Colorado landscapers and gardeners should be very thankful for the beautiful backdrop provided by the Rocky Mountains for their landscape designs. However, there are many challenges being faced by these people when it comes to their landscaping needs. One thing is the limited water resources that for people in eastern Colorado, so they have to create their inspiration by adding adapted shrubs and flowers to add more texture and beauty to their design. Being in the USDA hardiness zones 4 to 6, Colorado landscapers also have to content with soils rich in alkaline that need constant organic amendments and which experience frequent drought period.
Because of limited water supplies, xeriscaping is very popular in Colorado. The basic principle of xeriscaping involves the limited use of turf grass, but instead using ornamental grasses like buffalo grass, blue grama, bluestem, switch grass and feather reed grass. This is because they grow well in poorer soils and have lower water requirements than shrubs and flowering plants. Xeriscaping also involves selecting water-wise plants, using efficient irrigation practices and assisting plant survival through the application of soil amendments and mulches. Suggestion for water-wise plants include penstemon, prairie zinnia, Mojave sage, coreopsis and showy black-eyed susans.
Aside from xeriscaping techniques, rock gardens are also a good idea for Colorado landscapers. It will not only help you solve the problem with water supply, but also gives you the luxury of using the many colorful and decorative rocks available locally. Some of the most commonly used rocks for landscaping available in the region includes the moss rock and Colorado red rock. Using these elements, you can design a landscape plan around large- and medium-sized rocks, leaving space between the stones for various-sized plants. Plant suggestions for rock gardens are sedums, alpine stonecrest, alyssum, alpine rockcress, cottage pinks and shrubs such as prostrate junipers and littleleaf peashrub.
Lastly, Colorado is also blessed with beautiful wildflowers that can be used as additional features of your landscape design. Plants such as sage, columbine, fireweed, prairie gentian, pink bergamot, prairie coneflower and Mexican hat will certainly add a more casual but natural look for your garden.
Just like in every aspect of life, using what you have is one basic principle for landscaping. Knowing this will give your landscape design more personality instead of looking very generic. Besides, a unique landscape is a good landscape in most situation.
