Habitat Hero Demonstration Garden

Before you purchase a single plant, research what type of yard you want to create. Is your primary focus water conservation, low maintenance, wildlife-friendly habitat, outdoor living room or a private area? All of these are important to consider and will influence your design. Think big but act small. You can always add to your design as you want.

Look at the physical characteristics of your yard. For example: sunny west and south sides are typically best suited for drought-tolerant plants while cooler north and east sides are best for low to moderate water-use plants. Examine your existing irrigation system and see if any heads could be converted for a water smart landscape.

It’s time to either call upon a professional landscaper for assistance or copy a design you like. For the DIY attitude, look for design ideas online or in a book. Your new irrigation system should be designed into your plan too. Trees, shrubs, flowers and groundcovers can be watered efficiently with low-volume drip emitters, sprayers and bubblers. Choose native and low-water plants whenever possible. Design with mulch versus rock. Rock heat up the soils & don’t retain moisture. 2-3” of single grind mulch is the best for windy Wyoming.

Now it’s time to get to work! A good rule of thumb is construction first, irrigation system updates and then plant. Lawn spray-heads may be converted to drip emitters with a built in pressure-reducing valve. Irrigation companies, garden stores or other professionals can provide you with advice.

To ensure your water-smart landscape is successful, you’ll need to prune, weed and keep 2-3” of mulch. Remember that even the best-designed irrigation system must be maintained and checked for issues.