Xeriscape Denver: What Front Range Homeowners Need to Know
Denver and Colorado Springs share the same dry Front Range climate. Here's how xeriscape works in both markets and where 719 Xeriscape serves.
Colorado Springs and Denver receive only 14 to 17 inches of annual precipitation while traditional lawns require 50 to 60 inches of water per year, creating a 33- to 46-inch annual water deficit that xeriscaping directly addresses.
Key Takeaways
- Traditional lawns need 50–60 inches water/year; Front Range gets 14–17 inches annually.
- Denver Water offered up to $750 turf removal discounts in 2026; allocations sold out early.
- Colorado Springs Utilities pays $1/sq ft for qualifying water-wise landscaping on new builds.
- Denver imposed Stage 1 drought restrictions limiting irrigation to two days/week, 6 p.m.–10 a.m.
Denver and Colorado Springs sit within 70 miles of each other along the Front Range, and they share almost the same problem: a semi-arid climate, persistent drought pressure, and lawns that drink water the region simply cannot afford to keep providing.
If you are researching xeriscape for a Denver-area home, this post covers what you need to know about programs in the metro. If you are in the Pikes Peak region, including Colorado Springs, Monument, or Fountain, 719 Xeriscape serves your area directly and we can walk you through options tailored to Colorado Springs Utilities requirements.
Why is the entire Front Range moving away from turf?
Traditional Kentucky bluegrass lawns use roughly 50 to 60 inches of water per year. Colorado Springs and Denver receive about 14 to 17 inches of annual precipitation. That gap gets covered by your irrigation system, and it is expensive.
Denver Water declared a Stage 1 drought in March 2026, requiring customers to cut water use by 20 percent. Residential customers are now limited to two watering days per week, with no irrigation between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Manitou Springs activated Stage 1 restrictions that same spring. These patterns repeat every few years, and the restrictions tend to tighten over time.
Drought-tolerant landscaping is not a trend. It is the practical response to living in a dry, high-elevation climate.
What xeriscape support programs does Denver Water offer?
Denver Water has promoted water-wise landscaping for decades. Their ColoradoScape program offers residential customers several forms of support:
- Turf removal discounts: In 2026, Denver Water offered discounts up to $750 per property toward Resource Central's residential turf removal services. These spots fill on a first-come, first-served basis and the 2026 allocation sold out early in the season.
- Garden In A Box: Denver Water provides $25 discounts on Resource Central's water-wise plant kits, which are pre-designed bundles of drought-tolerant perennials suited to the Front Range.
- Xeriscape design plans: Free downloadable yard plans are available at denverwater.org for homeowners who want a blueprint before hiring a contractor.
The most important rule with any rebate program: apply before you start work. Starting your project without pre-approval is the most common reason applications get rejected.
How do Denver and Colorado Springs xeriscape programs differ?
The two markets share a climate but operate under different water utilities with different programs.
Denver Water serves the Denver metro and offers the ColoradoScape program described above. The rebate structure leans toward contractor-led turf removal with Resource Central as the primary partner.
Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) serves the Pikes Peak region and runs its own rebate programs, including a Native Grass Lawn Program and a New Home Landscape Incentive offering $1 per square foot for qualifying water-wise installs on new construction. CSU also provides free native grass seed and high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles through its conservation programs.
The soils differ too. Colorado Springs sits on heavy clay with higher alkalinity than Denver's sandy loam mix in many neighborhoods. That clay profile changes how you prepare the ground, what native plants establish successfully, and how irrigation conversion needs to be spec'd. A drip system designed for Briargate's clay will look different from one designed for a Denver suburban lot.
What a Xeriscape Installation Looks Like
Whether you are in Denver or Colorado Springs, the core process is similar:
- Remove existing turf (sod cutter, herbicide, or smothering method)
- Amend soil with compost to improve drainage in clay or water retention in sandy areas
- Grade the site for water flow away from structures
- Install rock or gravel groundcover and defined planting zones
- Plant drought-tolerant species grouped by water need (hydrozoning)
- Install drip irrigation or convert existing spray heads
- Apply mulch to planting beds to reduce evaporation
The result typically uses 50 to 75 percent less water than a conventional lawn, with lower ongoing maintenance once plants establish.
Serving the Pikes Peak Region
719 Xeriscape focuses on the Colorado Springs metro, including Briargate, Stetson Hills, Monument, Black Forest, Fountain, and surrounding communities. If you are in the Denver metro, we recommend reaching out to Denver Water's approved contractor list or local landscapers familiar with the ColoradoScape program.
If you are south of the Palmer Divide, we would be glad to help. Our team knows CSU's rebate requirements, the clay soils common to the region, and the xeriscape design options that hold up through Colorado Springs winters and dry summers.
Check out our rebate guide for a breakdown of what CSU currently offers, or read about native plants that thrive in the Pikes Peak climate.
Ready to stop watching your water bill climb every summer? Call (719) 631-2371 or get a free estimate.
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