Beauty in the Back Yard
Colorado is a place of extreme natural beauty and splendor. But in this arid climate prone to extended periods of drought, water is one of our most valuable resources and must be used thoughtfully and carefully to extend its availability for generations to come. Because such a large amount of water in this area is used to nurture the plants growing in our backyards, sustainable landscaping is vital to preserving this precious resource.
Contrary to the popular belief that in order for one’s lawn and garden to be sustainable it must be filled with scrub oak, rocks, and weeds, sustainable landscapes can be can be amazingly colorful and attractive when done properly. Here are some tips on how to make your home’s landscape sustainable.
The first step in creating a sustainable landscape is choosing plants and flowers that thrive in this environment. Nicola Ripley, director of horticulture and research for Vail’s Betty Ford Alpine Gardens, suggests, “Observing which species are already growing in this area or do well in other alpine locations around the world.” It seems like simple advice, but plenty of people go overboard in their selections and end up with plants and flowers better suited to climates with more rainfall and warmer temperatures.
Ripley adds, “If you select species that grow naturally in climates similar to ours, they won’t need much persuasion to do well around here. These types of plants will need less water, can do without fertilizers and pesticides, and are better adapted to our soil than non-native species.”
When you’re ready to begin selecting the new residents of your garden, grab a notebook and head over to the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens. As you stroll the Gardens, take notes about which plants are attractive to you. Which are the most colorful? Be sure to look for things that could impact their growth. Which plants are located in full sun, which are in the shade? Which species appear to do well next to others, which seem like they need their own space? These are all conditions that will affect these plants when they are growing in your yard or garden.
If you’d like some help, the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens gives guided tours Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10:30am and maintains a list of all the species growing in the Gardens on their website: www.bettyfordalpinegardens.org.
Sustainable landscaping refers to a net effect — any and all aspects of the landscape should be sustainable, including water features. Water features have become increasingly popular in this area for good reason: there is little as peaceful to human beings as seeing and listening to the presence of water.
Maximum Comfort Pool and Spa of Vail specializes in designing and building sustainable water features that last. “It’s important to create a sound and waterproof structure so the water used is not needlessly lost to overflow and leakage,” explains Michael Charles of Maximum Comfort. “Often water features are constructed with just PVC sheet liner material and then covered with rocks. Eventually the sheet punctures and leaks.”
Another key element in designing a sustainable and energy efficient water feature is the selection of the recirculation pump — the device responsible for moving water around the feature.
“Use efficient pumps with variable speed control,” Charles suggests. “New programmable pumps and controls allow the homeowner to have the feature ‘on’ only when it is needed.”
There is something to be said about a water feature that looks attractive and adds to a landscape even when it isn’t being used. “If the water feature is constructed and finished well it can serve as a beautiful rockscape that, if done with an artistic eye, can be appreciated on its own,” adds Charles.
Sustainable landscaping is not only an investment in the environment because of the conservation of water and fertilizers, it also is an investment in the value of your home and personal comfort. Sustainable landscapes and water features can increase property values by ten percent to 15 percent while reducing ongoing maintenance costs by up to 70 percent. Besides being naturally beautiful, sustainable landscapes make a lot of sense for everyone lucky enough to live in Colorado.
Contact Information
Betty Ford Alpine Gardens:
www.bettyfordalpinegardens.org
970-476-0103
Maximum Comfort Pool and Spa:
www.mcpsvail.com
970-949-6339
