2026 PGSU Garden Story: Trase

We can’t believe how lucky we are to have found Trase! The layers of his story reveal unmatched dedication to home and community service, continually raising the bar at every turn. Visitors to his garden will be educated, filled with inspiration, and encouraged to do good things.

His story is a tale in four parts: a small yard on a budget in an HOA; vegetable gardening in containers; lawn conversions to save water and maintenance costs in the HOA; and urban interface management of open space for fire prevention.

A gardening enthusiast and nature lover from his youth, with degrees in Botany and teaching, Trase has spent many summers studying Native Utah plant taxonomy for state and federal agencies. He has lived and gardened with his husband in three HOAs in Northern and Southern Utah, served on their boards, and generously shared his time and organizational skills. All 44 homes in his HOA here, and the public lands that surround them, reflect the fruits of his knowledge and leadership.

Part 1

With a tiny landscaping budget included in the purchase price, the HOA home builder unwisely installed grass on 45-degree front yards, which led to considerable runoff with every watering. The budget allowed only for main drip lines and gravel everywhere else. From monthly fees, the HOA paid for planting common shrubs and trees and for regular weekly front and side yard maintenance.

Rather than using the HOA maintenance crew, Trase and his husband did the work themselves, adding desert-loving plants and trees, allowing plants to reseed, and nurturing volunteers. Neighbors were impressed and interested, so Trase added plant ID tags. The small backyard became a comfortable outdoor living area with a meandering walkway, fruit trees, desert plants brought from the open space beyond their back fence, a patio with wonderful views, and spaces for container vegetable gardening.

Part 2

For the vegetable garden, Trase drilled drainage holes in heavy-duty plastic wheelbarrows, added landscape fabric lining and planting medium, then attached arches of cow fencing covered with 40% shade cloth. The result is a whimsical row of mini covered-wagon gardens. Along the path, eight 15-gallon plastic pots with drip irrigation are shaded on the sunny side and overflow yearly with Zone 8 vegetables.

Part 3

As president of the HOA board, Trase campaigned for yard conversions throughout the entire neighborhood. He carefully planned and designed the project, then applied for WELP and other grants. He united the neighborhood by addressing concerns, providing full disclosure, managing the small budget to reap maximum benefit, and treating all homeowners fairly.

With permits in hand, he engaged a trusted landscaper to convert 44 lawns into beautiful, water-conscious landscapes. He kept everyone informed through regular emails and fliers and started a bi-monthly newsletter that he continues to publish. The redo was completed in four stages throughout 2023 and 2024. Funding was covered half by the WELP program and other state grants, and half by the HOA.

In a major win, money previously spent on water-guzzling grass and invasive trees, and on the weekly maintenance of 44 lawns, was redirected to pay for the conversion. In two years’ time, the debt was paid without raising monthly HOA fees.

Part 4

Trase’s neighborhood abuts a large open space dedicated to St. George City that leads to the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area. Authorized to protect both their homes and the RCNCA from fire, the united neighborhood — with expertise drawn from Trase’s forestry days — has conducted controlled burns of massive piles of tumbleweeds to prevent reseeding.

Since 2015, they have manually pulled weeds as needed, chemically treated others, and cut down invasive grasses with commercial weed trimmers. They remove dead wood from trees and shrubs, piling it in remote areas for erosion control and wildlife habitat, and scatter native seeds in fall and spring to aid restoration. Now, many community members enjoy daily walks through the welcoming open space, witnessing a thrilling array of wildlife, both predator and prey.

Watch for a companion article filled with Trase’s bio and his project notes, plans, financials, summations, plant lists, and more — resources that can serve as a guide for your own projects, great or small.

Come enjoy Trase's garden at the Parade of Gardens; April 24th-26th, 2026.