WHEN THE GRASS ISN’T GREENER

Local efforts are targeting Boulder County’s thirsty turf

BY SHAY CASTLE

As state lawmakers handle homeowners associations’ addiction to green lawns, local governments and organizations are targeting turf outside the confines of HOAs through incentives of their own and replacement of governmentowned grass.

Locally, Resource Central is leading the landscaping revolution with its turfconversion, irrigation analysis and garden-in-a-box programs. The Boulderbased nonprofit has partnered with nearly 50 water utilities along the Front Range, “including pretty much all of Boulder County,” according to Resource President Neal Lurie.

Since 2016, Resource estimates it has saved 1.5 billion gallons of water through its various programs. They started turf removal four or five years ago, Lurie said, after a survey revealed that physical removal of grass was the biggest barrier for homeowners.

Lurie estimates the company will complete 1,000 lawn removals next year.

“Water-wise landscaping is rapidly becoming the norm in Colorado,” he says.

While no local governments appear to have outright banned Kentucky bluegrass in Boulder County, some municipalities have more strict rules than others. For example, Lafayette does require new developments to limit landscaping to water-friendly options and limits lawn-watering to certain hours, no more than three days a week.

“All new commercial, multifamily, and common areas/rightof-way landscaping in new residential subdivisions … must be designed such that no more than 15 gallons per square foot per year will be required to maintain,” wrote city spokesperson Debbie Wilmot, in response to emailed questions. “The City is in the process of reviewing our land use code and will likely consider landscape regulations with any revisions in the future.”

Lafayette is also setting a good example for private residents, by xeriscaping seven City facilities. Other local governments have joined them in ripping out and replacing thirsty turf.

Longmont tore up Kentucky bluegrass in front of its Hover Street service center and went with a wheatgrass blend that reduced water use 30-50% on the site. A consultant is working on recommendations for new landscaping rules that will limit non-essential turf on government, commercial and industrial properties.

“We feel really passionate about getting our own house in order and being efficient before we mandate that our residents do that,” says Hope Bartlett, Longmont’s water conservation specialist.

Rebate Roundup

More information about your town’s turf replacement rules:

Erie

Rebates of $1 to $2 per square foot for low-water grasses and garden plantings up to 1,000 square feet. Replacements and new construction eligible. Learn more and apply: bit.ly/erie-turf-rules

Lafayette

$25 discount on Resource’s Garden-in-aBox kit. Various rebates on water-efficient sprinklers and drip systems.

Learn more: bit.ly/lafayette-water

Louisville

$25 discount on Resource’s Garden-ina-Box kit. $500 discount on Resource’s Lawn Replacement Program.

Learn more: bit.ly/louisville-turf

Superior

Free indoor and outdoor water audits via Resource’s Slow the Flow program. Various rebates for rain barrels and waterefficient drip and sprinkler systems.

Learn more: bit.ly/superior-water

Longmont

$750 discount for the Resource Central program of your choosing. Various discounts and rebates for water-efficient upgrades.

Learn more: bit.ly/longmont-water

Boulder

Erie will replace 24,000 square feet of bluegrass outside its service center next year, according to water conservation specialist Dylan King. Thanks to a state grant, Erie offers its own rebates for lawn conversions. The town replaced more than 50,000 square feet of turf in 2022 and 82,018 square feet in 2023.

$500 discount on landscape conversion through Resource. Learn more: bit.ly/boulder-water

“We’re very proud of that,” King says.

WANT TO YANK OUT YOUR YARD?

Homeowners looking to level up their lawns should do two things, Lurie said: First, check resourcecentral.org/lawn. Select your water provider to see what discounts, rebates and incentives they offer.

Before you plant anything, it’s a good idea to check with your local government (or HOA, if you have one). Resource’s water-wise gardens and gardens-in-a-box are pre-approved by local partners, Lurie says, so no worries there.

Lurie recommends redoing your yard in sections, starting with at least 200 square feet (the minimum for Resource’s removal program). Turf replacement starts in late winter or spring (frozen ground is too hard to remove) so “winter time is the perfect time for planning,” he says.