Landscaping and water usage/conservation (Denver, Colorado Springs: HOA, house, utilities)

[katzenfreund]

We had a thread about rising water rates in CS which progressed to the topic of landscaping and water usage. It has been requested that this discussion be continued and since it is a topic that concerns all of Colorado, I am starting a thread here...

[Shuffler]

I've got a very small front yard/tree lawn, and had a 2-zone, 5-head sprinkler system installed last year.

The grass never looks better than in April/May, and then gets absolutely torched the rest of the year, and I refuse to pour more thousands of gallons of water onto it just to keep it lush and green through the hot, dry months.

I'd like to think about tearing the bluegrass out and re-seeding it or sod it with a grass variant that takes less water and maintenance.

What's the best option for our climate? Buffalo grass?

[lalahartma]

The Colorado Springs Utilities has great info. Check it out:
Xeriscape

Xeriscape Demonstration Garden

[vegaspilgrim]

This is the best option for the Front Range climate:



Go completely grass free. To me the landscaping job around this house is drop dead gorgeous. Pinion pines (ponderosas or blue spruce would be a lot more common though), junipers, yucca, some nice crushed rocks (mulch could work too, or "buffalo grass"). And yes... that house really is in south suburban Denver--- not New Mexico.

[Josseppie]

That is very nice, however, I prefer this... As soon as summer comes I will take more pictures of my yard.....

[EscapeCalifornia]

What's the water differential between buffalo grass and Kentucky bluegrass? How does buffalo grass look at various parts of the year?

[lalahartma]

Both the cool green summertime color and the rich golden flax winter tones of buffalograss are exceptionally attractive.

http://www.nativeturf.com/


Buffalograss -Buchloe dactyloides

[lalahartma]

Cool!

http://csuturf.colostate.edu/pdffile...ss%20lawns.pdf


Irrigation. Once established, buffalograss can survive without irrigation. However, it will become dormant if sufficient rainfall does not occur during the summer. Buffalograss lawns require a minimum of 1-2 inches of rainfall or irrigation every 2-4 weeks during the summer to maintain an acceptable green color. Deeper, less frequent irrigation (for example, 1 inch at a single application, every 2-4 weeks) produces good quality buffalograss and discourages weed invasion. Irrigation of established lawns in early spring before green-up and in the fall after buffalograss has become dormant is not recommended, as it will encourage weed invasion. However, some supplemental winter watering of newly seeded, sodded or plugged buffalograss lawns during their first winter can help prevent winter injury and turf loss.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by lalahartma

Cool!

http://csuturf.colostate.edu/pdffile...ss%20lawns.pdf


Irrigation. Once established, buffalograss can survive without irrigation. However, it will become dormant if sufficient rainfall does not occur during the summer. Buffalograss lawns require a minimum of 1-2 inches of rainfall or irrigation every 2-4 weeks during the summer to maintain an acceptable green color. Deeper, less frequent irrigation (for example, 1 inch at a single application, every 2-4 weeks) produces good quality buffalograss and discourages weed invasion. Irrigation of established lawns in early spring before green-up and in the fall after buffalograss has become dormant is not recommended, as it will encourage weed invasion. However, some supplemental winter watering of newly seeded, sodded or plugged buffalograss lawns during their first winter can help prevent winter injury and turf loss.

Interesting. So it sounds like you can just let nature take care of it but you can do a little watering in the summer to keep it green.

[suzco]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Interesting. So it sounds like you can just let nature take care of it but you can do a little watering in the summer to keep it green.

Yes. And you can mow it or not; it only gets several inches tall left unmowed, if you (and if you're in an HOA, if the HOA doesn't squawk) want the prairie look.

One thing to be aware of though, it does not do all that well with foot traffic or heavy use, so kids playing ball on it regularly, etc. will leave it looking threadbare, and you may have visible paths in it in areas that you walk a lot.

If you have a buffalograss lawn, you can have a spectacular spring display by underplanting with perennial bulbs like daffodils, tulips, crocuses. The bulbs flower before the grass greens up.