Tree of Life Landscapes is so excited to be helping Kechter Farm HOA in creating more climate resilient landscapes. Instead of watering, fertilizing, and mowing Kentucky bluegrass, Kechter Farm has decided to be proactive and work toward using less water and resources. With water as an essential resource and growing ever more expensive, it is important to be thinking of new ways to landscape now. Not only do these seedings use less water but they also provide necessary sustenance for pollinators and wildlife.Tree of Life has created three separate seed mixes to give the community a taste of what climate resilient landscapes can look like. This post will give you an idea of what is happening in these spaces!
Below is a description of each site within Kechter Farm. Please match the zone with the zone here to find out what will be growing in your community!
ZONE A: This seeding mix is a flower-forward design. Designed by Kenton Seth, a noted designer and leader in sustainable landscapes, this design will flower throughout the season. Kenton has named it “The Overachiever” mix because it does everything at a low cost. If you look closely, you will see northern sweetvetch, coreopsis (yellow flowers), blanketflower, blue flax, globe mallow (orange flowers), firecracker and rocky mountain penstemon, and California poppy. Along with the flowers, grasses will be filling in around the flowers, creating a groundcover. This mix sports many Colorado native plants and is loved by insects and pollinators.
ZONE B: This seeding mix also has flowers but is mainly populated by grasses of the High Plains: Bouteloua and Festuca varieties. These grasses love our harsh climate and provide necessary food for many insects. Unlike a monoculture of Kentucky Bluegrass, these grasses tolerate a wide variety of conditions and once established, drought conditions. Look for which grasses green up in what seasons - the cool season grasses will begin to green early in the spring, the warm season grasses will come on later in the spring as the weather warms. Included in the mix are other well-loved perennials like purple prairie clover, blue flax, Mexican red hat, and California poppy. These perennials will bring seasonal interest to the seeding.
ZONE C: This seeding mix is a straight grass mix. This is meant to mimic a ‘turf-like’ feel. These grasses will handle mowing and will provide a soft background but will not require the water, mowing, and fertilizing of Kentucky Bluegrass turf. Enjoy this Colorado inspired selection of grasses: Bouteloua, Buffalo grass, Sheep’s Fescue.