Orange Day Lilies

Xeriscape_tm

Beautiful by Design

Three Plans for
Heavy-Duty Xeriscape

• Look Ma, No Turf
• The Legacy
• Sunny Gets Blue (Grama)

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Colorado’s Front Range is a semi-arid region, normally getting 13-15 inches of precipitation a year. During a drought, however, annual precipitation rates can fall as low as 8-10 inches. This can put a strain on many plants, especially when watering restrictions limit the amount of supplemental irrigation that can be applied. When the going get tough, some plants do just fine. Here are three plans featuring plants that can take Colorado’s periodic droughts in stride. Plants in red are resistant to fire–an

Red Leaf Rose

important consideration when planning a Xeriscape in the mountains.

In addition to selecting drought-resistant plants, here are some other things you can do to help your landscape survive a drought:

• Amend the soil. This is especially important if you have sandy soil. Sand can’t hold water, so the sandier your soil, the quicker any rain or irrigation water will percolate down past plant roots to the water table.
• Mulch. Mulching trees, shrubs and flower beds will help the soil retain water and prevent the soil surface from crusting. Mulching also keeps the soil temperature (and the plant roots) cooler, reducing the amount of moisture the plants use. Mulch should be at least 3 inches deep.
• Irrigate efficiently. Drip irrigation is the least wasteful way to water shrubs, trees and perennials. If you have a sprinkler system you can retrofit it for drip irrigation. If not, you can use soaker hoses and move them from bed to bed. Either way, applying water "low and slow" is the way to go.

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Look Ma, No Turf

Designed by Sara Delaloye
The Good Earth

A. Jupiter’s Beard – 6

B. Hancock Coralberry –

Blue Avena Grass

4

C. Red Leaf Rose – 3

D. Shrub Cotoneaster – 5

E. Cushion Spurge – 4

F. Leadplant – 1

G. Indian Grass – 3

H. Blue Avena Grass – 5

I. Sunset Hyssop – 2

J. 'Heavy Metal' Switch Grass – 5

K. Spanish Gold Broom – 2

L. Plumbago – 7

M. Orange Day Lilies – 3

N. Golden Raintree – 2

Cut-leaf Staghorn Sumac

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The Legacy

Designed by Tim LaPan
Denver Water

A. Big Bluestem – 1

B. Cut-leaf Staghorn Sumac – 2

C. Sunset Hyssop –

Pine Leaf Penstemon

5

D. Russian Sage – 3

E. Slowmound Mugo Pine – 2

F. Paprika Yarrow – 3

G. Faassen’s Catmint – 1

H. Feather Reed Grass – 2

I. Pink Sunrose – 10

J. Oakleaf Sedum – 9

K. Lavender Mist Sun Daisy – 27

L. Lavender Aster – 11

M. Yellow Pine Leaf Penstemon – 4

N. Pine Leaf Penstemon – 3

O. Blue Lavender – 17

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Sunny Gets Blue (Grama)

Cris Call
Denver Water

Sunset Hyssop
Leadplant

A. Russian Sage – 6

B. Scarlet Bugler Penstemon – 6

C. Sunset Hyssop – 10

D. Sundrops – 9

E. Seafoam Sage – 6

F. Jupiter’s Beard – 10

G. Sunny Border Blue Veronica – 6

H. Snow-In-Summer – 14

I. Curl-leaf Mountain Mahogany – 1

J. Fernbush – 1

K. Blue Grama Grass – seed at 2-3 lbs.
per 1,000 square feet

Underplant the Mountain Mahogany with Kinnikinnick or Self-Heal (Prunella). If preferred, buffalograss may be substituted for blue grama.

Jupiter's Beard

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