Garden Smarter, Not Harder

Gardening in Dry Weather

This spring, most Front Range communities have responded to record low snowpack by encouraging/ requiring residents to cut water use by 20%. Water is a precious resource, and it’s our responsibility to use water wisely. 

Drought (prolonged abnormally low precipitation resulting in significant water shortage) can last a few weeks to several years. The Front Range is semiarid, receiving approximately 13 inches of precipitation each year. In 2025, we received over 15”, but so far in 2026, most locations have received less than 2”. With climate change, we expect hotter, drier conditions, which means we should be changing our habits now.  

What should you do in your garden when drought strikes?  Here are some expert tips from Amy Yarger, Butterfly Pavilion’s Senior Director of Horticulture!

Irrigation and watering – Use only what you need! 

• Keep automatic irrigation systems off until the second half of May 

• Focus your watering on trees, shrubs, and perennials, especially if they are new – these plants provide shade and urban cooling, as well as habitat for wildlife, including pollinators.  They are also much more expensive and difficult to replace. 

• Soaker hoses and drip systems waste less water, delivering it directly to where the plants can use it. Consider spot watering the plants that need water instead of watering entire areas. Take time to observe how individual plants are doing. 

• Water deeply (1-1.5 inches/ week) and infrequently (1x) to encourage root systems to grow deep instead of close to the surface. Early mornings (before 10 am) are the best time to minimize evaporation – target the root zone to minimize risk of fungal diseases such as powdery mildew.  

• Don’t water when it’s windy.   

• Look for and repair any leaks in your irrigation or hoses immediately. Adjust sprinkler heads so that they aren’t overspraying. Use hose nozzles with shut-off valves
  

Planning, design and plant selection – Adapt to Colorado conditions 

• Phasing: This isn’t the year for huge landscaping projects. If you absolutely can’t wait to plant a new garden, break large projects into smaller segments and prioritize those that will reduce water use. Dreaming big isn’t forbidden – take this year to plan lawn conversions and large renovations that make your landscape more beautiful and biodiverse. Pollinator Gardening Bootcamp is a great resource to plan your new garden haven. 

• If you are planning on removing your turf eventually, let it go dormant this year. A side benefit is seeing fewer Japanese beetles since they overwinter in grass roots. 

• Native plants in our area are better adapted to our dry conditions – small leaves, deep roots- and also provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. Not all Colorado native plants perform the same in dry weather, however. Shortgrass prairie species will have a better chance of survival compared to alpine species, for example. Notice which plants stay “cool and collected” in your garden, and plant more of those to replace the thirstier varieties. 

• Hydrozoning: Group plants with similar water needs together and pay attention to light/ exposure requirements.  

Maintenance – Take it easy 

• Establishment: Native plants still need to be watered in for establishment, especially for the first 1-3 years, but even at this stage, they will still use less water than your lawn.  

• Signs of water stress include wilting, dull color, browning/ crisping of leaves and stems, short bloom times. Many plants wilt during the hottest time of day, so check to see if they’ve bounced back in the evening/ morning  

• Consider using shade cloth to slow evaporation and protect your veggies from intense sun. Move container gardens into the shade, if possible. 

• “Hands off”: During drought, it’s best to scale back some gardening activities, such as fertilizing, pruning, and planting. Anything that encourages thirsty new growth means more water consumption. Fertilizers also add salts to the soil over time, and drier conditions mean fewer chances to assist with uptake. The buildup of salt can burn plant roots.  

• Instead, focus on weeding. Weeds compete with your desirable plants for water. Be careful how much you disturb the soil, however. If you stir up the soil, the moisture it’s holding on to will evaporate. You also don’t want to stress the roots of the desirable plants in your landscape.   

• Deadheading also helps plants hold on to the water they have, instead of spending it on seed production. 

• A 2-3” layer of mulch will keep the soil cooler and moister, as well as reduce weed pressure in your garden. 

By adjusting how we plan and care for our landscapes, each of us can make a meaningful impact during this drought—and help protect the Front Range’s limited water supply for the future, while also creating havens for the plants, pollinators, and people we love. Small, intentional choices this season add up to healthier gardens, stronger plants, and more resilient communities into the future.