Xeriscape: Basics and Converting on a Budget - Aurora, Colorado

1. Xeriscape: Basics and Converting
on a Budget
City of Aurora
Water Conservation
www.aurorawater.org

2. Water Conservation Resources
 Free Classes (including One-on-One Design
Consultations)
 Rebates (Xeriscape, Toilet and Washer)
 Audits (Indoor and Irrigation System)
 HOA Xeriscape Grant
 Youth Education Program
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 Volunteer Program
 Water Smart Readers
 Landscape Design Consultations
 Large Property Water Efficiency Program
 Website: www.aurorawater.org

3. Xeriscape: The Benefits
 Water Conservation (46% or more)
 Lower Water Bills
 Reduced Maintenance
 Attractive (especially in winter months)
 Provides habitat for wildlife
 Water Rates will continue to increase

4. How Long to Return Your Investment?

5. Xeriscape Success Story
Water Consumption
35
30 Savings
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0)
Gallons (x1000
25
20 65,000 gal/yr
15
10 $333/yr
5
0
Month
M th

6. Xeriscape Success Story

7. Xeriscape Success Story
 Area Converted: 3020 square feet
 Cl
Classes A
Attended: Planning and D i and
d d Pl i d Design d
Alternatives to Turf
 M ti ti to C
Motivation t Convert:t
Our HOA was converting turf to Xeriscape, our children were out of the
house and we don’t live in the right climate for expanses of bluegrass.
 On Maintenance:
Get out there and check the soil, it’s not more difficult and cutting back
a plant once a year sure beats mowing and trimming weeklyweekly.
 On Personal Time Commitment:
We did the work ourselves. Not loading 30 cubic yards of mulch in an
Acura Integra would have saved some time. Consider a phasing plan.

8. Let s
Let’s just get this out
of the wayy

9. This is Not Xeriscape
and does not meet city code

10. 7 Fundamental Principles
 Plan and Design
 Create Practical Turf Areas
 Select Low Water Plants
 Use Soil Amendments
 Use Mulches
 Irrigate Efficiently
 Maintain the Landscape

11. The Design
We offer free professional landscape designs
Our 2 part class
 ‘Preparing for your Design Consultation’
Available in Lecture format or Online
Registration is not required
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 ‘One-on-One Design Consultation’
Meet with a professional landscape
designer (1 hour and 45 minutes)
Registration is Required (Completed Site Map,
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Photos and Existing Site Survey Required)

12. Before your One-on-One
One on One
Choose an area: (Remember to create or keep
practical turf areas)
 where turf is impractical or not useful
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 that needs improvement
 where irrigation water is wasted because
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of a challenging slope or erosion
 ‘preferably’ on separate irrigation zone
p y p g
Money Savings Tips:
 Convert entire irrigation zones
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13. Name the problems
problems…

14. To Xeriscape or not to Xeriscape

15. Select Low Water Plants
Things to consider:
 Spacing - size at planting and maturity
 Water and sun requirements
 Limit varieties
 Color, texture, height, seasonal interest
RReproduction: seeds, runners, di i i
d ti d division
Money Saving Tips:
 M t share and t d with N i hb
Meet, h d trade ith Neighbors
 Box Store Sales
 Coupons
 Be careful with mail order catalogues

16. The Plant Pallet
 Shurbs
 Perennials
 Grasses (Ornamental and Turf type)
 Trees
Evergreen plants to add winter interest

17. Shrubs
Pros
 LLonger living
li i
 Larger
 Fall color
 Minimal maintenance
Cons
 Less blooms than
perennials

18. Perennials
Pros
 C l and texture variety
Color d i
 Replacement for annuals
 Faster growth
Cons
 Limited winter interest
 Most need to be cut back
 Reduced coverage

19. Ornamental Grasses
Pros
 Great winter interest
 Faster Growth
 Create movement
 Fall Color
 S dh d
Seed heads
 Mimics the native landscape
Cons
 Require division
 Most need to b cut b k
d be back

20. Alternatives to Turf
Pros
 Reduced water
consumption
 Limited mowing
Cons
 Slow to establish
 Warm season grasses are
dormant more of the year
 More susceptible to foot
traffic and weeds

21. Trees
Pros
 LLonger living
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 Larger
 Fall Color
 Minimal Maintenance
 Create shade
 Blooms and Fruit
Cons
 Initial Cost

22. Use Soil Amendments
Soil Amendments
 Add nutrients
i
 Increase water holding or draining capacity
 Increase oxygen availability to the roots
Money Saving Tips:
 Amend each hole instead of the entire area
 Buy in bulk or make your own compost

23. Use Mulches
 Retain soil moisture, inhibit weed growth,
slows erosion and prevent evaporation
 Organic versus inorganic
Money Saving Tips:
 FREE city mulch @ D
it l h Dawson and H
d Hampdend
outside Griswold fence
 Cover free mulch with more decorative
 Do not use fabric

24. Irrigation
 You don’t necessaril ha e to rip out your
necessarily have our
existing system
 Do not water Xeriscape like it is turf!
 Use the % function on your clock or change the
schedule based on time of year
 Go outside and feel the soil at the base of plants
 Use the same components throughout the zone
 Free Irrigation Audits (CRC 303.999.3820 x217)
 I i ti Rebate (50% of M t i l max
Irrigation R b t f Materials
$300/$2500)
 Find and fix leaks
 Free Class ‘Irrigation 101’

25. Maintenance
 Remove weeds (annual vs. perennial)
RResponsibility of not spreading noxious weeds
ibili f di i d
in your neighborhood
 Ch k i i ti system regularly
Check irrigation t l l
 Prune, deadhead and divide for perennial and
ornamental grass plant health
 Compost removed material
 W t h for insects, good and b d
Watch f i t d d bad
 Free Online Class ‘Garden Maintenance’

26. Xeriscape: Start to Finish
 Step by step from turf to an attractive
drought tolerant landscape
 Start to Finish classes are held at the Aurora
Municipal Center Xeriscape Demonstration
Garden
 No registration or fee is required
 Class Dates (April 16th, May 21st, June 11th
and July 9th) from 9 – 11 am
 Available Online

27. Xeriscape Rebate
 You are now eligible to apply for the rebate
 Up to $1 per square foot
 Minimum of 500 square feet and maximum of
10,000 (residences) and 25,000 (large
properties)
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 Your application must be approved
before you begin work
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 You will pay for the materials and labor and be
sent your rebate check approx. 6 weeks after
inspection
 Visit our website for application and
requirements (www.aurorawater.org)

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