These are the challenges to landscaping the high profile Kansas Speedway property:
- 1,200+ acres that accommodate 65,000 vehicles.
- 320,000+ fans and visitors each year.
- Extreme temperatures ranging from 20 below to 120 above.
- Race day schedules of July 1-2 and September 30-October 1.
- 200+ year round events on the property.
- Plants must be showy with little maintenance.
There is no racing away from this challenge when you are the "Official Nursery of the Kansas Speedway." Dan Simmons, sales manager at Kokopelli Nursery, combined forces with Bryan Wolters of Garden Gates (Parkville, Missouri) and designed an entrance landscape with plants that survive these tough conditions, are low maintenance and look great. Lining the roads are Red Sunset, Autumn Blaze and October Glory Maples that all have dependable red fall foliage. Behind the large Kansas Speedway sign are Summit Ash, multi-stem Autumn Blaze Maples and multi-stem Serviceberries. Outlining the back of the sign are Hicks Yews. Sweeps of Little Henry Sweetspire are on the outside edges of the landscape. Dwarf Maiden Grass and Feather Reed Grass are the next layer in. Knockout shrub roses fill the middle section with Dwarf Artic Blue Willows behind them and Rudbeckia in the front.
- Spring: The Serviceberries and Sweetspires have flowers.
- Summer: Knockout Roses and Rudbeckia have flowers. The Feather Reed Grass has tan color seedheads. The Dwarf Maiden Grass is filling in. The middle section has high color contrast with the yellow rudbeckia, bright pink-red roses, and soft blue foliage of the artic willow. The ornamental grasses have contrasting lines with the arching blades of the Dwarf Maiden Grass against the stiff upright blades of the Feather Reed Grass.
- Fall: Knockout Roses and Rudbeckia continue to flower. Dwarf Maiden Grass has white seedheads. The Autumn Blaze Maple, Serviceberry and Sweetspire all have colorful fall foliage. The Summit Ash has yellow fall color.
- Winter: The Hicks Yews cover up the back side of the sign and the electrical boxes. The seedheads of the Dwarf Maiden Grass stay on through the winter. The trunks of the multi-stem trees give architectural interest.
Little maintenance is required:
- Spring Pruning: The yews require a light topping. The roses are cut back to keep the height below the lettering of the sign. The grasses are cut back.
- Spring Mulching: The entire sweep of the display sign bed and individual trees receive fresh mulch.
Next time you drive past a commercial property, check out the landscape. There may be some good ideas that you can use in your home landscape. Borrowing these ideas can save you time and money. Look for plant varieties that tolerate extreme conditions. And, look for combination plantings that will work in your garden.
As much as I love working at a nursery that supplies plants for the Kansas Speedway, I much prefer going to the races to see the action on the track. If it's race day in Kansas City, I'll see you at the Kansas Speedway.
© Susan Mertz, June 2006. All rights reserved.
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