Landscaping can increase your curb appeal, sprucing up your backyard with gardens and trees. They also make a great feature for entertaining. Planting with native vegetation is good for the environment because they need less care.

Maintenance is easy and can help restore the natural landscape. These plants and features could also help you conserve water and save money. Here are a few ways to add native landscape to your Colorado home.

1.   Match Plants to Your Surrounding

Before creating your landscape, do careful planning. Decide where you want to add the plants. Do you want to place them along a pathway or fence? Then consider the area’s features and how they’ll affect growth. Other factors to think about are soil type, microclimate, and sun and wind exposure.

You may not find much shade during hotter summers. During this time, grow Creeping Oregon Grape which can retain moisture. Once you determine the climate of the gardening spot, start your research to find plants.

2.   Look for Plants That Bloom Year Round

Select flowers that bloom year-round to keep your landscape engaging. Place these flowers on either side of your entryway or a stone pathway leading to the patio. Then, strategically plant grasses to add texture and movement in the winter months.

Here are a few plants to consider adding to your garden:

• Pansy
• Snapdragon
• Trailing garden mums
• Cyclamen
• Flowering kale
• Sweet alyssum

3.   Use Complimentary Colors

Making sure your plants’ colors are all cohesive helps your yard look beautiful, so look at the color wheel to determine which ones to place next to each other. For example, purples and yellows go nicely together since they’re opposite on the wheel.

You could pair a mountain iris with a glacier lily, then add some white plants to balance the different colors. Create a flower bed of complementary colors near outdoor features like a fire pit to add an extra touch of comfort to the space.

4.   Add Different Colors and Shapes

Having diverse plants intertwined can create a beautiful and dramatic effect. Look for various shapes, textures and colors. Try mixing light and dark hues for a visually exciting design. Placing fuzzy and smooth-leaved plants next to each other creates a dynamic style, but repeating patterns and textures help make balance.

Also, pay attention to how the plants look year-round, not just in bloom. Highlight attractive characteristics like seed heads and place them as centerpieces for outdoor family dinners. These will be excellent design themes for mild-temperature months such as March or May.

5.   Incorporate Natural Elements in Your Landscape

When adding elements around your plants, make sure to use natural materials like stone paths and wood. Wooden decks are great for entertaining. Determine your budget to help pick what element you want to use and the size of the structure. These can blend well with the outdoor setting, while synthetic materials stick out and clash with the natural surroundings.

Fake elements also are worse for the environment and have chemicals that could harm the soil. By using natural materials in your front or back yard, you can save your local ecosystem from potential damage.

6.   Be Intentional About Plant Heights

Are there areas of your home needing shade for the hotter summer months? Suppose you have a table where guests gather for parties. Planting taller grasses and vegetation next to it — like vanilla sweet grass — can help your partygoers feel a little cooler.

Also, including shrubs of different heights creates visual interest. Grow shorter wildfires along fences and entryways. In your garden bed, have taller plants at the center and shorter plants on the outside.

7.   Remove Weeds

Out-of-control weeds can cover the soil and push out native plants. Sometimes you’re in a rush to plant new items and just let weeds grow. However, try to take care of these as soon as possible. Start by identifying broadleaf weeds, such as dandelions, clover and creeping charlie.

Dig them up before they sprout and mulch regularly. Using natural ingredients like boiling water is better for the environment, so utilize them wherever possible. This target allows native vegetation to thrive and is great for long-term maintenance.

8.   Get Rid of Invasive Plants

Invasive plants can start to overrun your garden, spreading quickly and displacing your native plants. They then create monocultures that can reduce biodiversity. Plus, overgrown plants can reduce your home’s curb appeal. Research and identify common invasive species and do so before planting your native plants. It will save you time and stress or regrowing new vegetation.

Here are a few invasive species in Colorado to look out for:

• African mustard
• Absinth wormwood
• African rue
• Black henbane
• Alpine knapweed

9.   Buy Vegetation From a Plant Nursery

Removing native plants from the wild can harm the surrounding environment more than help it. Instead, buy them from local plant nurseries. These places grow and maintain plants specifically for general public use.

You can search for local spots online or ask other gardening friends for suggestions. The Colorado Native Plant Society has a list of vendors you can check out. In addition, make sure you pick native plants that aren’t harmful to the environment, such as baby’s breath. Native vegetation doesn’t need fertilizers to grow, so skipping it is better for the environment and your wallet.

10.  Take a Hint From What Is Already Growing

See what is naturally growing around your home. Are there native plants you can already identify? Add these to your garden first. They save you the hassle since they’ve adapted to the soil. Buying more of the plants already at your home creates a more cohesive design.

Take some time out of your day to look around your home. You could even check hidden areas further from the house. Take pictures of these plants for reference at the store.

11.  Grow Plants That Attract Pollinators

To create a native landscape, consider adding more natural wildlife. Domestic flowers can attract pollinators like bees to your yard, which helps crops to grow. In fact, 30% of crops depend on pollinators for reproduction.

Here are a few tips for attracting native wildlife:

• Have a layered landscape with grasses and flowers at the bottom, shrubs for the mid-level, then trees.
• Include plants with a variety of bloom times.
• Incorporate a water source, such as a small fountain.

12.  Take Care of the Soil

Colorado soils can be dense and clay-like, so preparing the ground before introducing new plants is crucial. Also, remember that you don’t want to overwater, especially with slow-draining soil. Adding soil amendments such as bark or sawdust breaks up the dirt and increases the flow.

Here are a few more ways to keep your soil healthy:

• Test your soil.
• Add organic matter.
• Incorporate compost.
• Use mulch or cover crops.
• Don’t use heavy chemicals.
• Rotate crops.

How to Enhance Your Landscape

Native plants are good for the environment and can elevate your backyard design. When adding vegetation, do your research on various colors, textures and plants to include. These tips can help create a wonderful and natural style for your Colorado landscape.

Rose Morrison is the managing editor of Renovated.com, and has over 5 years of writing experience. Her work has been featured on The National Association of Realtors, the American Society of Home Inspectors, and other reputable publications. For more from Rose, you can follow her on Twitter.