Landscapes trend toward water efficiency

With the arrival of spring, many homeowners have begun turning their attention from inside the home to outside.

Whether to revitalize a lackluster lawn, plant some veggies, or orchestrate a complete overhaul, local landscape-business owners predict that people likely will spend a significant amount of time and money on their yards and gardens this year. Specifically, they expect to see a continued focus on climate-friendly landscaping, multifunctional outdoor spaces and garden aesthetics.

The primary factor that local residents must contend with when planning any landscaping project is the area’s dry climate.

“I think the realization that we do live in a semi-arid desert has grown in the last 10 years,” said Bill Melvin, the owner, landscape designer and project manager of Ecoscape Environmental Design LLC in Boulder.

“Most of the recent trends that we have seen in landscaping design are related to water conservation,” agreed Steve Kurcab, co-owner of Lafayette-based Rock Creek Landscape Inc.

One way of reducing the amount of water needed for an outdoor space is xeriscaping, a type of water-wise landscaping and gardening that utilizes low-water-use plants. The term xeriscape was coined by Denver Water employees and is a combination of the Green word xeros —meaning dry — and the term landscape.

“Designing with native and xeric plants will always be a trend here as we find a way to balance our desire for comfort and beauty with the seemingly capricious realities of nature and living in a semi-arid environment,” said Elizabeth Slokar, owner and project manager of Busy Lizards, a Longmont-based company that provides horticulture maintenance, design and renovation services.

Xeriscaping

How effective is xeriscaping? Melvin said that drought-tolerant native plants can require as little as 20 percent of the water that a traditional Kentucky bluegrass lawn needs.

“Another great improvement has been the development of new grass varieties that use a fraction of the water required by traditional sod lawns,” Melvin added.

Rainwater catchment is another popular method for making the most of the area’s scant rainfall.

“There are legal ways to utilize roof water in your landscape,” Melvin said. “It’s something we do in most every project we work on.” Features such as passive irrigation, swales (contoured ditches designed to spread and soak up water runoff), and rain gardens allow homeowners to utilize rainwater instead of letting it drain into storm sewers.

Garden décor

Even trends in garden décor have changed to reflect the area’s preoccupation with water conservation.

“For example,” Slokar said, “clients still like water features, but their design has changed over the last decade. There are still pools and ponds, but self-contained fountains and features are on the rise because they offer the beauty and effect desired by clients while minimizing water use.”

The area’s dry climate not only mandates attention to water use, but also to the threat of fires. Especially in times of drought, the right landscaping — even just clearing brush or creating fire lines — could mean the difference between keeping your home safe and losing it to a fire.

“We do a good bit of work in the foothills, which is an area that is near and dear to my heart,” said Melvin, who lives in Four Mile Canyon. “Creating fire-wise landscaping can definitely make a home more defendable during a wildfire.”

Outdoor spaces

Another trend in local landscaping is creating multifunctional outdoor spaces. In a state that famously boasts more than 300 days of sunshine a year, it’s not surprising that Coloradans would want to enjoy their yards to the fullest.

“People definitely seem to want to utilize their outdoor living space more,” said Kurcab, who reported an increase in customers asking for outdoor living features such as patios, decks and outdoor fireplaces.

Homeowners are also expecting more from their outdoor space in terms of what it gives back to them — namely, food.

“In town especially, we’ve seen a movement toward a lot more gardens and a lot less grass,” Melvin said.

“I find that a local trend is to incorporate more permaculture and edible gardens into landscapes,” agreed Slokar. “For some this might mean a garden area devoted to food crops, while others may opt for just a few fruit trees.”

Of course, some people just want an outdoor area that’s aesthetically pleasing to the eye.

“I have found that most clients, residential or commercial, want beautiful surroundings that are water-efficient and low maintenance,” said Slokar, who has begun creating what she calls “garden vignettes” for clients who can’t afford or don’t want to tackle a complete outdoor overhaul.

“I’ve started with dreary views from kitchen windows or that neglected spot that you see driving up to your house every day and replaced them with a fresh palette of perennials,” Slokar said.

“It’s something small that seems to breathe life into the surrounding gardens as well.”

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