When to Mulch Strawberries and Perennials for Winter in Utah
In Utah, winter mulch for strawberries and perennials goes down late, after the soil has started to freeze, not when the first frost hits the tomatoes.
Gardening in Utah
Everything we have worked out for Utah: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Salt Lake City, the last spring freeze runs April 12 to April 29 and the first fall freeze runs October 18 to October 29, USDA zones 4a-9a, 3,551 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 26.1 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Utah: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When to Winterize Sprinklers and Outdoor Faucets in Utah
Drain your sprinkler system and shut down outdoor faucets in the weeks before your first hard freeze.
What Eats Onion in Utah, and When
Two insects do most of the damage to onions in Utah: onion thrips, which chew the leaves, and onion maggots, which tunnel into the base.
When to Start Pepper Seed in Utah
In most of Utah, pepper seed goes into trays somewhere between early February and early March indoors, timed backward from the average last spring frost…
What Eats Potato in Utah, and When
Utah State University Extension documents about a dozen garden pests for the state, and only some of them go after potatoes.
Finishing a Basement in Utah: Permits, Ceiling Height, Egress and Waterproofing
Utah’s state code sets basement ceiling height, egress window dimensions and permit rules, with an amendment that protects older escape windows from forced upgrades.
What Eats Parsnip in Utah, and When
Utah State University Extension documents six insect and mollusk pests that show up on parsnip foliage and seedlings here: aphids, flea beetles…
What Do Homes in Utah Cool With?
Air conditioning in Utah runs on central systems more than almost anywhere else in the country: 92% of homes cool with some kind of AC equipment, and 79%…
When to Overseed a Lawn in Utah
For most of Utah, the safe overseeding window falls between late August and mid-September, with the exact cutoff depending on how close your yard sits to…
First and Last Frost Dates in Utah
In the Salt Lake City area, the last spring frost typically falls between April 12 and April 29, and the first fall frost lands between October 18 and…