WY Rural Living Resource Guide

76 Pages·2012·7.51 MB·English

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Welcome!
ural living in Wyoming has its rewards and its
Rchallenges. Whether you are new to rural liv-
ing in Wyoming or a longtime resident, we hope
you find this guide of interest and practical use.
The guide is brought to you by the Small
Acreage Issue Team – a group of natural resource
professionals interested in promoting good stew-
ardship of natural resources. We understand the
appeal of rural living and want to provide you with
the tools and information needed to enjoy your
country lifestyle while maintaining the value and
aesthetics of the land that attracted you in the
Jennifer Thompson
first place.
It is our mission to provide user-friendly infor-
mation on a variety of topics pertinent to rural living, whether you have a few
acres or many. To that end, our diverse team of natural resource profession-
als has boiled down information in a wide variety of areas. We present that
information here and list helpful resources in each section where you can go
to get more detailed information.
Don’t assume that this guide is the end of the information, but see it as a
gateway to a host of informational resources. These resources include:
• Barnyards & Backyards (B&B) magazine – An award-winning quarterly
magazine of useful information.
• B&B website – An information-rich website (barnyardsandbackyards.
com) where you can find a host of resources including articles, vid-
eos, and current events around the state.
• B&B workshops – We support a variety of educational workshops that
take place around Wyoming each year. Visit barnyardsandbackyards.
com to see if one is scheduled for a location near you.
Successful living involves a lifetime of learning. We’re here to provide
practical educational resources to help you live better on your land.
Check out our ever-
The Small Acreage Issue Team
growing collection
of useful video clips
on YouTube.
2 B A R N Y A R D S & B A C K Y A R D S
table of
editors
Jennifer Thompson
Small Acreage Outreach Coordinator
UW Extension
Robert Wagener contents
Consulting editor
Contributing Writers Welcome! ..................................................................................2
Jennifer Thompson, Dallas Mount,
Rachel Mealor, Mae Smith,
Sandra Frost, Tony Hoch, Rex Lockman, location, location, location – elevation,
Mary McKinney, Kelli Belden, precipitation, and information ...................................................4
Dallen Smith, Nick Williams, Martin Curry,
Liz Harvey, Mark Hughes, Mark Ellison, The right plants in the right place
Michelle Cook, and others. Water-wise landscaping ...........................................................6
Graphic Designers
Bernadette van der Vliet getting a grip on grazing .........................................................12
Tana Stith, UW Extension
Water – not a dry subject in Wyoming
Water rights and law, water quality, irrigation ........................18
Barnyards & Backyards magazine is published
quarterly by the Small Acreage Issue Team, a
cooperative effort of the University of Wyoming The wild, the wonderful, and the hungry
Extension, Wyoming conservation districts, living with wildlife in Wyoming ..............................................25
Audubon Rockies, Wyoming State Forestry
Division, Wyoming Weed and Pest Council, Weeds, ways to whip 'em .......................................................30
Natural Resources Conservation Service, and
Wyoming Department of Agriculture.
Keeping the land you paid for
For more copies of this guide or other inqui- Protecting your soil from wind and water ..............................38
ries contact:
Jennifer Thompson manure: Turning a potential problem into
Small Acreage Outreach Coordinator
UW Extension a valuable resource .................................................................39
[phone]
Location, location, location
A little bit about Wyoming, and some things to keep in mind
yoming, like other states in the mother Nature often moves slow- you consider making changes on your
Wmountain West, has a broad er than we humans like, and when we land as some practices that disturb
array of elevations, climates, soils, are working in sites with low pre- our sometimes fragile ecosystems
and other factors that affect what cipitation or short growing seasons can only be healed with a long recov-
will grow and thrive. The two great- sometimes we have to be even more ery time. In the example above, the
est factors affecting your particular patient. Consider setting expectations need for reseeding may have been
site are typically elevation and pre- at realistic levels so you won’t be dis- avoided if the landowner had rec-
cipitation. From Wyoming’s highest appointed or waste your money and ognized the signs of overgrazing by
point of gannett Peak at 13,804 feet other resources trying to speed along livestock before it was too late for the
to its lowest point where the Belle these slow processes. For example, if existing plants to recover.
Fourche River leaves the state at ap- you are reseeding a pasture in an arid
Goal setting:
proximately 3,100 feet, there is great region of the state, it may take up to
Wyoming’s climate varies dras-
variation in climatic conditions includ- four years for your seeding to com-
tically across the state. Whatever
ing temperature, precipitation, and pletely establish. During the first few
expectations you may initially have for
wind. Precipitation ranges from more years, you may have to deal with an-
your property, you will be best served
than 80 inches annually in Wyoming’s nual weeds and an unkempt appear-
by setting realistic goals for your par-
mountains (most of this falls as snow) ance while the seedlings take hold.
ticular site. For example, it is unlikely
to as few as 6-8 inches in our dry Keep these same factors in mind as
Wyoming basins. Where your prop-
erty is located in the state has enor-
mous impacts on what practices,
plants, and strategies you can apply
to your land and in what time frame
you can expect results.
The geology of your site deter-
mines what types of soils you have.
These soils are the foundation of the
ecosystem and will also have broad
impacts on how to best manage your
land. Perhaps you will need to main-
tain adequate plant cover to protect
sandy or other light soils from erosion
by wind or water, or perhaps you will
need to alter your choice of plant spe-
cies for your landscapes or pastures
to cope with highly alkaline or salty
soil conditions or heavy clays.
4 B A R N Y A R D S & B A C K Y A R D S
Location, location, location – elevation, precipitation, and information
you will be the state’s largest tomato
producer if you live in Pinedale (high
tunnel people, prove me wrong!), or
that you will grow banana trees in
Torrington. on the same lines, if you
have grazing animals, understand the
natural productive potential of your
rangeland or non-irrigated sites, and
only stock the land with the number
of animals it can support. Even 100
acres will not produce enough forage
to support two horses year-round in living now or where you recently to do on your land, such as building
the lower-precipitation areas of the moved from. If you are considering activities. Playing by the rules is not
state. buying land, you’ll want to know all always an easy task when the rules
There are resources in your com- about it, including whether there is vary from county to county. You can
munity to help determine the poten- adequate quality water available or if avoid a great deal of trouble by find-
tial for your particular site for a variety you’ll have to haul water, what water ing out which particular rules apply in
of activities. Resource professionals rights the property may have, wheth- your community. A quick call or visit
at your local conservation district, er you’ll be responsible for the main- to your county courthouse to check
Natural Resources Conservation tenance of your roads (winters can be on local planning and zoning rules is a
Service, uW Extension, Wyoming severe in Wyoming, and roads often good idea. Some counties have very
Weed and Pest District, and Wyoming have to be plowed frequently due to little zoning, and others may have
State Forestry Division offices can snow and wind in order for you to get fairly restrictive zoning depending
help you get started, depending on to town and back), how much wind upon your particular situation. Check
your area of interest. there is in every season (this can vary first; then proceed if it checks out.
greatly from summer to winter), how A thorough understanding of the
New to the area
the local wildlife will impact you, and natural attributes of your proposed
or considering a move?
many other factors. Know before you location, the community resources
If you are planning to move to the
buy! You’ll be much happier if you are available, and the local rules that may
state or to a different location in the
prepared to deal with whatever fac- affect your planned activities will all
state, there are a number of things to
tors you will find when you get there. help you make a happy transition to
consider before making the change.
many communities across the your new home.
Know what to expect. Rural living in
state have a variety of rules when
our state can be considerably more
it comes to things you might want
challenging than where you may be
Dallas Mount is a University of Wyoming Extension educator serving the southeastern portion of the state.
R u R A l l I V I N g I N W Y o m I N g 5
The right plants in the right place
Water-wise landscaping
ant a great looking landscape addition to those on the map shown property) – a single house can
Wwithout using a ton of water? include: create at least four microcli-
That is what water-wise landscap- • What types of wildlife inhabit mates – north side creates a
ing is all about. Water-wise landscap- your property or the surrounding cooler, shady area with more
ing is simply creating a landscape area constant temperatures; south
that fits our climate (with Wyoming’s • Soil types and quality (more on side is hotter with more temper-
annual average precipitation of 12.68 this later) ature extremes; west is exposed
inches). landscaping in Wyoming • Amount of sunlight in different to strong sun and the most win-
also must be adapted to a number areas ter winds; east is sheltered from
of other challenges including plenti- • Amount and direction of wind in many winds and has a more
ful wind (in some parts of the state), different areas moderate climate in general.
hungry wildlife, intense sunlight, • How water moves across your • Existing plants such as trees and
variable weather (hail, cold, and, in property shrubs that you’d like to retain in
some areas, heat), and alkaline soils. • general seasonal high and your landscape.
landscaping must also fit your needs low temps (knowing your u.S. once you have in mind the gen-
including budget, time, interests, and Department of Agriculture Plant eral conditions of your property, next
family activities. Remember that not Hardiness Zone can help with consider what uses or features you’d
doing any traditional “landscaping” is selecting cold-tolerant plants) like in a landscape. Do you want a turf
also an option and one that might be • general topography (cold air area for the kids? Do you need a path
least time intensive. moves down hill in general) to the barn? Would you like a vegeta-
The key to successful water-wise • microclimates (smaller areas ble and/or flower garden and area for
landscaping is choosing plants to fit with significantly different a compost pile? Do you have a view
the site, not trying to change the site climates than the rest of your you’d like to block or frame? limiting
to fit your plants. Some site manipula-
tion can be accomplished, but save it
for the plants and landscape features
that are your top priorities (such as a
vegetable garden or cherished shrub).
How to Start
The first thing to do is closely
observe your property. Take time to
note some things about
it. Sketching a quick
map of your prop-
erty and making
some notes on it
can be a useful tool
in planning your
landscape.
Items you’ll
want to note in
6 B A R N Y A R D S & B A C K Y A R D S
the water tends to move outwards
as well as down. Therefore, you may
need to apply water slowly to allow
it to soak in (drip emitters, soaker
hoses, etc., apply water slowly). Clay
soils hang onto water longer so wa-
tering infrequently but deeply fits the
bill.
Vegetables tend to like “rich” soils
and constant moisture. If you have a
vegetable garden in your landscape,
annual applications of well compos-
ted organic matter will help it thrive.
Selecting plants
once you have decided what
functions and features you’d like in
your landscape, you can now have
fun choosing plants and thinking
the size of more resource-intensive understanding of soils and their is-
about how they will be grouped.
areas such as a vegetable garden sues. If you don’t know what type of
Some general tips in choosing
or lawn to just what you need will soil you have, you can get it tested at
plants for landscapes are:
reduce your work load and the invest- a variety of testing labs for a fee (con-
• make sure your plants are har-
ment of water and other inputs over tact your local university of Wyoming
dy enough for your site, and, in
the long run. A rough sketch of these Extension office to find about the labs
general, choose plants that will
areas on your map will give you a in your area). In general, many native
be happy with the conditions
feel for how things will look and how or well-adapted plants do not require
you have. Knowing the uSDA
people will use and travel through the you to amend (add stuff to it like or-
Plant Hardiness Zone number
landscape. ganic matter) the soil when the plant
for your location will help you
has been chosen to fit the conditions.
Weed work choose cold-hardy plants. (It’s
In fact, some native plants don’t like
While you are observing your not a perfect system, but it
being fertilized – it can contribute to
property and making notes, deter- helps.) http://planthardiness.
lush, weak growth and sometimes
mine if there are any weed issues ars.usda.gov. most locations in
encourage rot. They tend to like it on
present. If so, do your best to take the state fall in the uSDA zones
the “mean and lean” side. However,
care of them BEFoRE you create 3-5. You can also chat with folks
some soils such as extremely sandy
your new landscape. Tackling tough at your local extension office,
soils may benefit from the addition of
perennial weeds, such as Canada conservation district, and nurs-
organic matter to support a wider ar-
thistle, that have nestled themselves eries to find plants to suit your
ray of landscape plants.
between desired ornamental plants is site.
Soils also factor into how you wa-
significantly more difficult than those • Choose plants that will give you
ter. Watering deeply but infrequently
that are not amongst desired plants. something interesting (flowers,
is often suggested for water-wise
See our “Weeds, ways to whip'em” foliage, bark, fruit, etc.) dur-
plants. How you do this depends
section for more information. ing most parts of the year. A
on your soil type. In sandy soils, the
garden of mainly spring bulbs
water tends to move straight down
Soil prep
looks great in spring and blah
fairly rapidly. Therefore, applying just
Soils vary considerable around
the rest of the year. Consider
enough water to wet the root zone
the state and sometimes within a
incorporating some plants that
area is best, and it can be added
small area. If you are looking to re-
have winter appeal.
fairly quickly. Sandy soils lose their
duce your workload and save water,
• If you are interested in a more
water quickly as well, so you may
choosing plants suited to your soils is
cultivated form of “lawn,” con-
have to water more frequently. Clay
the best way to go. Read the “Soils”
sider using more water-thrifty
soils absorb water more slowly, and
section in this manual to get a good
grass species or varieties.
R u R A l l I V I N g I N W Y o m I N g 7
There are even varieties of blue- • Also for a naturalistic affect – if • locate plants that need more
grass that have been developed planting trees or shrubs, try to water closer to your water
to thrive on less water. You can plant different ages of plants in source and/or home where you
find info to help you choose a each grouping, if you can find can best enjoy them.
grass variety by visiting barn- them to purchase. • leave room for generous paths
yardsandbackyards.com and • locate any lawns where you for people to move through
choosing “Resources” and will use them the most. Also, the landscape to various
“lawns”. make sure they are located destinations.
• If you’re not sure a plant will be near water sources. Consider a
finding Plants for Your
successful in your area, plant lawn shape that best suits your
Garden
one or two and see what hap- watering system, for maximum
Choices for obtaining plants
pens! Some experimentation watering efficiency. Also, make
for your landscape depend on the
will help you learn what best sure lawn boundaries make
resources you have locally and your
suits your conditions. mowing easy, if you plan to
budget. Some communities have
• look around your area and see mow.
what other folks are growing
successfully, and note where
they are growing them. In some
of our more exposed parts of
the state, what succeeds in
town is not always successful
outside of town in less pro-
tected locations. learn from
the locals (reputable nurseries
and local garden clubs are good
resources, and try to chat with
the owners of landscapes you
truly admire and local master
gardeners).
Some general considerations
when deciding how to place
the plants:
• group plants with similar water
and exposure needs together.
This allows you to care for
them most efficiently, and they
are more likely to grow well.
• If you are trying to produce a
more naturalistic, eye-appealing
effect, clump plants in odd-
numbered groups (3, 5, etc.),
and don’t plant them in straight
lines unless you’re trying to
achieve a very formal look. You
can create naturally curved
beds by laying a garden hose
down to mark the edge of the
new bed and then creating
gentle curves with it.
8 B A R N Y A R D S & B A C K Y A R D S
good local nurseries/garden centers • Water. Water your plants regu- to stable landscaped areas
(sometimes seasonal) where you can larly until they are well estab- (trees and shrubs, etc.). If you
obtain good plants and advice; other lished (usually for the first year plan on changing things around
communities are not so fortunate. or so for perennials, longer for much you’ll eventually poke too
Scout out what your community has many trees and shrubs). Even many holes in the fabric, reduc-
to offer, and ask others where they plants that are water wise need ing its efficacy.
get their plants. In general, some to be watered regularly until • In the windier areas of our state
sources are: they are settled in. Watering on exposed locations, mulch
• local and regional nurseries. during the winter can help becomes more problematic as
• many conversation districts in some evergreen trees and the 70+ mph gusts can blow
Wyoming offer seedling (and, in shrubs survive. When you do your mulch toward Nebraska
some cases, larger) shrubs and water, water deeply to wet the or South Dakota, even picking
trees for conservation use. whole area the roots inhabit. up small pea gravel and pelting
• mail/Internet-order sources (be When plants are established, it your house with it. It is said that
careful when utilizing sources is better to water infrequently those mulches that “knit-to-
far away from your area to but deeply than it is to water gether” such as shredded bark,
make sure that the plants of- frequently but shallowly, though etc., are best at resisting wind.
fered will be a good fit for your this is dependent on your soils Also, having established plants
site and will arrive in good as mentioned previously. that crawl along the ground or
condition). • Weed. Be on the watch for creating windbreaks can help
• Friends with gardens (one ca- weeds of all kinds. In general, to keep mulch in place. Your
veat – if possible, ask to see the quicker you take care of best bet is to experiment with
the plant in the garden, ID it, weeds, the less problematic mulches to determine if any will
and ask how much it spreads – they are especially for the first work in the various microcli-
many a plant that turns out to couple of years. Be vigilant. If mates on your property (visiting
be a “weed” has come from an you choose to use an herbicide with area homeowners who
unsuspecting friend). follow the label directions and have tried different mulches
• grow plants from seed. more be careful in their application as can be helpful).
and more native plants are be- many herbicides can kill flow-
for the Windier Locations:
ing offered by the horticultural ers, shrubs, and trees, in addi-
Wind can be a challenge! Take
industry; however, for certain tion to weeds.
the time to read our section on wind-
species you’ll still have to grow • Mulch. In many areas of our
breaks. This will help you decide if
them yourself. This can be a less state, mulch can be very ben-
you’d like to plant one on your place,
expensive way to stock a land- eficial in keeping moisture from
if you have the space. Established
scape with flowering perennials, evaporating from the soil, sup-
windbreaks make a big difference
but it takes some practice/learn- pressing weeds, and moderat-
on many properties, but they can be
ing if you haven’t grown plants ing soil temperatures during all
slow to grow in some areas. Consider
from seed before. many native times of the year. What type of
the wind-breaking aspects of exist-
plants produce seeds that need mulch you use depends on your
ing buildings, and take advantage of
a period of moist cold (outside personal preferences, but they
them. Consider the short-term use of
or in your refrigerator) before all need maintenance. organic
artificial windbreaks (snow fencing,
they’ll germinate. mulches (bark, wood chips, etc.)
hay bales, other handy items) to help
all eventually break down and
Maintenance get your plants established. However,
will need to be “topped up” with
All landscapes that look good in addition to thinking about how they
more mulch. our wind eventu-
require some kind of maintenance. will change wind patterns, also con-
ally blows dirt and weed seed
Choosing plants adapted to your con- sider how they will affect where and
into rock mulches so you’ll need
ditions and that aren’t overly aggres- how snow drifts form.
to maintain those as well. Weed
sive (aka “weedy”) will reduce the In the end, remember that “shel-
barrier fabrics can be used as
amount of maintenance needed. ter begets shelter” as one smart lady
well but are probably best suited
R u R A l l I V I N g I N W Y o m I N g 9
once told me. A building’s shelter
helps a shrub grow, the shrub helps
a flower grow, etc., etc. It can be a Some water-wise plants to consider for
long process, but if you plan to call
your property home for some time to
come it’s probably worth the effort.
Wildlife
In many locations, wildlife creates
challenges for landscapes. The chal-
lenges vary depending on the type
of wildlife that is the issue. There are
some ornamental plants that you can
plant that are less likely to be eaten Wild four O’ Clock Lambs ear
by wildlife; however, if the wildlife Mirabilis multiflora Stachys byzantina
are hungry enough all bets are off. Native plant Height: 8-18”
Visit barnyardsandbackyards.com Height: 1-3’ Width: 12-24” (or much wider)
for lists of these plants and for other Width: 2-4’ Foliage plant.‘ Silver Carpet’ is a ground
information on dealing with wildlife. Very long lived. Has large taproot, will cover and ‘Helen Von Stein’ has larger
Vegetable gardens planted in areas likely die if you try to move it (if you injure leaves than the generic type. Both variet-
it’s taproot) so plant it where you want it ies flower very little so they don’t reseed
with significant wildlife will probably and then leave it be.
as much as the common variety.
have to be fenced. See the “Wildlife”
section of this guide for more infor-
mation on fencing and wildlife issues.
Above all, keep your cool, be adapt-
able, protect what you most value,
accept some losses, and remember
that the wildlife were probably there
before you were.
resources
There are a lot of resources avail-
able to help with landscaping efforts rocky Mountain Penstemon Small-Leaf Pussytoes
in our often challenging climate. Penstemon strictus Antennaria parvifolia
many of these can be found at barn- Native plant Native plant
yardsandbackyards.com (including Height: 18-24” Height: 1-2” (foliage)
resources on a variety of other topics Width: 12-18” Width: 8-12”
including vegetable gardening, ex- Easy to grow; can get powdery mildew Native plant common in our region;
tending the gardening season, irriga- on the leaves though doesn’t seem to slowly spreading groundcover; about 6”
tion, and more) hurt the plant much. Short-lived perennial tall in flower. ‘mcClintock’ is a variety in
(up to 4 years or so). Can reseed a lot so cultivation.
dead-head if reseeding is not wanted.
Jennifer Thompson is the Small
Acreage Outreach coordinator.
‘Moonshine’ Yarrow
Achillea
Height: 24”
Width: 18-24”
Some yarrows spread around a lot. This
yarrow is more self-contained and forms a
clump. Has nice lemony yellow flowers and
silvery green foliage.
10 B A R N Y A R D S & B A C K Y A R D S