Owner
Lisa
City
Broomfield
Skill Set
Intermediate
Project Size
500 - 750 sq ft
Project Location
Front yard
Sun Exposure
Full sun
Year Completed
2024
Time Commitment
More than 40 hours of labor
Project Cost
less than $500
Other Project Elements
Native or drought-tolerant plants, Drip irrigation system, Bird/Bee houses, Shrubs
Resource Central Programs
Advice from the Owner
We love to watch the bees and butterflies- even had a toad visit! I have added plants slowly- throughout the summer to keep the cost down. We converted our sprinkler system to drip lines- the conversion was simple. We have adjusted the drip times and drip heads to use minimal water.
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Helen
City
Broomfield
Skill Set
Beginner
Project Size
500 - 750 sq ft
Project Location
Front yard
Sun Exposure
Full sun
Year Completed
2024
Time Commitment
More than 40 hours of labor
Project Cost
less than $500
Other Project Elements
Native or drought-tolerant plants, Drip irrigation system, Berm/swale, Pathways
Resource Central Programs
Advice from the Owner
I am so happy to be done with our front yard lawn and to replace it with these (mostly) native plants. The garden in a box program was a wonderful and cost-effective option to fill in our sizeable front yard. We did a lot of work re-grading to create berms, moving rock to create the dry creek bed, planting, and installing the drip irrigation system. We sheet-mulched the lawn last fall, and underestimated the bindweed infestation that was already present. Now we are battling the bindweed - and the rabbits munching on the plants! Happily the watering (rainbird drip irrigation system on timers) works wonderfully and requires very little maintenance now that it's established. Love this program!
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Jason
City
Broomfield
Skill Set
Intermediate
Project Size
Less than 250 sq ft
Project Location
Backyard
Sun Exposure
Full sun
Year Completed
2022
Time Commitment
11 - 20 hours of labor
Project Cost
less than $500
Other Project Elements
Native or drought-tolerant plants, Drip irrigation system
Resource Central Programs
Advice from the Owner
I continue to plant low water plants designed to attract pollinators, so the Garden in a Box program is great. I look forward to seeing an increase in beneficial insects and hummingbirds.
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dave shelley
City
BROOMFIELD, CO
Skill Set
Intermediate
Project Size
500 - 750 sq ft
Project Location
Front yard
Sun Exposure
Full sun
Year Completed
2022
Time Commitment
31 - 40 hours of labor
Project Cost
less than $500
Other Project Elements
Native or drought-tolerant plants, Drip irrigation system, Pathways, Berm/swale, Shrubs, Boulders
Resource Central Programs
Advice from the Owner
The plants have grown so quickly! We have had bumble bees, honeybees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. Also, a lot of looky-loos and neighborhood folks pass by on their walks. In the photos, the landscaping above and behind the stone wall was installed in 2010. Our new garden was installed the week of June 13; the sod removal was in May. All the plants except one sunflower have survived. The neighbors on both sides have said they really like the new look. I should have had the contractor use more organic material - less rock - and make the bark mulch a little thicker. I will be working to rearrange some of the larger cobbles along the dry stream bed to look more natural. The contractor we used - EDI -was good to work with although the lead designer and foreman has left the company.
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Matt
City
Broomfield
Skill Set
Beginner
Project Size
1,000+ sq ft
Project Location
Front yard
Sun Exposure
Full sun
Year Completed
2022
Time Commitment
More than 40 hours of labor
Project Cost
less than $500
Other Project Elements
Native or drought-tolerant plants, Drip irrigation system, Berm/swale, Pathways
Resource Central Programs
Advice from the Owner
I removed 1,800 s.f. worth of bluegrass and added almost 1,000 s.f. of low-water, xeric plants. I took full advantage of Resource Central's lawn removal program and did the work myself by renting a sod cutter. I also installed all new irrigation (again, myself), including smart sprinklers (Irrigreen Sprinklers) for the little grass I have left and a drip system for the garden beds. I was able to obtain RC's plant guides before I began the work, which allowed to meticulously plan my layout. In total, I planted more than 140 plants in three different garden areas. I received plants form RC, High Country Gardens, and local nurseries. I would recommend taking a close look at amending soil. I created a berm in in one of my gardens with a 50/50 top soil/squeegee mix, and that garden area has by far outperformed all others, which are thick with clay. The pictures that I have provided are all from the same season! I planted everything in the second week of May 2022, and the most recent picture was from July 25th, 2022. Based on my current billing data, I have already saved more than 14,000 gallons of water through the months of May, June, and July! My garden is alive native pollinators, and I could am incredibly excited to see what the next few growing seasons bring!
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Judy and Dave Shelley
City
Broomfield
Skill Set
Intermediate
Project Size
500 - 750 sq ft
Project Location
Front yard
Sun Exposure
Full sun
Year Completed
2022
Time Commitment
More than 40 hours of labor
Project Cost
less than $500
Other Project Elements
Native or drought-tolerant plants, Drip irrigation system, Pathways, Boulders
Resource Central Programs
Advice from the Owner
Our project was completed just last week, so we are still getting used to it. So are the neighbors, but we're getting a lot of positive comments and a lot of people driving by slowly. If you hire a designer, be sure they have experience in xeriscape design and have worked in Colorado for some time; xeriscape design is not the normal landscape design process. Moss rock boulders look great, but they are a lot more expensive than plain granite. I would have never tried to do the work myself; that was hard work, especially the dry stream bed and placing the boulders. We're looking forward to lower water bills and I already like a lot less mowing.
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Linda Hunsinger
City
Broomfield
Skill Set
Intermediate
Project Size
250 - 500 sq ft
Project Location
Front yard
Sun Exposure
Full sun
Year Completed
2021
Time Commitment
More than 40 hours of labor
Project Cost
less than $500
Other Project Elements
Native or drought-tolerant plants, Drip irrigation system, Pathways
Resource Central Programs
Advice from the Owner
It's amazing to watch this project 'grow into itself' over a short period of time -- quite beautiful! I'm so happy to save water compared to the waste most neighbors see flow down the drain when watering/maintaining a small patch of lawn. Am so very pleased with the services & products from Resource Central -- it was all worth the work & effort.
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Mary & Chris
City
Broomfield
Skill Set
Beginner
Project Size
750 - 1,000 sq ft
Project Location
Front yard
Sun Exposure
Full sun
Year Completed
Not done
Time Commitment
less than 10 hours of labor
Project Cost
less than $500
Other Project Elements
Native or drought-tolerant plants, Pathways, Veggie gardens, Shrubs, Berm/swale, Drip irrigation system, Raised/tiered beds
Resource Central Programs
Advice from the Owner
This continuing work in progress is bringing so much life and joy into our space! The increase in bees, butterflies, birds, and bunnies who caper around our yard is delightful to watch. Though the layers of mulching make the continuous battle against bindweed a bit easier to stay on top of, they don’t prevent everything from growing up and we’ve discovered some lovely volunteer succulents and two trees joining the party! Our Garden In A Box formed the foundation in 2018 and we’ve divided several plants to grow, as well as filled in with a couple of other xeric plants each year. Turf removal of the remaining grass in 2020 was a huge step! Our modified cold-frame veggie garden takes center stage March-September and provides a surprising amount of food. We can’t wait to fill in the south side of the yard with our second Garden In A Box this fall!
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Matt
City
Broomfield
Skill Set
Intermediate
Project Size
250 - 500 sq ft
Project Location
Front yard
Sun Exposure
Full sun
Year Completed
2017, 2019
Time Commitment
10 hours of labor or less
Project Cost
Less than $500
Other Project Elements
Raised/tiered beds, Drip irrigation system, Retaining walls
Resource Central Programs
Advice from the Owner
Plan your project out in detail before you begin. If you can utilize even a small raised bed and begin with quality planters mix, your plants will thrive and your maintenance will be limited.
Watch the interview with Matt
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