A photo of the Denver Botanical Gardens (Flickr–Creative Commons)

Among Colorado home owners, the phrase “water, water everywhere” isn’t a phrase often thrown around. With summertime lawn watering restrictions in Denver, it isn’t always easy to keep things green when temperatures rise into the 90s and higher. But with homebuyers out in force this season, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to wow them with your Colorado home simply because your yard wasn’t all it could be.

Most Colorado consumers are concerned with rising gas prices, but if you’re buying a home in the Colorado Front Range, you probably have some ecological and financial concerns about water, too. Here’s a short list of things you can do this summer to keep your home looking great from the curb, whether it’s on the market or not.

1. If you have a sprinkler system, make sure it’s properly maintained. Leaks and inefficiencies can cost you both dollars and dead spots. Carefully research installers, and look into receiving an irrigation system audit that measures and evaluates your system.
2. Follow your neighborhood’s water restrictions (if there are any). Not only will you save the communities water supply, you’ll avoid fines or additional fees.
3. Water before 9:00 AM. Watering before it gets too warm outside raises the bang for your watering buck because you’re not losing as much moisture to evaporation. Avoid watering at night, however, because doing so can increase the molds and fungi that can take hold.
4. Ask your water department for literature or material on landscaping in a dry climate; further, ask an expert about landscaping/xeriscaping options.
5. Careful care and management of grasses can make them more water-wise.