Often, people tell us they’re looking for plants that will grow well in our region. We understand the question. Nobody wants to spend time, money, and effort to plant something if it's just going to die within a year or two. That’s probably happened to you at least once—leaving you wondering what went wrong. We all want a landscape that will not only survive here, but also thrive—with relatively little effort on our part. If that's our goal, then why is it so easy to buy plants that die in our yards?
There is a wide variety of grasses that are perfectly suited to thrive in Utah.
It isn't always your fault.
Sometimes plants die because we plant them in the wrong location, they get attacked by pests, or we don’t care for them properly, but often plants die simply because they were never suited to survive here. It's easy to find beautiful plants that claim to be hardy enough for your yard when you're shopping at a big online retailer or big box store. But most of the time, these retailers don't know what they don't know.
Most nation-wide stores and online nurseries select plants based on the US Department of Agriculture’s Hardiness Zone Map. That map represents a monumental amount of time and effort from people determined to make gardening easier—and it's also painfully inaccurate for our area. For example, most places along the wasatch front that are listed as zone 7 behave more like zone 5. That's why it's so easy to walk past a beautiful plant at a big box store, fall in love with it, take it home, and watch it die a slow, miserable death. Local knowledge makes all the difference. With experience, you'll know what to plant, where to plant, and when to plant.
If you want plants to thrive in Utah, it helps to know when to plant.
It's smart to plant your trees, shrubs, and perennials in the spring because that is the time when most plants come alive and begin to grow. With proper care, you can plant any time of year. But many people don't realize that the fall is one of the very best times to plant. If you think about it, most plants drop their seeds in the fall. Early fall is a great time to plant because the things you plant will have fall, winter, and spring to grow healthy roots—enabling them to withstand our scorching summer heat.
Spin Top Red Blanket FlowerWe want to share our knowledge with you.
Buying plants that aren’t suited for your yard is something you won’t have to worry about when you shop at Progressive Plants. Everything you see in our nursery and in our online catalog will succeed in Utah. In fact, 65% or more of the plants in our nursery were grown right here at the farm from the start, so they’re already acclimated to our climate. The plants we don’t grow ourselves are all adapted for our area, so you can purchase with confidence, knowing that your plants will thrive in your yard.
Delphinium is available in a variety of colors and sizes and it's sure to bring your yard to life.
We insist on selling plants that will thrive here, but that doesn’t mean that our selection is limited. We have thousands of plants to choose from, and often you will find varieties of plants growing here on our 100-acre farm that you won’t find anywhere else. We'll be happy to talk with you to ensure that you have the ideal plants for your dream yard.
Our designers can turn your landscape into a conversation piece.
Every neighborhood is different.
Remember that not every yard is created equally. This Great Basin region was once Lake Bonneville. That enormous, ancient lake had its own currents similar to the currents in the ocean, so soil and sediment were distributed seemingly at random throughout the valley. That means that the soil in your yard may be very different from the soil just a few miles away. Plus, the quality of the secondary water you have available to you varies. Some of it is ideal for your plants, but other secondary water sources are riddled with dissolved solids, making the water toxic to many of your favorite plants. Water from Utah Lake is a notorious plant killer. We also have significant differences in altitude throughout this region. All of these variables mean that the growing conditions in your yard may be very different than the conditions just a few blocks away.
Blue Arrow Rocky Mountain Upright Juniper and Taylor Upright juniper will both make wonderful additions to your Utah landscape. They fit nicely in small spaces and can make a nice privacy screen.
We have the knowledge to combat your challenges.
If you tell us where you live, we can direct you to plants that will thrive in your yard. We’ve been growing plants right here in your backyard for more than 35 years. We know how our plants will react to your soil and water conditions, and we can help you purchase the best plants for your yard—plants that will thrive and make your home the envy of the neighborhood. We can help ensure that your plants will withstand your sun exposure, temperatures, soil conditions, and water. We can even talk with you about microclimates and how to work with them to grow unique gardens.
Echinacea, like this Big Sky Sundown Coneflower, will draw pollinators to your yard.
Our online catalog is divided into several helpful categories. Some of these categories include: waterwise plants, Utah Lake water, deer resistant, ground cover, fall color, winter interest, grasses, perennials, deciduous trees, conifers, edibles, shade loving, and many more. We’ve taken the time to sort our plants so that you can more easily find what you’re looking for. Our goal is to be far more than simply a resource for plants. We want to be the ones you turn to for the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your yard.
Panicle hydrangeas are beautiful all year long.
So visit our online catalog today and start turning your yard into an outdoor getaway! And don’t worry about what you don’t know. That’s why we’re here.
