Gentry Subdivision Home Owners Association

Xeriscape

Water Saving Landscape

Xeriscape

Help for homeowners and renters affected by high water bills and loss of turf areas due to drought

Benefits of Xeriscape:
- Lower water usage: Save every month on your utility bill
- Lower maintenance: Sell your lawnmower and enjoy the park.
- No expensive replacement of sod that dies in a drought. The plants used in xeriscape are indigenous to Colorado, so they’re used to the occasional drought. Once a properly-designed xeriscape is established, only occasional watering is needed.
- Easier compliance with your Association’s Covenants. Inadequate lawn maintenance is one of the most common reasons why homeowners sometimes get notices from the Association addressing a violation of the Covenants.

The basic elements of a beautiful xeriscape are:

- Soil Preparation. The heavy clay soil we have in the Gentry neighborhood can actually be beneficial for a xeriscape because clay retains so much water. But clay is also so dense that roots of new plantings can have a hard time getting established, so the addition of organic material is important. To do this, first use an herbicide to kill the grass and weeds in the area you wish to xeriscape.

- Plant Selection and Clustering. Successful xeriscapes include native plants because they are used to our semi-arid climate. Many choices are available that provide interesting colors and textures in various seasons of the year.

- Mulching. One or two inches of mulch helps retain moisture and keep weeds under control.

- Maintenance. While new plants are getting established, they’ll need occasional watering. As the xeriscape matures, it will need less frequent watering. You’ll also need to pull whatever weeds do spring up.

Like any other change to the appearance of your home, proposals for xeriscape must be submitted to the Covenant Control Committee.

For more information, please visit the City’s Xeriscape Demonstration Garden on Mesa St, just north of Fillmore, west of I-25. Or log on to www.csu.org/environment/xeriscape.

In our own neighborhood, 825 San Gabriel has a well-established xeriscape.