Front Yard Landscape

Traditional, suburban, residential landscape aesthetics have been woven into our nation's city planning culture. Stemming from landscape architects from the northeast, many ideas of green grass and lush front yards have led to increased water use for semi-arid landscapes like those of the West. These landscapes also provide little to no habitat or food source for local insect, birds, and animals.

In 2015, the Office of Sustainability moved into the Sustainability Demonstration House with the idea of show-casing ways to provide habitats for local wildlife, reduce water usage, and create an aesthetically-pleasing and functional space that supports our local Colorado Springs ecosystems.

Thanks to grant-funding and in-kind sponsorship, the educational garden tour focuses on water wise, Plant Select, and native plants to get the 'right plant in the right place'. You'll also learn about the importance irrigation plays in reducing water usage for a yard this size.

The Demonstration House has had many partners assist with the front yard renovation to support in educating our campus and Colorado Springs community on the many benefits of Water Wise landscaping and using native plants:

Weisburg Landscape Maintenance provided discounted management, expertise, and installation of the project
Colorado Springs Utilities provided design assistance and irrigation technology
Colorado Garden Foundation awarded grant funding to assist in the renovation
UCCS Green Action Fund awarded grant funding to assist in the renovation
Phelan Gardens provided discounted trees
Harding Nursery donated trees, bushes, flowers and ground cover
Rain Bird donated irrigation supplies and expertise
Rocky Top Resources donated boulders for seating to enjoy the space
Britton Nursery donated flowers and ground cover
Heidrich's Colorado Tree Farm donated shrubs
Fort Collins Nursery donated shrubs
SiteOne donated landscape lighting, mulch, and landscape fabric and edging
Brady's Nursery donated trees and shrubs

Visual Timeline of Front Yard Transformation

2021

blue residential house with trees and plantings and blue sky with clouds

With grant funding through the Green Action Fund and the Colorado Garden Foundation and the project management expertise from Weisburg Landscape, many features were added to the yard including a river rock swale/rain garden, living fence, native and low water plantings, installation of an irrigation system to reduce water use, and more! Check out the businesses that provided in-kind support above.

2018

More effort was placed in maintaining the yard summer of 2018. Without an irrigation system, all plants were hand watered.

2017

blue residential house with few plantings

Partnerships with local nurseries allowed us to purchased pine trees to replace the apricot tree. Additional plants were added to increase habitat for native wildlife.

2016

residential blue house with limited plantings

The apricot tree shown here towards the west was on the neighbor's property. It provided shade, fruit for native wildlife, and was a beautiful red in the fall. Unfortunately, this tree was cut down during the construction of the neighboring apartment complex. Additional plantings were added summer of 2016 along with breeze on the pathway.

2015 - First Transformation of Landscape

blue residential house with few plants and rock outline for path and steps

The first transformation of the landscape included creating a path from the road from the west. Berms and swales were created to help reduce erosion of the sandy soil and retain water naturally for future plantings.

2015 - First Yard Work Day

KFL clocktower with yellow flowers and greenery in the foreground, fluffy clouds and mountain range in the background

Spring 2015 was the first opportunity the Office of Sustainability staff had to alter the landscape from primarily Kentucky Bluegrass to more native and low water plants. This was a picture from the first work day.

2014 - Original Landscape

The Sustainability Demonstration House was built in 2000, purchased by UCCS in 2010, and renovated into the SDH from 2014-2015. The original landscape was Kentucky Bluegrass, two pines, a cottonwood tree, and some bushes.