Choose a site
Removing grass from your landscape does not have to be an all-or-nothing approach. To begin developing your new landscape plan, identify the areas of your lawn where your turf grass may be non-functional. Ask yourself, is there any grass that I only walk on when I mow my lawn? This may be a great place to remove that grass and replace it with a low-water landscape!
As you start to imagine your new landscape, you should also think about new uses and intentions you may want to create for your space. Consider adding non-vegetative functional areas such as a patio, storage shed, grilling area or play area. Envision new areas of your landscape with a beautiful native plant bed or pollinator garden.
- Front yards steal the show for xeriscape projects, boosting your home’s curb appeal and allowing for easy section-by-section upgrades.
- Side yards are a hidden gem – transforming a visually unappealing stretch of turf into a vibrant ecosystem with pollinator plants.
- Don’t overlook the backyard! Identify those untouched spots or turn your well-loved backyard into a xeriscape oasis. It’s the perfect conversation starter at your next BBQ. Let the transformation begin!
Assess your space
To help dial in the changes you want to make to your landscape, start to consider the following questions about your yard:
Sun Exposure
- How many hours of sun do different areas of your yard receive?
- Which direction does your house face?
Soil Type
- The state has varying soil types depending on where you live. Determining how well (or poorly) your soil drains is important when determining if soil amendments (aka improvements) are needed. We’ll touch on specifics related to amendments later on!
Slope & Drain
- Identify sloped areas of your yard
- Keep drainage in mind as you develop your plan and evaluate whether you want to add rock channels to control the flow and protect against erosion.
Views
- Consider if your house has good views that you want to preserve or bad views you want to screen.
Structures and Hard Surfaces
- Note the location of existing hard surfaces such as driveways or patios as well as the footprint of structures such as your house and garage.
- What structures or hardscapes do you want to add to the space?
Irrigation considerations
Think about how you will water. Do you have an existing in-ground irrigation system for watering your grass? The best piece of advice we can provide is convert one full sprinkler zone. Identify the layout of your system and the number of irrigation zones.
Unsure about how to identify this? Check out Resource Central’s Slow the Flow program here as a way to get started by completing a sprinkler audit if you have a sprinkler system to learn more about your irrigation zones and help decide on a spot since converting an entire zone is one of most important recommendations for choosing a site!
Don’t have an existing sprinkler system or don’t have the capacity to make this conversion yet? Hand watering is a great way to get started!
With either option, be sure to water efficiently. Converting traditional turf to water-wise landscaping itself will not reduce water consumption if you do not also change irrigation practices. Make a plan to water less by reducing the days you water and how much you water so you do not overwater your new landscape.
Collecting water using a rain barrel can further increase your water efficiency. Learn more about rain barrels.
Timing
Once you have a landscape plan, the next step is to determine when to begin your turf removal project. Your time and resources will determine two things: what method you use for removing your turf, and when you can plant new vegetation. There are multiple options for how to remove your turf grass and for when to begin planting new vegetation.
No matter when you choose to begin your turf removal project, there are turf removal options available and planting can be done any time in late spring to early fall.
Methods that require some planning ahead
Sheet mulching typically occurs in the fall of the previous year you will begin planting and can take between 6 to 8 months to kill turf.
Solarization can take place in late spring to early summer and can take between 6 weeks and a year to kill turf.
Quick turf removal
Physical removal can be performed at any time and is the quickest option. It also requires significant physical labor. More information on turf removal can be found in lawn removal options.
Your new landscape will take a couple of years to become established. The general mantra for native and well-adapted perennial plants is: Year 1 they sleep, Year 2 they creep, and Year 3 they leap. Your new landscape may take a few years to grow into its new home, but replacing grass with vibrant waterwise plants that support local pollinators will be more than worth the wait!
selecting plants
Native or well-adapted plants
Selecting native plants for your landscape is a win-win for your water bill and the Colorado ecosystem. Using native plants removes the uncertainty regarding the appropriateness of plant selections and will set your landscape up for success. Plants that are well-adapted to the Colorado climate can also be included in your landscape to achieve water savings even if they aren’t native.
A common misconception about native or well-adapted plants is that these plants are boring or lack color – this is simply a myth. Water-wise landscapes can be vibrant and visually interesting and a wide variety of native and well-adapted plants are available to choose from.
Garden in a box
Not sure where to start? Take the guesswork out of planning your low-water landscape with this program from Resource Central.
The Garden In A Box program makes it easy to transform your yard into a beautiful, drought-tolerant oasis helping you to use less water on your landscaping year after year. Each spring and summer we offer a selection of professionally designed, low-water garden kits tailor-made for Colorado yards.
These do-it-yourself kits include quart-sized perennial plants, plant-by-number maps, seasonal maintenance suggestions, and watering schedule recommendations. Ditch some water-loving grass and plant a new perspective with Garden In A Box.
plant selection options
For further plant lists and select options, be sure to visit your local nursery or visit PlantSelect.org for climate appropriate plants lists and options.
firewise landscaping
For more information, click any of the buttons below.
PLANTING IN THE LATE SUMMER
Planting isn’t limited to the spring. You can plant throughout the summer and into early September. In fact, late summer planting is a great way for beginner gardeners to establish a low-water garden. Here’s why:
- Warm soil temperatures mean rapid root growth. Coming off of the summer months your soil will be nice and warm to help develop strong root growth. Just be sure to allow 6 weeks before the first frost (which will cease all new root growth until spring).
- Milder air temperatures mean less transplant shock, evapotranspiration during watering, and a more pleasant climate for us gardeners too!
- Short, bright days allow plants to transition easily into their new landscapes.
Jump start on spring. With the root establishment phase followed by a winter dormancy (instead of the intensity of long, hot summer days), we’ve found fall gardens to respond quickly in spring and start above-ground growth sooner after transplant date than spring plantings. Colorado summers can wreak havoc on newly planted perennials and demand a bit more attentiveness.
IS FALL THE NEW SPRING FOR PLANTING?
Have you tried planting in the fall?
We all love spring gardening. After the months of chilly air, short days, snow-covered ground, and perhaps a dash of the winter blues we crave that time when we can don our garden gloves and get back outside as things begin to thaw and invigorate around us. It’s glorious to plant in the spring – the optimism and joie de vivre is simply palpable while tucking baby plants in the ground trusting in their future blooming potential!
But wait! Have you tried planting in the fall? We’re not about to rock the boat entirely and say fall is the new spring for planting perennial gardens but we can all agree it’s certainly the unsung hero of the gardening seasons! Whether it’s dividing and transplanting your mature plants and building out a new garden bed with new transplants, we say give fall a chance!
