Closed Loop Park

Closed Loop Park Choices

A Challenging Growing Site
Plant Selection
Ornamental Plants Grown at Closed Loop Park

A Challenging Growing Site

To achieve the earth-friendly goal of Closed Loop Park, the Master Gardeners have selected plant material that will grow and thrive in a pesticide and herbicide free environment. Native plants are also integrated into the design because of their natural adaptiveness to growing conditions in the area.

The Closed Loop Park site brings many challenges to successful gardening. Landscape design must take into account the shallow depth of the landfill liner, only 16 to 18 inches below the surface. Plants and trees with large root systems that can penetrate the liner can therefore not be grown in the garden. The liner also eliminates water drainage to the subsoil - the garden soils are saturated throughout the winter and much of the fall.

Because of the open-space nature of the pre-existing landfill, the garden is exposed to winds in the winter, and full sun in the summer. Water-wise plants and planting techniques have an edge on success.

Three years after the original planting of the Park, the gardeners have lost fewer than ten of the garden's original 530 plants. To date the WSU Master Gardeners at this site have not used any pesticides or fertilizers.

Plant Selection

Several criteria are considered when selecting a plant for this demonstration garden. These include:

draught tolerance;
insect resistance;
disease resistance;
landscape interest (height, spread, color);
ground covering ability.

A plant list is available at the garden kiosk.

Ornamental Plants Grown at Closed Loop Park

In recent years Closed Loop Park has partnered with a number of local organizations to showcase ornamental plants that can be easily grown in this growing region.

The Park displays a large native plant selection. Native plants can be a good choice for drought resistant gardens, and for gardeners that want to attract more wildlife to their back yards.

The Pacific Northwest Peony Society donated a collection of over 90 peony varieties that are now growing at Closed Loop. From May to early June visitors can enjoy the colorful blossoms.

Hardy fuchsia donated by the Centralia Fuchsia Fanciers liven the garden from July to the first fall frosts. Hardy fuchsias are a good perennial choice for Pacific Northwest gardens.

A major focus for Closed Loop since 2002 has been a partnership with Great Plant Picks, a non-profit educational organization funded by the Pendleton and Elisabeth Miller Charitable Foundation. Closed Loop has participated in trials of plant material for Great Plant Picks. The trials help Great Plant Picks to select those plants that are worthy of consideration for their mission. The following plants are currently on trial at Closed Loop:

Sambucus nigra
Berberis thunbergii
Sedum
Viburnum, fruiting and fragrant
Heuchera and Geum coming in 2006!

Trail results and additional information are available at www.greatplantpicks.org .

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