Did you know that as much as 50 percent of household water is used for the yard and garden? Even after our last snowstorms and rain showers, the Front Range is in the beginning of a drought.  

That’s where xeriscape, a water wise system to keep the landscaped yard healthy and happy, comes to the rescue. Landscape architect and owner of Land Plans, Inc., Sandra Jambor defines xeriscape as “low water instead of no water. However, newly planted trees and shrubs should be watered more until well established.”
Years ago, xeriscaping made people think of weeds, plants with few flowers, and tumbleweeds. These days, flowers are plentiful, with colors as varied as the rainbow, and there are flowering shrubs as well as trees and grasses.

The key to successful gardening is the soil.  Here, the soil could almost be used to make a rough ceramic clay pot, but don’t bother.  If you amend the soil with manure, peat, and/or compost, it breaks up our hard clay soil and makes it a better planting medium. Keep in mind that our hard clay is enriched with phosphorus and potassium, so nitrogen is the nutrient the soil needs.  If you are putting in a new landscape, creating a good soil mix is the most important thing to do.  It pays off for years to come.

Water Wise
Sprinkler systems have become the norm in local landscaping, and it is a wise investment. Not only does it make watering easier, it waters more thoroughly and evenly. Sprinkler systems can also be put into an established landscape, even if the home is on a well.  “A drip system keeps the water for the soil, not evaporating in the air,” said Danielle LaReav Vetter from Silver Lace Landscape.

But remember, a sprinkler system isn’t complete without a landscape to water.  Jambor said that one important thing to remember is to “be sure to water trees and shrubs in the winter every three weeks or so to keep them from stress and the roots from drying out.  It keeps them alive and beautiful for summer.”

Xerigrass
What type of grass is best in this climate? Vetter and Jambor agreed that there are many. Most people think buffalo grass, which is exceptionally drought tolerant, is best. It needs very little water compared to the Kentucky blue grass lawns seen all over town. Vetter said, “How much area do you want in grass? Kentucky blue grass can be mixed with fescues to help start the lawn. If the soil is good, this works the best, especially for the back yard” where families and friends do most of the playing and entertaining.

Jambor suggested “using a rye grass with a mix of fescues for a lawn as good as Kentucky blue grass, or for an alternative lawn.”  However you look at it, grass is an important part of the integrated landscape.  Areas surrounding the home for instance, might be a better place to locate alternative grasses that need less water than Kentucky blue grass.

On a positive note for Kentucky blue grass, is it has the ability to “come back” after a long hot spell.  It goes dormant in the hot days of July and August, unlike other grasses that just die off.  A summer feeding isn’t necessary because of this dormancy. When watered deeply, It springs back, good as new. 

A good deep watering twice a week is far better than a shallow watering several times a week, another water wise suggestion from our experts.

Mulch
While amending the soil is important, a good mulch plays a different, but equally important role: it keeps the moisture in the soil longer. It also helps to keep weeds down, which is a great ease to your back and knees. The ideal mulch should not compact readily, lets water and air flow through easily, and won’t blow away in our high winds.

An organic mulch enhances the soil as it decomposes. If the area is used mostly for annual flowers, use a temporary mulch that breaks down quickly, or one that can be turned under in the fall.

Jambor suggests “using an organic mulch rather than rock, as rock holds in the heat, and puts stress on plants, even death from the high temperature in the soil.”

For flower beds to keep the weeds down, any time is the right time to mulch. For fall transplants, to keep the soil above freezing temperature, apply the mulch when transplanting.  

If you are mulching to reduce frost heave and delay spring growth, apply after ground is frozen. This is a great tip for the next spring’s early bulbs so they miss the late frosts.

Xeriscaping is being recognized as the premier way to landscape in our area, from wise water use to mulching to plant selection. Most new homes are using some form of  xericaping.

There is plenty of information available on xeriscaping. For a list of alternative grasses, look for the Colorado Nursery Association pamphlets at local nurseries.  For lists of all xeriscape plants, and many more topics under the sun (and moon), contact the Cooperative Extension of Boulder County Office at 9595 Nelson Road, Box B, in Longmont. Call them at 303-776-4865, or visit them on the web at http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/boulder/.