Tag Archives: water efficient landscape

Smart Watering Tips to Prepare for the Growing Season

While the Colorado snow season hasn’t said its final farewells just yet, the spring growing season will be greeting us before we know it. But, as we all know, the start of the Colorado growing season also means the start of water restrictions. To help you start the season off right, we’re sharing some wonderful early-season-watering tips inspired by Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC).

Leave it off until mid-May. That’s right; you don’t have to start watering landscapes until the soil is completely dried out from the snow, which most likely won’t be until well into May. A quick and easy soil test can be performed at any time by simply sticking a screwdriver into the soil. If the screwdriver slides in easily, you’re off the hook! You don’t have to start watering until the screwdriver requires a bit more force.

Don’t be afraid to skip a day. In fact, DO skip a day – your plants are in training! The start of the growing season is the ideal time to train roots. As Irrigation & Green Industry magazine reminds us, “You can’t build a sturdy house without a good foundation, and you can’t have a healthy plant without good roots.” Skipping a day in between watering cycles is encouraged because it forces roots to go deeper to find water, which will make them stronger and more drought-tolerant in the long run.

Get friendly with your water systems. Get to know your sprinkler system and/or water delivery system. As the ALCC says, “If you can only water twice a week, you need to make it count by knowing your water delivery system well.” Do you know whether your sprinkler system has spray heads, rotor heads, or drip emitters? The type of sprinkler heads your system has will be a determining factor for how you set your timer. When setting timers, instead of having sprinklers water each area of your landscape once, try to set up your system to water each area more than once but for shorter periods of time. Alternating watering cycles like this allows water to soak and sink deeper into the soil before more water is added.

Photo via Glen Edelson / Flickr Creative Commons

Need a little (or a lot of) help with landscaping and/or water management this spring? Lifescape landscapers in Denver couldn’t be more ready to play in the dirt for you! Let us help you get the most out of the growing season this spring and achieve a beautiful Colorado landscape you can enjoy year-round! Call us today at (303) 831-8310.

The Importance of Xeriscape

Last week, Denver Water announced a Drought Watch Response. The watch is really a stage 1, which is a voluntary call to their customers to try and reduce their water use 10%. It is very important because continued dry weather could lead to a Stage 2 response which in return means more constraints.

This warm, dry spring is causing many people to think about their landscape care and understand the importance of xeriscape. Xeriscape is the term used for a type of landscape or garden that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation.

In times were drought threatens the life of front lawns, vegetable gardens and trees, we have to be pro-active from the beginning - when we design our landscapes. Are you ready to incorporate more water efficient landscaping at your Denver area home? Contact Lifescape Associates at 303-831-8310.

3 Benefits of a Water Efficient Landscape

If your landscape is outdated, consider having it converted into a Xeriscape. For those who are not familiar with the term Xeriscape, it is simply a type of landscape or garden that reduces or eliminates the need for supplemental water from irrigation. This type of landscape is not just made up of rocks and a few cactus plants. Your Xeriscape can be lush, green and colorful with beautiful flowering plants and textures throughout the year. Here are 3 benefits to a more water efficient landscape.

1. Save Money

Water rates are continual on the rise. By using less water in your landscape, you can save a significant amount of money on your water bill.

2. Less Maintenance

No need to worry about all that pruning, fertilizing and mowing every week. An Xeriscape does not require the same amount of maintenance as traditional landscaping.

3. Better suited for your landscape’s unique conditions

You know that shady part of your landscape where you can not get anything to grow? There are plenty of beautiful planting options that can flourish in the dry shade in a landscape that uses less water.

Are you ready to incorporate more water efficient landscaping at your Denver area home? Contact Lifescape Associates at 303-831-8310.

Photo Credit: fws.gov