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Toss the Turf…Where It Makes Sense Grass, when well placed and maintained, can be helpful in serving as a filter for water runoff, according to horticulture experts with Colorado State University Extension. It’s also a soft surface for playful kids and dogs. However, grass requires a lot of water, and it isn’t appropriate for all areas of the yard, particularly places that are tough to keep up: along fences, on slopes where water runs off, narrow strips between cement, irregular patches of grass that don’t fit sprinkler patterns, and hot sun locations. Consider removing turf from these spots and prepare the ground for native plants that are better suited for Colorado’s semi-arid climate. If you’re attempting xeriscaping, don’t over-commit. Start with small areas and have a plan for the required upkeep. (For areas where you would like to keep something soft underfoot, consider buffalo grass, which is a native, drought-resistant and cold tolerant option.) Once you’ve decided what area you’d like to revamp with plants, start by pulling weeds, then do some light tilling or roughing up the soil with a rake. Denver soils are typically sandy and clay-filled, which is not conducive to deep root growth. Increase your ground’s water-holding and root growth capabilities by working compost into the soil, and layering mulch on the surface to shade the dirt and slow evaporation.
Enrich the Play Space If plants aren’t your thing or you want a larger lawn area repurposed, lay down mulch and set up a picnic table, or build a swingset, playhouse, or sandbox for the kids.
rought and climate change news is not new; however eco-friendly yard and
gardening techniques still may be a bit of a head-scratcher, especially if you’ve got a brown thumb. The benefits are worth the effort though. Not only can using less water for your outdoor space save money on your monthly water bill, it also means more water kept in Colorado’s mountain reservoirs and rivers. According to Denver Water, an average homeowner can save 25 percent of their water use per year by switching from a lawn to a xeriscaped (requiring little to no irrigation) yard. Saving water is just the beginning, sustainable gardening techniques also support vital pollinators and divert compostable trash from landfills. Truth is, turning a grass-dominant lawn into an eco-friendly beauty takes effort and planning. If you’re ready to get started, there are actions—some just right for kids—that will help your family take a step closer to being resource-wise, and have some fun along the way. “(Kids can) make connections that hopefully will offer them the opportunity to be more healthy, involved, Earth science citizens,” says Lee Lee Newcomb, director of summer at Kent Denver School, which includes a series of environment-focused day camps. “I think as a parent, it’s the whole idea of giving back to the cycle of sustainability and to the earth so that kids are mindful and have an understanding of their individual impacts.” Dig in with these transformational ideas and kid-friendly activities.
For the Kids: Soil Art Aside from getting kids digging up grass and turning soil—set little ones up with a piece of paper, paint brushes, a sieve for sifting, and cups of water; they can paint using fine dirt mixed with water and glue (enough to form a runny paste). Coarser bits of earth, bark, and grass will add textures to their art. Welcome Your Native Neighbors When you think about it, picking native plants to create efficient landscapes makes a whole lot of sense; they’re made to live here. Native wildflowers, most of which prefer around seven hours of sun per day, are popular for being easy to maintain, showy, and attractive to birds and insects. Sherry Fuller, curator at Gardens on Spring Creek, a botanical garden in Fort Collins, suggests planting annuals in your yard for flowers all summer long, as well as perennials that are slower to get started, but longer lived. Ready to dig in? Pick your varieties and map out where they’ll go in the yard. Group plants with similar water needs together. If there’s a spot where water collects, choose H2O-loving plants; put hardier ones uphill and in southern and western facing areas, which tend to get more sun. Elena Shtern, a horticulturist for the Denver Botanic Gardens Mordecai Children’s Garden, suggests planting the following species in April; each has a sensory characteristic for kids to enjoy: Upright prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera) displays deep color contrast, with petals that look like a skirt. Chocolate flower (Berlandiera lyrata) gives off a sweet, chocolaty smell. Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla patens) dons wispy, tactile seed heads. Pitcher sage (Salvia azurea) stands tall with bright and uniquely shaped flowers. Tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) puts on a show with large flowers you can watch as they open in the evening. Low maintenance ground cover like pussytoes and fringed sage are great fillers to tuck between larger, ornamental plants. And although trees and shrubs are the most efficient at draining excess Earth-warming carbon dioxide from the air, their roots are trickier to establish, according to CSU Extension horticulturists. Denver Water offers fast facts to find the right type of plants for your yard,
in the Xeriscape Resources section of their website. For the Kids: Pressed wildflower journal
Kids can preserve memories from the garden by keeping a journal full of colorful pressed flowers. Sandwich freshly picked blossoms between tissues and place them between the pages of a heavy book. Let them sit under a weighty object for two weeks. Glue the flowers on a blank journal page, then press clear contact paper over the area to protect the petals. Have your child write (or tell you what to write) about the flowers and their experiences in nature.
36 COLORADO PARENT APRIL 2022
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