Frugal Landscaping in Colorado
Jody Reale
June 01, 2009
It doesn´t matter if your Colorado home is surrounded by an acre of grass or a tile-sized square for your Chihuahua, if you have a lawn or landscaping, you spend at least half the year thinking about it. Taking care of your landscaping not only adds to your home´s curb appeal, it saves money. With summer months approaching, consider these tips.
Lawns and grasses: Thatch and/or aerate when your lawn, but only when it can best recover—for example, usually not during times of drought, water restrictions, and heat waves. For most lawns this is either in the late spring or early fall. When you should aerate typically depends on the type of soil and grass you have. If you have a clay soil, you should generally aerate twice a year. If you have sandy soil, you should typically aerate once a year.
If planting or laying sod, consider Buffalo grass or other water-wise varieties native to Colorado. Make sure your irrigation systems are working properly and continue to do so and water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back when you lift your foot, it doesn't need water. In times of drought, use a hose to water your grass and gardens. And best of all, convert your lawn to native plants. Monitor plants closely, however. Plants that receive less than their required amount of water are more susceptible to infection by diseases and pest infestation than are unstressed plants.
Plants and Landscaping: Practice the seven principles of Xeriscape and divide your landscaping into high, medium, and low water zones. Note that Xeriscaping takes regular irrigation until it becomes established, which can take two or three seasons.
Mountain homes: Although you´re probably not watering your wildflowers or grasses all the time, do make sure you´re regularly removing any slash around your property, in the event that wildfires become an issue in your area.
Lawns and grasses: Thatch and/or aerate when your lawn, but only when it can best recover—for example, usually not during times of drought, water restrictions, and heat waves. For most lawns this is either in the late spring or early fall. When you should aerate typically depends on the type of soil and grass you have. If you have a clay soil, you should generally aerate twice a year. If you have sandy soil, you should typically aerate once a year.
If planting or laying sod, consider Buffalo grass or other water-wise varieties native to Colorado. Make sure your irrigation systems are working properly and continue to do so and water your lawn only when it needs it. Step on your grass. If it springs back when you lift your foot, it doesn't need water. In times of drought, use a hose to water your grass and gardens. And best of all, convert your lawn to native plants. Monitor plants closely, however. Plants that receive less than their required amount of water are more susceptible to infection by diseases and pest infestation than are unstressed plants.
Plants and Landscaping: Practice the seven principles of Xeriscape and divide your landscaping into high, medium, and low water zones. Note that Xeriscaping takes regular irrigation until it becomes established, which can take two or three seasons.
Mountain homes: Although you´re probably not watering your wildflowers or grasses all the time, do make sure you´re regularly removing any slash around your property, in the event that wildfires become an issue in your area.
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