Dealing With Drought

Water shortages are a fact of life on the Front Range.  How should you be dealing with them?

🌱 Lawns (Most Restricted)
Lawns are usually the first to face limits during dry spells. Expect watering to be restricted to 2–3 days per week, often on assigned days and only during cooler hours. Lawns require a lot of water, so efficiency is key. Consider using “Revive” or another wetting agent to help get moisture to the roots. Top dressing can also help cool the roots.

🍅 Vegetable Gardens (More Flexible)
Gardens are treated as essential, so you’ll have more flexibility—but smart watering matters.

• New plants & seeds: light watering daily or every other day until established

• Established plants: deep watering every 2–3 days
  Focus on soaking the soil deeply rather than watering lightly every day.

🪴 Containers & Pots (Water Often)
Pots dry out quickly, especially in summer heat.

• Plan to water daily, sometimes more during hot stretches

• These are rarely restricted due to their small size

🌳 Trees, Shrubs & Perennials
These benefit from a deep soak once or twice per week, encouraging strong root systems.

🌾 Plant Smarter: Xeric & Native Perennials
One of the best ways to garden successfully in a dry year is choosing plants that naturally use less water.

• Xeric perennials thrive with minimal irrigation once established

• Native plants are adapted to Colorado’s climate, making them more resilient to heat and drought

These choices reduce water use, support pollinators, and lower maintenance over time.

🌱 Start Strong: Soil & Root Development
Great gardening in dry conditions starts below the surface. Amending your soil at planting time makes a big difference:

• Adding compost or amendments (such as wool pellets) helps the soil hold moisture longer

• Improved soil structure allows roots to grow deeper and stronger

• Deeper roots mean plants can access water further down, reducing how often you need to water

Using a root stimulator like Espoma’s Bio-tone can take this even further. It encourages early root growth and beneficial soil activity, helping plants establish faster and become more drought-tolerant from the start.

🪴Explore alternative watering methods

I have heard from people exploring the use of ollas (both homemade and commercially available), self watering planters and other legal water harvesting methods. Why not try something new?

💡 The Key to Success
It’s not about watering more—it’s about watering smarter:

• Water early in the morning

• Use mulch to hold moisture

• Focus on deep, infrequent watering

🌼 Final Thought
Lawns follow the rules. Gardens follow the plant.
Plant smart, build better soil, and water wisely—you can still grow a beautiful, productive garden, even in a dry Colorado season. We will be able to water as needed!