Drought

Drought and Xeriscape™ Info:

Many resources are available to assist gardeners with dealing with Colorado's dry climate and periods of drought: classes, books, online articles, etc. The following lists hopefully will help you locate the information you need to deal with this ongoing challenge.


Restrictions

Current information on water restrictions:
    Be sure to check whether your city has water restrictions this year. Regulations vary widely.

Classes

Garden centers, public gardens, water departments, garden clubs, and numerous other organizations offer classes, seminars, garden tours and other events to educate gardeners on how to deal with drought. Please see our page "What's Happening" for a monthly listing of these special opportunities.

Lawn Care

"Methods for Creating a Drought Tolerant Lawn"
    - Spring Guidelines
    - The Underground Sprinkler System
www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA Click on "Gardening and Horticulture," and then on "Plant Categories." Then click on "Turfgrass Care and Maintenance."

"Watering Established Lawns in Western Colorado."
www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA Click on "Gardening and Horticulture," and then on "Plant Categories." Then click on "Turfgrass Care and Maintenance."

"Renovating the Home Lawn"
www.ext.colostate.edu Click on "Horticulture." Click on "Fact Sheets." Click on "Yard." Click on # 7.241.

"Watering Established Lawns"
www.ext.colostate.edu Click on "Horticulture." Click on "Fact Sheets." Click on "Yard." Click on # 7.199.

"Why Is My Lawn Brown?"
www.csu.org Click on "Environment," then on "Conservation," then on "Xeriscape" and then on "Xeriscape Resources."

"Water Conservation Tips"
www.rockymountainsodgrowers.com

"Watering Recommendations for Established Bluegrass Lawns"
www.rockymountainsodgrowers.com Click on "Water Conservation Tips" and then on this title.

Tree and Shrub Care

"Watering Trees"
www.watersaver.org Click on "Save Our Shade," then on "General tree watering recommendations."
"Hand Tree Watering Schedule "
www.watersaver.org Click on "Save Our Shade," then on "Tree watering devices? Spring/Summer watering times."
"Fall/Winter Tree Watering Schedule (October - March)"
www.watersaver.org Click on "Save Our Shade," then on "Tree watering devices? Fall/Winter watering times."
"Caring for Trees in Dry Climates"
www.watersaver.org Click on "Save Our Shade," then on "Caring for trees in dry climates."
"Planting Trees and Shrubs in Dry Climates"
www.watersaver.org Click on "Save Our Shade," then on "Planting trees and shrubs in dry climates."
"Shrub Watering Recommendations"
www.watersaver.org Click on "Save Our Shade," then on "Shrub watering recommendations."
"Woody Plant Management Before, During and Following Drought"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Tip Sheets."
"Fall & Winter Watering"
www.ext.colostate.edu Click on "Horticulture." Click on "Fact Sheets." Click on "Yard." Click on # 7. 211.


Flower Care

"Flower Management Before, During and Following Drought"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Tip Sheets."

Vegetable Care

"Home Vegetable Garden Management During a Drought in Colorado"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Tip Sheets."

Plant Lists

"Put Some EXcitement in Your Yard! A Guide to Xeriscape Gardening"
www.xratedgardening.com   Visitors to the site will find lists of xeric annuals, perennials, ornamental grasses, vines, bulbs, shrubs, trees and turf. Plants are grouped into three categories: x-rated plants that thrive in slightly dry conditions, xx-rated plants that thrive in dry conditions, and xxx-rated plants that thrive in very dry conditions. This information is also available in a brochure that can be found at garden centers.
"Xeriscape Garden Plant Database"
www.csu.org Click on "Environment," then on "Conservation," then on "Xeriscape" to find lists with accompanying photos of xeric trees, shrubs, vines, cacti, flowers and groundcovers. Plants are sorted by additional categories such as size, bloom color, bloom period, and water zone.
"Plant Database"
www.secwcd.org Click on "Xeriscape." Then click on "Plant Database" to access lists of xeriscape plants: shrubs, perennials, grasses and trees.
"Turfgrass Options" by Sally Cogdill
"Lawn and Turf Grasses"
www.csu.org Click on "Environment," then on "Conservation," then on "Xeriscape" and then on "Xeriscape Resources."
"Xeriscape Grasses"
www.secwcd.org Click on "Xeriscape." Then click on "Xeriscape Plants/information."
"Dryland Grasses for Western Colorado"
    - Dryland Grasses for Sandy Soil
    - Dryland Grasses for Clay Soil
www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA Click on "Gardening and Horticulture," and then on "Plant Categories." Then click on "Turfgrass Care and Maintenance."
"Xeriscaping: Trees and Shrubs"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Fact Sheets."
"Xeriscape Trees"
www.secwcd.org Click on "Xeriscape." Then click on "Xeriscape Plants/information."
"Xeriscape Shrubs"
www.secwcd.org Click on "Xeriscape." Then click on "Xeriscape Plants/information."
"Xeriscaping: Garden Flowers"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Fact Sheets."
"Xeriscaping: Ground Cover Plants"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Fact Sheets."
"Low Water Shade Plants"
www.secwcd.org Click on "Xeriscape." Then click on "Xeriscape Plants/information."

Other Topics

Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens
www.xeriscape.org Click on demo gardens for a list of xeriscape demonstration gardens. Note: This list was created in June 1998.
"Xeriscaping Management Before, During and Following Drought in Colorado"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Tip Sheets."
"Green Industry Best Management Practices for the Conservation and Protection of Water Resources in Colorado"
www.greenco.org Click on "Best Management Practices" to find information on thirty topics such as landscape design, irrigation systems, lawn aeration, mowing, mulching, tree care, etc.
"Home Landscape Watering During Drought"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Fact Sheets."
"Irrigation Management Before, During and Following Drought in Colorado"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Tip Sheets."
"Operating and Maintaining a Home Irrigation System"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Fact Sheets."
"Run-Time Scheduler: Water Saving Irrigation"
www.watersaver.org Click on "Run-Time Scheduler" for information on how to set up a watering schedule for your yard.
"Saving Your Water"
www.greenco.org Click on "Healthy Plants & Drought."
"Keep Your Yard Healthy! Water Wise Tips for Colorado Landscapes"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Tip Sheets."
"Saving Your Landscape"
www.greenco.org Click on "Healthy Plants & Drought."
"Xeriscape Principles"
www.denverwater.org Click on "Conservation" and then on "Xeriscape."
"Xeriscaping: Creative Landscaping"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Fact Sheets."
"Xeriscaping: Retrofit Your Yard"
http://drought.colostate.edu Click on "Landscapes." Then click on "Fact Sheets."
"Xeri Tips"
www.secwcd.org Click on "Xeriscape."
"Benefits of Xeriscaping"
www.secwcd.org Click on "Xeriscape."

"Xeriscape"
www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk Click on "Xeriscape" in the menu to access a list of twelve Planttalk articles pertaining to waterwise gardening.
"What Is Xeriscape?"
www.csu.org Click on "Environment," then on "Conservation," then on "Xeriscape."
"How to Xeriscape"
www.csu.org Click on "Environment," then on "Conservation," then on "Xeriscape."
Colorado Water Issues: "What You Can Do" and "Water-Wise Landscaping"
www.coloradonga.org Click on "Colorado Water."
"Water Efficient Landscape Design Model Ordinance"
www.dola.state.co.us/smartgrowth
"WaterWise Landscaping Best Practices Manual: A Companion to the Landscape Design Ordinance"
www.dola.state.co.us/smartgrowth

Books