It may surprise you, but this entire yard is xeriscape! The plants in this landscape are all well adapted to Colorado and grouped according to water need which makes the best use of water in the landscape. The turfgrass is a dwarf tall fescue and looks great with 2/3rds the water of traditional grass. A tip for large yards like this one is to plant in groups to create unity and interest and to choose larger xeric shrubs where possible to help reduce maintenance.

The owners of this landscape are in the process of shrinking the bluegrass and replacing it with plants better suited for Colorado. The front yard of this north Colorado Springs residence has been modified by renovating the parkway to feature a small tree, a couple shrubs and flowering perennials that give instant curb appeal. The backyard is in process with an end goal of shrinking the turfgrass area and creating large planting beds along the perimeter of the yard that will feature xeric plants. This is a great example of working in phases and thinking through the project a little bit at a time.

Xeriscape is a great opportunity to showcase plants with different colors and textures. This yard uses ornamental trees, evergreen shrubs, striking ornamental grasses and a native grass lawn to breathe life into a yard that used to be all Kentucky bluegrass. The parkway strip is home to the existing juniper that has been partnered with large maiden grasses and a pathway which accommodates foot traffic from the street parking. A native grass turf covers about half of the remaining yard with planting beds around the perimeter that feature low water perennials, grasses and groundcovers.