Athmar Park

Water, Water everywhere, nor any Drop to Use

May 20, 2004

by Debi Drewes

Watering and water use this year are VERY restricted. Your failure to follow the current rules can cost you money in increased water bills and in fines. (See "Denver Watering Rules" in this newsletter for the new rules from Denver Water.)

You may wish to modify your landscaping to work better with less watering and the way to accomplish that is through Xeriscape. At the end of this article, I've included several internet links to sites that provide information and there are books available through the Denver Public Library or for purchase through Denver Water.

An environmental engineer at Denver Water Department coined the word "Xeriscape" (from the Greek word 'xeri' for dry, needing little water) back in 1981. The basic premise of xeriscape is ?“water conservation through creative landscaping.?” To use xeriscape effectively, you need to do some analysis before you dig. Know where are the hottest, driest areas that are in the sun all day. Where is it nearly always in shade? Where does water from your downspouts go? Know which areas can sustain plants that need shade or more water without extra water being brought in. You can get an information packet on how to xeriscape from Denver water by requesting it through their website at www.water.denver.co.gov/drought/droughtframe.html or by calling 303-628-6343.

Select plants for each area that will grow well in those particular conditions. Don?’t intermingle water use zones. By keeping water-use zones separate, watering and maintenance of your landscape will be simplified. Use the right plant for the right water-use zone. Do not plant xeric plants in moist planting beds along a north-facing wall. Do not plant aspen, a lover of cool, moist soils, on a hot south-facing wall or slope. Avoid mixing together plants with different moisture requirements. You can?’t keep multiple plant types happy in the same planting area. Different plants bloom at different times during the season. If you pay attention to when each plant blooms while you are making your selections, you can arrange a garden that has something in bloom from April to November.

Prepare the soil by adding organic material BEFORE you start to plant. Turn the soil over and dig in peat moss, compost, possibly a little manure, or leaves or grass clippings (free of applied chemicals or fertilizer). Organic material will help increase water retention, root growth, and provides nutrients for healthier plants.

Once you have planted your xeriscape garden, apply MULCH at least one inch deep to the entire surface, to help retain moisture and to help keep out weeds. For your mulch, use organic material, such as wood chips or bark. Rocks around plants DO NOT help to hold in moisture, do not put any nutrients back into the soil, and can actually increase the rate of moisture loss when they heat up in the sun. DO NOT use black plastic under mulch to keep out weeds. It causes root rot and prevents water from getting into the soil. Newspaper laid flat with holes for the plants can actually work very well as a weed barrier under the mulch for one or two seasons.

Water and irrigate as efficiently as possible. Use soaker hoses and drip irrigation where possible to encourage deep root growth. Plant where water from downspouts and paved areas goes and use that existing resource.

Lastly ?– an update on the use of ?“gray?” water; a water conservation method recommended last year which has been revised substantially. The following is copied directly from the Denver Water website:

Q. Why can?’t Denver Water customers re-use their own gray water for outdoor use?

A. Colorado water law allows each customer just one use of the water before it goes down the drain, through a wastewater treatment plant and back into the river for others to use. By law, Denver Water customers are not permitted to take their bath or laundry water (commonly referred to as gray water) and dump it on their outdoor plants or garden. After this water is used once by Denver Water customers, it must return to the South Platte River where it will be used seven or eight more times before it gets to the state line (Nebraska). State water laws are enforced by the State Engineer's office. Denver Water does not endorse any gray water systems.

However, Denver Water customers are encouraged to catch unused clear water in a bucket or other container as it comes out of the tap and then use this water once; to mop floors, refresh pet water or water plants. For example, try catching water that comes out before the shower water warms up and then use this water to flush toilets or rinse the shower.

Q. Why doesn't Denver Water have rebates for rain barrels so we could catch our rain and put it on our plants?

A. Colorado Water Law requires that precipitation fall to the ground, run off and into the river of the watershed where it fell. Because rights to water are legally allocated in this state, an individual may not capture and use water to which he/she does not have a right.

Informative links to information about plants, water use, and conservation:

www.water.denver.co.gov/

plants@highcountrygardens.com

www.watersaver.org/

www.ext.colostate.edu/drought/tipsmenu.html#garden
www.water.denver.co.gov/cons_xeriscape/conservation/pdfs/colowatersituation.pdf

www.water.denver.co.gov/cons_xeriscape/conservation/pdfs/GraywaterRainwater_Harvesting.pdf