Jackson Hole Landscaping

Jackson Hole Landscapes

In many parts of the country, attractive, effective, home landscaping is simply a matter of fitting one’s house into the feel – or the requirements – of the neighborhood. But Jackson Hole is a place where the word “landscape” means a lot more than a lawn, a shade tree and some shrubs. Here, the landscape is a part of life. It defines our daily activities. It may even be the reason why most of us are here in the first place.

Given the drama of the countryside around us, creative homeowners try to design personal landscapes that reflect their tastes while at the same time reflect the cultural history of the region and the energy of the mountains and sagebrush plains. As anyone who has looked at a few properties around the valley can see, that leaves plenty of room for variety – from disciplined formality to relaxed roughness.

Growing Limitations
But there are also limitations, strictly imposed by the characteristics of Jackson Hole. The valley floor lies above six thousand feet. The growing season here is shorter than three months, and we often get frosts and blizzards late in the spring and early in the fall – sometimes even in the middle of the summer. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, we’re in Growing Zone 3, meaning we can get frost any night of the year and annual low temperatures fall between 30 below and 40 below zero. By comparison, the heart of Alaska is in Zone 1, while Hawaii and the southernmost Florida Keys are in Zone 11. Jackson Hole is also classified as semi-arid, meaning it doesn’t receive very much rainfall, and much of its annual precipitation comes in the form of snow.

That water issue is crucial. Some popular landscaping plants require copious irrigation, making a watering system on a timer mandatory; but be aware that such systems need tending, especially as the weather turns cold. But many beautiful, indigenous species of grasses, sedges and shrubs don’t need much in the way of care. Ground covers such as kinnikinnick, creeping mahonia and lamb’s ear survive the Rocky Mountains’ snowy winters and dry summers without assistance just fine.

Nature’s Design
Rock and stone are an integral part of most landscape designs. A weather-resistant building material for beds, walls, walkways and natural, abstract sculptures, stone also offers homeowners a way to echo themes used inside the house into its surroundings. A gorgeous stone chimney, for instance, beckons for a walkway laid in similar shades and textures of rock.

Regions have native stone types just like they have native foliage. Around Teton County, Wyoming the most common varieties are igneous rocks such as granite (voila the spires of the Tetons), limestone in beautiful pale shades and speckled with fossilized sea creatures, sandstone in varying colors and deep black metamorphic schists. Polished river and glacial rocks come in sizes ranging from pea gravel to car-sized boulders. And sedimentary rocks appear in an astounding palette; the much-loved Oakley stone comes from the desert regions to our immediate southeast.

Continuing from the ground up, many valley landscapes use groves of native trees in various combinations. In lower areas – near rivers and streams especially – the stately cottonwood is the classic western watercourse tree. Aspens flourish on hillsides gentle or steep, especially where the soil is deeper than average, and their leaves turn into many stunning shades of yellow, orange and sometimes even red as the seasons change. Dense plantings of evergreens help make a house feel cozy and protected. Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, blue spruce and Scotch pine can be planted as pocket seedlings or trucked in as well-grown trees from the region’s several nurseries.

Some people prefer the orderly, manicured look of traditional lawns, but others in Jackson Hole – especially those near forests – favor more natural growth. There are many reasons why this makes sense, but one of the best is that native plants and natural-looking designs require less soil preparation, water and maintenance in general. Also, native landscaping is more likely to attract native wildlife. Keeping track of the scores of bird species that live or migrate through Jackson is a joy, and watching deer and moose stroll through your yard as you sip your morning coffee is one of life’s great delights.

Ponds are increasingly popular landscape elements in Jackson Hole. Besides offering the beauty and serenity of open water nearby, they also attract waterfowl, deer, foxes, even black bears and other animals.

Fire Considerations
It’s important to keep in mind one other natural phenomenon when planning your landscaping: wildfire. This is especially true for anyone lucky enough to live up against or even within the forests that fringe the valley. Natural fires have been suppressed in the area for decades, resulting in a woodland environment in which fires may spread rapidly. Prudent landscaping takes into account protection of your house against wildfires. To minimize the chances of a fire jumping from forest to structures, design with lots of open spaces between trees and buildings. A 50-foot buffer zone free of potential fuels – including stored firewood – is recommended. Also, make sure long tree limbs don’t overhang roofs. The Bridger-Teton Forest Service and your insurance agent have other excellent ideas.

Of course, not everyone has a green thumb, and even those who do aren’t necessarily up for landscaping on a Jackson Hole scale. Many choose to work with one of the valley’s fine landscaping companies. They know what works and what doesn’t in this finicky and challenging environment, and most enjoy working with homeowners to brainstorm, develop a plan, and transform your patch of semi-arid land into a little slice of verdant paradise.