Grow with Harvester: Irrigation Tips for Colorado

If you wince every time the water bill arrives, you’re not alone. Outdoor irrigation is often the biggest water use for Colorado homes – but it doesn’t have to break the bank. How can you keep your landscape healthy and cut down on water waste? Try these smart irrigation strategies perfectly suited for our Colorado climate.

Smarter Watering Schedule

When and how you water can drastically affect efficiency:

• Water in the Early Morning or Evening: Timing is critical. Watering during the heat of the day leads to huge evaporation losses. Instead, set sprinklers to run between about 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. (Many cities recommend overnight or pre-dawn watering). In cooler, calmer early hours, more water soaks into your soil rather than evaporating. Bonus: Water pressure is often better at night, giving more even coverage.

• Observe Any Water Restrictions: Colorado communities often have watering schedules (e.g., odd/even days) or midday watering bans in summer. Following these not only avoids fines but also encourages healthier lawns (less frequent, deeper watering). It’s wise to water deeply but infrequently, mimicking natural rain patterns and promoting deeper roots that handle dry spells better.

Upgrade Your Irrigation System

An efficient system pays for itself in water savings:

• Fix Leaks & Adjust Heads: A single broken sprinkler head or leaky drip line can waste gallons. Walk your yard while the system is on and look for geysers, puddles, or misting. Adjust sprinkler heads so they’re targeting plants, not driveways or sidewalks (you’d be surprised how often we see sprinklers watering concrete!). A well-aimed system ensures every drop counts.

• Install Drip Irrigation: For flower beds, vegetable gardens, trees, and shrubs, drip irrigation or soaker hoses deliver water right to the roots. Unlike spray heads, drip lines lose almost no water to wind or evaporation. They also reduce weed growth by not watering bare soil in between plants. Converting a few lawn zones to drip in planted areas can significantly cut usage.

• Smart Controllers & Sensors: Consider upgrading to a smart irrigation controller. These devices adjust watering based on weather forecasts and soil moisture. For example, if rain is expected or it’s a cool week, they’ll automatically skip or reduce watering. Many Colorado water utilities even offer rebates on WaterSense-certified smart controllers. Likewise, a simple rain sensor added to your system will prevent those “watering in the rain” embarrassments.

• Efficient Sprinkler Heads: If your system is older, swap out old heads for water-efficient models. Rotary nozzles (rotators) irrigate more slowly and evenly, allowing water to soak in with less runoff. They can use 30% less water than traditional pop-up sprays. Also, check that you have the correct nozzle size for each area – too high output and the water just runs off our Colorado clay soils.

Landscape Strategies to Save Water

Your plant choices and garden design can make a world of difference:

• Xeriscape and Native Plants: Traditional bluegrass lawns guzzle water. By replacing part of your lawn with xeriscape landscaping, you can save a ton. Xeriscaping uses drought-tolerant plants (often native to Colorado or similar climates) and arranges them by water needs. Once established, a xeric garden might use 50% (or less!) of the water a turf lawn would (1). Imagine your water bill after cutting usage in half. Harvester specializes in creating stunning xeriscapes that are colorful and pollinator-friendly – drought-tolerant certainly doesn’t mean boring!

• Hydrozone Your Yard: Group plants with similar water needs together. That way, you can water that section efficiently without overwatering some and under-watering others. For instance, put thirsty veggies or flowers on one drip zone, and keep your cacti, sage, and other dry-loving plants on a separate low-water zone.

• Mulch, Mulch, Mulch: Covering soil with mulch is like putting a protective shade cloth on the ground. It significantly reduces evaporation from the soil surface and keeps roots cool. In beds, use organic mulch (wood chips, straw, etc.) and aim for about a 3-4 inch layer for maximum benefit. Mulched areas retain moisture far longer – meaning you water much less. As a bonus, mulch also cuts down weeds (which would drink water too!).

• Rainwater Harvesting: Believe it or not, it’s legal in Colorado now to collect rainwater (up to 110 gallons with rain barrels). While two barrels won’t irrigate your whole yard, they can provide free water for container plants or a small veggie patch. Plus, using stored rain during dry spells is savvy. Harvester can advise on simple rainwater catchment setups that align with local regulations.

• Let Your Lawn Go Golden: Consider letting your cool-season lawn go brown (dormant) in the peak of summer. Many Colorado lawns naturally brown out in heat – they’re not dead, just resting. Water deeply once a month to keep the crowns alive, and they’ll green up again in fall. Embracing a little summer dormancy can save thousands of gallons. Alternatively, reduce lawn areas overall – swap some turf for native groundcovers or perennials that need less water.

A Partner in Water-Wise Design

Lowering your irrigation use doesn’t mean sacrificing a beautiful yard – in fact, it often becomes more beautiful with diverse plants and thoughtful design. Harvester prides itself on water-wise design-build. We can retrofit your existing yard with efficient irrigation, design a gorgeous xeriscape or rain garden, and help you navigate rebates or city rules for water conservation.

Imagine a landscape that thrives in our climate and lowers your bills. It’s possible, and we’d love to help you achieve it.

Ready to save water and money? Reach out to Harvester for a consultation. We’ll evaluate your current irrigation system and landscape, and come up with a customized plan to make it both sustainable and stunning. Let’s work together to create a Colorado landscape that’s beautiful, resilient, and budget-smart!