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Denver Water’s annual summer watering rules start May 1 and last until Oct. 1, but weather plays an important role in deciding when and how much to water.

Plants don’t need much water in the cooler months, like May. And late spring snows will bring Mother Nature’s water to your yard.

Don't water between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., and aim to water two days per week. (Add a third day only if needed.) Find Denver Water's annual summer watering rules here. 

Not to mention, the average last freeze date in Denver is May 5, but that’s just the average, according to the National Weather Service. In 2019, the last freeze was more than two weeks after the 'average' date, occurring on May 22, according to the National Weather Service.

Freezes can wreak havoc on automatic sprinklers that have already been turned on, as the water expands inside the pipes, leading to costly breaks and issues throughout the system. 

So, ease into summer slowly. Keep the sprinklers off for a bit longer and use a hose and nozzle if there’s a dry patch that needs a bit of extra attention.

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If you’re excited to get out and start playing in the yard, now is a great time to prepare for some landscape upgrades.

A few years ago, at our house we put down plastic on a section of our lawn for several weeks in the spring. That made it easier to remove some decorative, nonfunctional Kentucky bluegrass turf that we then transformed into a low-water flower garden with plants from Resource Central’s Garden In A Box. 

Want to ditch the turfgrass that doesn't work for you? Find out about Denver Water's discounts on turf removal services. 

I have also spent time on the Plant Select website looking for new, water-wise plants and flowers that could be added to our landscape. 

Plant Select is a nonprofit collaboration of Colorado State University Extension, Denver Botanic Gardens and professional horticulturists. Its mission is to seek out and distribute the very best plants for landscapes and gardens from the intermountain region to the high plains and beyond.

Ask about the Plant Select options at your local garden center, and look for the Plant Select logo when choosing water-wise plants to create your own ColoradoScape that fits naturally into our climate.

If you’re looking for inspiration, there are many examples of beautiful water-wise yards scattered throughout the Denver metro area. 

This includes “functional landscapes,” which fit the needs of the homeowner and family. Examples of functional landscapes include having multiple areas for different activities, such as grass for kids and pets to play on, vegetable gardens to grow food, sheds for storage, patios and decks for entertaining and flower gardens for visual beauty. 

Watch (below) how April Montgomery and her husband Kim Hartsen worked to make their front yard more functional, including building a walkway over the mud patch, enlarging the garden and adding water-efficient plants.

 Denver Water also has free tips and resources if you’re thinking about remodeling your yard. 

And, as a last parting gift, enjoy our watering rules as they're set to song, with Denver Water's very own Splashstreet Boys singing "I Water That Way."