FOUR WATERING ZONES

for Waterwise Plant Grouping in any Dry Climate

HIGH WATERING ZONES (H)


(Cool season turf. Soil surface always moist.)

Typical Denver turf: Kentucky Bluegrass
in Denver: 18 - 20 gal. added / SF / irrigation season
.5 in.added 3 times / week (when there is no rain)
30 in.+/- added / irrigation season

Albuquerque estimate: 25 gal./ SF/ season

MODERATE WATERING ZONES (M)


(Half of cool season water)

Typical Denver turf: Turf-type Tall Fescue
In Denver: 10 +/- gal. added / SF / irrigation season
.75" added once / week (when there is no rain)
15" +/- added / irrigation season

Albuquerque estimate: 12.5 gal./SF/ season

LOW WATERING ZONES (L)

(Warm season turf. Soil surface usually dry.)

Typical Denver turf: Buffalograss
In Denver: 0-3 gal. added / SF / irrigation season
.5 in.added every other week (only when very hot and dry)
4.5 in. +/- added / irrigation season

Albuquerque estimate: 5 gal./ SF/ season

VERY LOW WATERING ZONES (VL)

(Too dry for any turf. No irrigation.)

Santa Fe typical plants: Yuccas, Piñon Pines, and Rabbitbrush
Phoenix typical plants: Cactus, Creosote Bush, Mesquite

Drier than Denver. For locations that are drier than support Buffalograss Turf.

 

Avoid High Watering Zones adjacent to Low or Very low Watering Zones.

Without transition zones, water from the wet zones will be wasted on the adjacent dry zones.

Notes:

By selecting two to four zones, and experimenting to adjust the irrigation amounts, this system works well for any climate that requires irrigation. The amounts of irrigation indicated for each watering zone are for typical Denver conditions (full sun, level ground, and soil between clay and sand).

Xeriscape Misconceptions

Thank You! BASIN was a community project which benefitted from over 1000 hours of public volunteer time. BASIN was highlighted by the US EPA in a national case study in its 2001 handbook Delivering Timely Environmental Information to Your Community. Thank you to all volunteers, and especially to the late Jim Waterman, BASIN Project Coordinator!
BASIN was supported by the US EPA, the City of Boulder, the Keep it Clean Partnership, BCWI and BCN
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