Which Plants are Best for Castle Pines Landscaping Projects?
There's never been a better time to reshape or revitalize your home's landscape design than right now! During your landscaping project, you'll need to make a multitude of decisions on all kinds of things including the layout's design, the hardscaping features, and more. Because of the unique Colorado climate, special considerations must be made for your Castle Pines landscaping changes, specifically for your plants.
Which types of plants are best for your home? And what should you keep in mind as you compare softscaping elements with your landscaping company? Let's dive into these questions and others together.
Understanding the Colorado Climate
Plants can be fickle things; each genus and species of plant requires different growing conditions. There's a reason why you don't see many palm trees in Colorado -- it's all because of the climate.
Colorado has a high desert climate, which means we experience low humidity levels and consistent dryness throughout the year because of our high elevation. Throughout the Denver metro and beyond, Coloradans experience bountiful sunshine and low precipitation, with sharp local gradients, large seasonal cycles, and dramatic day-to-day changes. Between the extremely cold snowstorms of the winter and the damaging hailstorms of the summer, the harsh Colorado climate can contribute to all kinds of landscaping challenges.
If you're updating your landscaping in Castle Pines, you'll want to keep the local climate in mind as you compare plants for your home.
Ideal Plants for Your Colorado Landscaping Project
Because of Colorado's arid desert climate, it's best to select plants that are drought-tolerant, as they require minimal watering once established. Plus, these types of plants are adapted to thrive in dry conditions, which is especially great for homes with xeriscaping elements. Here are a few types of drought-tolerant plants to consider adding to your property:
Yuccas
Sedums
Lavender
Sage
In addition, it's a good idea to opt for "native" plant species too. These plants are typically low maintenance and require less water and fertilizer than others, similar to drought-tolerant varieties. These local plants help promote greater biodiversity and support local wildlife too. Think about integrating the following native plants into your home's landscape design:
Trees – Varieties like Colorado Blue Spruce and Douglas Fir are native coniferous trees. For smaller options, consider the Bristlecone Pine and the Rocky Mountain Juniper.
Shrubs – Sagebrush, Mountain Mahogany, and Wax Currant shrubs are all native to Colorado and can survive through even the toughest Colorado winters.
Grasses – Buffalograss and Arizona Fescue are native to the Colorado region and can make for great groundcovers and design elements, and help with erosion control.
Plants to Avoid for Landscaping in Castle Pines
Many hardy plant species can survive and thrive in the Centennial state, but some varieties are not suitable for Castle Pines. Landscaping professionals in the region know it's best to steer clear of plants that need lots of water, are sensitive to extreme temperature changes, and have high maintenance requirements. Here are a handful of species to avoid:
Rhododendrons – Between the wild temperature fluctuations and quickly drying soils, rhododendrons can struggle to survive in this state.
Willow and elm trees – Both plants are very sensitive to snow, especially in the springtime.
You'll also want to be mindful of trees and plants with invasive root systems because these types of plants can cause damage to your home's foundation, sidewalks, and hardscaping elements. The quaking aspen, for instance, looks great in any landscape, but it propagates by sending out roots that then sprout into more trees. You can't control where those roots spread and where those new saplings grow, which can be detrimental to your landscape design, your property, and your relationships with neighbors.
Get an Estimate from our Castle Pines Landscaping Pros
Are you ready to upgrade your property with a stunning landscape design? We can help at Enviroscapes. With multiple Native Plant Specialists on staff, we understand the unique challenges that affect residential landscaping in Castle Pines. Through our collaborative and time-tested process, we will work with you to develop a custom landscaping design that accounts for all your needs, must-haves, aesthetic preferences, and local restrictions. With Enviroscapes on your side, you can rest easy knowing your project will be handled with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail.
Contact Enviroscapes today to get a FREE in-person estimate for your home in Castle Pines from our landscaping professionals.