Sketch, Plant, Grow: 3 Nights to a New Yard

A practical three-part workshop series focused on planning a functional, water-wise space.

This three-part workshop series will guide you through planning and redesigning a space in your yard with functionality and water savings in mind. Each session builds on the last, giving you time to think through ideas, apply what you’ve learned, and come back ready for the next step.

Over the course of three Friday evenings (April 10, 17 & 24), you’ll learn how to evaluate an existing space, develop a practical design, and make informed choices about layout and plants that support how you use your yard while reducing water use. This series is designed to help you move from ideas on paper to a realistic plan you can implement at home.

Whether you’re rethinking an existing area or starting fresh, this series provides step-by-step guidance to help you create a yard that is practical, efficient, and built to thrive in Utah's climate.

Session Details

April 10: The Blueprint (Design & Layout)

• Lecture Topic: Introduction to Localscape Principles: prioritizing functional turf, planting beds, and hardscapes.
• Activity: Students should bring photos and measurements of one specific area. USU provides graph paper and architectural rulers to be used at the workshop.
• Result: A rough "bubble diagram" of their new space.

April 17: The Palette (Plants & Ecology)

• Lecture Topic: Choosing "Right Plant, Right Place." Focus on well-adapted species.
• Activity: Browsing Utah-specific plant catalogs from the Conservation Garden Park and Tree Browser.
• Result: A preliminary plant list based on sun exposure and soil type

April 24: The Flow (Irrigation & Implementation)

• Lecture Topic: The "How"-Translating the design into reality. Converting overhead spray to drip irrigation and mulch strategies.
• The Activity: Finalizing the drawing and "stress-testing" the irrigation plan.
• Result: A finished "Action Plan" that participants can take to the nursery or a contractor.

Questions about the class? Contact Kassie Lovan at 435-919-1323

USU Garden Members receive 30% off

Use the promo code from the monthly Dig It! Newsletter to access discounted tickets or reach out to alex.zesiger@usu.edu.

Not a member yet? Join today at https://extension.usu.edu/botanicalcenter/membership