Choosing the Right Evergreen

Evergreen Trees for Utah’s High Desert

by John Fisher (assisted by AI)

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Planting Evergreens in Utah’s High Desert

Living in Utah’s high desert country means extra work if you want trees to thrive. While native shrubs and grasses survive on their own, evergreens need irrigation and careful planting to get established. With the right choice of tree—and some patience—you can bring year-round green to your yard.

Last year, I planted a pine that unfortunately didn’t make it. The problem was that it had been root bound in its pot, and I didn’t do enough to free those circling roots before planting. That experience taught me the importance of preparation. When planting, always dig a hole two to three times wider than the root ball, loosen and separate the roots, and mix in acidic soil before backfilling with the original soil. Most important of all, water daily until the tree is well established.

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Junipers grow naturally in the wild.

Best Evergreen Options for the High Desert

Here are some evergreens that do well in the Utah climate:

• Utah Juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) – Native to the high desert, extremely drought tolerant, and nearly maintenance-free once mature.

• Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) – Hardy, long-lived, and adapted to dry, rocky soils.

• Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) – Beautiful blue-green color, but it requires more water and space.

• Arizona Cypress (Hesperocyparis arizonica) – Drought resistant, attractive foliage, good for ornamental planting.

• Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) – Great for windbreaks, wildlife, and dry soils.

For more adventurous gardeners, species like Incense-cedar or Lacebark Pine can also be tried, though they need a little more water and care.

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Irrigation and Care Tips

• First 1–2 years: Water daily, especially in summer, to encourage deep roots.

• Once established: Cut back watering—most native species can survive with natural rainfall.

• Soil prep: Use loose, well-drained soil. Avoid letting roots sit in soggy ground.

• Fire safety: With junipers especially, clear dead branches and keep them trimmed away from structures.

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Final Thoughts

If you’re planting evergreens in Utah’s high desert, success comes down to three things: choosing the right species, preparing the soil and roots properly, and watering faithfully at the start. My own loss of a pine last year was a tough lesson, but it reinforced how important good planting practices are. With patience and care, your evergreens can thrive, adding shade, beauty, and year-round color to our desert landscape.

Hashtags: #UtahGardening #EvergreenTrees #HighDesertLiving #DroughtTolerant #TreeCare

Prepare for a Perpetual Harvest

A Garden Plan for Fall Growing 

by Melanie Fisher (assisted by AI)

After a busy summer or a gardening setback, there’s something deeply satisfying about getting back on track with a solid fall garden plan. While the heat of August may seem like a strange time to think about new plantings, it’s actually the perfect moment to begin planning for a productive fall and winter garden. With a few key strategies, you can make the most of your space and ensure a continuous harvest well into the colder months.

Planning the fall garden—harvest never ends. Image concept and generation by ChatGPT (OpenAI).

Transplants and Timing

If you’re like me and missed the optimal window for starting fall seedlings, take heart—many garden centers still carry transplants, and now is a great time to find them. Cabbage, for example, matures in about 65 days, which means planting in late August or early September gets you to harvest by the end of October. Pay close attention to projected frost dates and select varieties known for fast maturity.

Other great options include kale and Swiss chard, both of which grow quickly and can tolerate cooler weather. Mulching these greens will help retain soil moisture and offer protection as temperatures begin to drop.

Make Room: Summer Crop Management

To transition into fall gardening without sacrificing yield, begin by managing your summer crops. Prune back tomato leaves to let light reach fall seedlings planted nearby. You can grow fall crops like green onions, lettuce, and beets underneath summer vines, provided they receive enough sun.

Then, make a plan for when to pull out summer crops entirely. Once you harvest garlic, for example, that space is perfect for planting soft crops like beets, carrots, radishes, and more green onions.

Planning by Maturity: Determinants and Successions

As you evaluate your garden beds, consider which tomatoes are “determinate” (producing all at once) versus “indeterminate” (fruiting continuously). Determinate varieties can be removed earlier, freeing up space for cold-tolerant greens like collards and Swiss chard, which will thrive in the late-season garden. Lettuce and green onions can be succession planted in rows where determinate tomatoes once grew.

The Perpetual Harvest Plan

This approach is more than just squeezing in a few extra crops—it’s a mindset. With thoughtful planning, you can keep your garden producing from one season to the next. The key is overlapping plantings, anticipating frost dates, choosing the right varieties, and rotating crops efficiently. It’s a bit like a dance—remove one plant, add another, prune where needed, mulch when necessary.

So whether you’re starting late or simply ready to re-engage, this fall is your opportunity to revive your garden and set yourself up for a steady stream of fresh produce.

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Keywords: fall gardening, transplanting, perpetual harvest, succession planting, cabbage

Hashtags: #FallGarden #PerpetualHarvest #UrbanFarming #SeasonalPlanting #HomegrownVeggies