to join our
club to learn more about successful techniques and plants that grow in Sublette County. Our 2026 schedule of activities is posted on our website. For more information, to ask questions for our next Ask Flora column, or to join the club—go to our website at www.sageandsnowgardenclub.org/ or contact Arlinda McLaughlin, Master Gardener, at 307-231-9402.
