Progress 06/01/03 to 12/31/06
Outputs
Project objectives included: 1. Continued establishment of on-site production nursery (pot-in-pot system). Status: The pot-in-pot nursery is complete with a capacity of 3,000 units in various pot sizes. Combined, the UBC greenhouse, shadehouse, and nursery have a capacity of approximately 40,000 units ranging from 4-inch pots to 5-gallon pots. The nursery provides a useful venue for continued research. A master's level student investigation into growth mediums and fertilization techniques to enhance pot-in-pot native plant production is complete. Plants grown from seed collection in 2004, 2005, and 2006 are now being grown out in nursery pots preparatory to planting them in designed landscapes . These plants will be incorporated into various environments such as wetlands, uplands, and public recreation. Work on propagation methods of trees native to the Intermountain West continues. Mound layering propagation continues to show promise in Big Tooth Maple selections. 2.
Continued collection of native plants. Status: Trial investigation of ten selections of Big Tooth Maple continues to determine disease resistance, adaptability, and ornamental landscape potential. Seed collection of various native plants continues. 34 species of native plant seed were collected and 73 sites were mapped in 2006. 3. Development of hydro-zone demonstration areas. Status: Ornamental home landscape installed at the Utah House (1-acre) continues to mature and provide a successful venue for waterwise landscaping options. Native landscape plantings were installed along the service access road in 2005 Native landscape planting near the parking area and pavilion continue to be augmented with additional specimens. Nine landscape comparison study gardens with underground lysimeters are complete. Research to evaluate water and nutrient use has been completed. Additional publication opportunities related to these comparison gardens are actively being explored. Creation of a plant
database and plant mapping system for the UBC is underway. 4. Information dissemination. Status: Improvements and additions continue to be made to the UBC website (www.utahbotanicalcenter.org). A comprehensive listing of water-wise plants at the Utah House demonstration landscape is complete and providing to be very useful with the public.
Impacts
Several local nurseries have implemented pot-in-pot production methods. This collaboration has been financial as well as educational with partial funding of a master's level student whose work is now complete. This student successfully competed for a Utah State University Cooperative Extension Horticulture position and is now a tenure-track Extension Assistant Professor. Another graduate level student from this collaboration continues studies on Intermountain native plants. The UBC is becoming a valuable resource in providing leadership in native landscape design and plant materials. Numerous municipalities, businesses, and institutional facilities have requested assistance from the UBC. An example of this interaction is the Jensen Nature Park in Syracuse, Utah. The UBC provided design assistance, plant materials, and installation consultation to Syracuse City that resulted in a significantly more environmentally comprehensive design solution. Work on Bigtooth Maple
mound layering propagation shows a production potential of one plant per square foot per year. Hydro-zoned demonstration areas clearly illustrate to visitors appropriate options for water efficient landscape installation. The Utah House receives over 10,000 visitors annually, including approximately 4,000 school-age children. Providing people with appropriate landscaping solutions and accompanying instructions will ultimately result in a reduction in landscape water use and the installation of well-adapted waterwise plants in the urban landscape.
Publications
- Gunnell, J., 2006, Determining Optimal Growth Conditions for Pot-in-Pot Tree Productions., Master of Plant Science Thesis, Utah State University
- McCammon, T., 2006, Water Conserving Landscapes: An Evaluation of Drought Tolerance and Homeowner Preference. Master of Plant Science Thesis, Utah State University.
- Guenter, M., 2006, The Role of Utah Garden Centers in Furthering Public Knowledge about Waterwise Plants and Landscaping, Master of Plant Science Thesis, Utah State University.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Progress based on project objectives includes: 1. Continued establishment of on-site production nursery (pot-in-pot system). Status: The pot-in-pot nursery provides a useful venue for continued research. A master's level student investigation into growth mediums and fertilization techninques to enhance pot-in-pot native plant production is complete. Additional questions have emerged as a result of this work and will be investigated. Weed control methodology is in progress with new staffing to offer additional direction. Work on propagation methods of trees native to the Intermountain West continues. Mound layering propagation continues to show promise in Big Tooth Maple selections. 2. Continued collection of native plants. Status: Trial investigation on ten selections of Big Tooth Maple continues to determine disease resistance, adaptability and ornamental landscape potential. Seed collection of various native plants continues. 3. Development of hydro-zone
demonstration areas. Status: Ornamental home landscape installed at the Utah House (1-acre) continues to mature and a provide a successful venue for water-wise landscaping options. Some soil problems have resulted in the need to replace specific plants. Native landscape plantings have been installed along an existing service entrance. Native landscape plantings near the parking area and pavilion continue to be augmented with additional specimens. Nine landscape comparison study gardens are complete with research underway to evaluate water and nutrient use. Creation of a plant database and plant mapping system is in the initial stages. 4. Information dissemination. Status: Improvements continue to be made to the UBC website (www.utahbotanicalcenter.org). A comprehensive listing of water-wise plants at the Utah House demonstration landscape is complete and proving to be very useful with the public.
Impacts
To date, several local nurseries have experimented with using pot-in-pot nursery production methods. One large nursery has agressively adopted this process in collaboration with the Utah Botanical Center's research work. Work on Big Tooth Maple mound layering propagation methods continue to show the potential to produce one plant per square foot per growing season. Hydro-zoned demonstration areas illustrate clearly to visitors appropriate options for water efficient landscape installations in the context of high mountain desert ecosystems. The Utah House has received over 10,000 visitors, including 3,500 school-age children, who have been taught using the demonstration landscape. Providing people with appropriate landscaping solutions and accompanying instructions will ultimately result in positive impacts, a reduction in landscape water use and the installation of well-adapted water-wise plants in the urban landscape are expected impacts.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Progress based on project objectives include: 1. Continued establishment of on-site production nursery (pot-in-pot system). Status: Over 1100 pots of various sizes have been installed that include irrigation and fertilization equipment. Currently, a Master's level student is evaluating growth mediums in conjunction with fertilization techniques to enhance pot-in-pot native plant production. A plan to develop appropriate methods for weed control in a pot-in-pot envrironment is underway and will be completed in 2005. Work is underway to determine various propagation techniques for trees native to the Intermountain West. The most successful, to date, is mound layering as it applies to Big Tooth Maple selections that show strong commercial potential. 2. Continued collection of native plants. Status: Trial investigation on ten selections of Big Tooth Maple has been initiated to determine disease resistance, adaptability and ornamental landscape potential. Seed collection
of various native plants has been accomplished and continues. 3. Development of hydro-zone demonstration areas. Status: Ornamental home landscape installation at the Utah House was completed in fall 2003 and spring 2004. Initial observations indicate better than expected establishment of native and well-adapted exotic plant combinations. Season-long color has also been achieved. Initial informal native landscape plantings have been installed in parking areas around the trailhead pavilion. Additional shrubs and perennials will be added in 2005. Nine landscape comparison studies are nearing completion at the UBC greenhouse to evaluate water and nutrient use. Evaluation will begin in 2005. Plant database and mapping strategies have been developed and will be implemented in 2005. 4. Interact with the Utah Climate Center. Status: Efforts to obtain and use weather data through the Utah Climate Center will continue in 2005. 5. Information dissemination. Status: The UBC website is now on-line
(www.utahbotanicalcenter.org). It will be augmented in 2005 to include research summaries, horitultural and educational information. Work on printed materials about water-wise landscaping is currently being developed. This work is in partnership with USU Cooperative Extension.
Impacts
Anticipated impact of the pot-in-pot nursery and associated research will introduce nurserymen to the methodologies and best management practices associated with effectively and efficiently growing plant materials in the Intermountain West. Initial results of Big Tooth Maple mound layering propagation bed indicate a strong potential to produce one plant per square foot per growing season. Hydro-zoned demonstration areas will illustrate appropriate options for water efficient landscape installation opportunities in context with high mountain desert ecosystems.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Progress based on the project objectives include: 1. Continued establishment of on-site production nursery. Status: 1.5 acres of pot-in-pot nursery have been installed including drainage systems, over 1000 pots of various sizes, and drip irrigation and fertilization systems. 2. Continued collection of native plants to investigate opportunities related to viability for use in landscape settings. Status: In progress. Collections of Utah Juniper ecotypes have been collected. Dwarf rabbitbrush seed has been collected and propagated. Three species of native onion have been collected and targeted for PhD research. Germination studies are underway for various native species. A research technician has been hired to assist in installation of the pot-in-pot nursery as well as collection and propagation of native plant material. 3. Development of hydro-zone demonstration areas at the Utah House and Trailhead Pavilion. Status: A one-acre water conserving residential demonstration
landscape has been installed in conjunction with a model sustainable demonstration home at the Utah Botanical Center. Interpretive signage for this demonstration garden is in progress. Site preparation at the adjacent parking area and Trailhead Pavilion has been completed. Planting design for these areas is in progress. 4. Interaction with Utah Climate Center in obtaining weather data. Status: To be developed in 2004. 5. Determine effective means for dissemination of information including web site, workshops, printed materials, etc. Status: In progress. Web site development is underway in collaboration with USU Cooperative Extension specialists. Printed materials for demonstration garden are currently being developed.
Impacts
Anticipated impact of the pot-in-pot nursery and associated research will introduce nurserymen to the methodologies and best management practices associated with effectively and efficiently growing plant materials in the Intermountain West. Hydro-zoned demonstration areas will illustrate appropriate options for water efficient landscape installation opportunities in context with high mountain desert ecosystems.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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