As residents continue to clean up their yards after the June tornado, the Highlands Ranch Community Association saw an opportunity to teach homeowners about xeriscaping, a landscaping style that requires less water.

Scott Behnke, co-owner of lawnCARE solutions - who is also a certified arborist, Colorado State University Master Gardener and president of the Colorado Arborists and Lawn Care Professionals - said it’s a chance to find a silver lining. 

“It’s sad that you did lose a beautiful strong mature tree,” said Behnke. “ We can try to take advantage of it and maybe install something that is different.” 

With an emphasis on sustainable practices, lawnCAREsolutions is a large scale landscape maintenance company that also does design and installation. 

Through a virtual seminar, Behnke spoke with Highlands Ranch residents about what xeriscaping is. 

Xeriscape derives from the Greek word “xeros,” meaning "dry". 

The main target of xeriscape, also known as ColoradoScape, is to move from high use landscapes and integrate low water landscape strategies into the existing landscape.  

High use landscapes includes material such as Kentucky Bluegass, said Behnke, whereas medium use involves using alternative turf grasses and semi-xeri designs and low use involves using appropriate native and semi-native plants. 

Other than saving money, there are various benefits of xeriscaping. 

Xeriscaping allows residents to build their landscape by supporting local businesses like plant nurseries, rock yards and garden centers. 

Other benefits include healthier soil, the opportunity to select better planting materials that will have more longevity with less maintenance and resources, conserving water and energy and protecting the air quality. 

“We’re adding more planting material into our environment,” said Behnke. “We’re also not mowing as much when we’re having these low water landscapes, reducing carbon emission.” 

Another benefit is creating a better habitat for not just birds and pollinators, but for bees and different insects that would typically not be seen. 

The xeriscaping process 

The xeriscape concept is based on seven principles. 

Whether it’s wanting to have a pollinator garden or creating a living space, the first is to plan and design, which is critical in Highlands Ranch as it is in a homeowner’s association, which requires pre-approval.

Residents can draw and submit their own design, however, there are prefabricated designs and themes on the Plant Select program run by the Denver Botanic Gardens and will be made available on the Highlands Ranch Community Association website. 

These designs include plants that are considered waterwise and have year round blooms. 

This form of landscaping also allows homeowners to improve their soil, limit turf grass and irrigate efficiently. The application method that’s preferred is to have a direct drip to the plants. 

“That is utilizing the water that you’re spending your money on a lot more efficiently,” said Behnke. 

Selecting plants can be fun as residents can mix and match plants such as the purple leaf sand cherry, panchito manzanita, penstemons, walkers low catmint and first love dianthus. 

When selecting plants, Behnke said to think about hydrozones. 

By clustering plants together with similar water requirements, hydrozoning improves efficiency and avoids overwatering and underwatering different planting materials at the same site. 

Another principle is mulching, which is less labor intensive, cheaper and helps build and protect the soils. 

It is also important for residents to look at the long term maintenance of their landscape. 

This includes weeding, pruning, checking irrigation, making seasonal adjustments and the use of herbicide and pre-emergent herbicide applications if applicable as well as fertilization supplementation if desired. 

“It’s not no maintenance,” said Behnke. “You may need to have some replacements throughout the life of the landscape, but they are significantly lower than mowing every week.” 

Using the principles, residents can build their template with their plant selections, then fill out approval forms through the Home Improvement page on the Highlands Ranch Community Association website. 

Residents must include a photo of the entire yard along with their site plan, list of materials and percentage of rock, mulch and plants. 

According to Behnkes, Highlands Ranch would like to see about 25% rock, 50% mulch and the rest covered in planting materials.

Rebates and incentives 

The Centennial Water and Sanitation District offers those living in the HOAs rebate plans, however, they have been fulfilled this year. 

Rebates at Centennial Water max out at about 1,000 square feet and the xeriscape must cover 75% of the yard at maturity, Behnke said.

Rebate and incentive programs include turf replacement, rain senior rebate and high-efficiency nozzle retrofit. 

“You have a lot less waste when you’re using these high efficiency nozzles,” said Behnke. 

Other programs include slow the flow and garden in a box programs and smart controller rebate. 

These can be found on their website at https://www.centennialwater.org/conservation/rebates-and-incentives.