Home » Extension » Yard & Garden » Demonstration Gardens at The Ranch

Demonstration Gardens at The Ranch

Should I switch to buffalograss? Is a clover lawn my best choice? How can I maintain my grass without wasting water?

Sustainable water use is at the top of homeowners' minds.  Starting in spring/summer 2023, you can visit The Demonstration Gardens at The Ranch to:

  • See your turf options
  • Discover Plant Select® plants
  • Learn about the water required to maintain the landscapes

At the Demonstration Gardens at The Ranch, you can find 6 different "front yard" landscapes. Stroll through the pathways to see various:

  • Turf types
  • Landscape plant species
  • Irrigation technology

Click through the tabs below to learn more about what you can expect to find.

The Demonstration Garden at The Ranch is accepting donations for plant and landscape materials (mulch, gravel, paving stone) or sponsorships. Contact Alison O'Connor for details.

Builder-grade vs. Efficient Irrigation

Gardens 1 & 2 compare two different irrigation systems for Kentucky bluegrass.  Kentucky bluegrass is very common in Northern Colorado. The amount of water needed to keep Kentucky bluegrass green and healthy depends on what type of irrigation system you have.

Picture of bluegrass section of Demonstration Garden

Garden 1: Builder-grade Irrigation

In the Builder Grade Irrigation garden, you will find spray sprinklers. Sprinklers that spray water in a broad broadcast are very common throughout northern Colorado and are available for purchase at hardware and home improvement stores. They work well at distributing water, but there are more efficient options out there.

Garden 2: Efficient Irrigation

You may be able to complete a simple switch of your sprinkler heads to significantly lower your water usage. The Efficient Irrigation garden has the same plants, but uses less water by utilizing drip irrigation around the landscape and rotor sprinklers heads for the lawn. Parts are available for purchase at hardware and home improvement stores.

How much water is each garden using?

Water monitors track the total water usage and soil moisture of the garden, allowing Extension Specialists to report back how much water was required to keep each garden healthy and thriving.  Check back soon for a comparison between the two landscapes.

What plants are in Gardens 1 & 2?

Alpine Currant 
Alpine Currant
Burning Bush
Burning Bush
Potentilla (Cinquefoil)
Potentilla Cinquefoil
Skunkbush Sumac
Skunkbush Sumac
Chanticleer™ Pear
Chanticleer Pear
Rock Elm
Rock Elm
Siberian Iris
Siberian Iris
Snowberry
Snowberry
Speedwell
Speedwell
Stella D'Oro Daylily
Stella D'Oro Daylily
Karl Foerster Feather Reedgrass
Karl Foerster Feather Reedgrass
Kentucky bluegrass
Kentucky Bluegrass
 

Learn More

Tall fescue turf 

Tall fescue turf is another popular variety in Northern Colorado.  The appearance is similar to Kentucky bluegrass, and many homeowners won't be able to visually tell the difference. However, tall fescue reacts differently to drought:

  • Tall fescue rebounds faster than Kentucky bluegrass
  • Tall fescue takes longer to turn green in the spring
  • Tall fescue takes longer to die during a drought

How much water is each garden using?

Water monitors track the total water usage and soil moisture of the garden, allowing Extension Specialists to report back how much water was required to keep each garden healthy and thriving.  Check back soon for a comparison between the two landscapes.

What plants are in Garden 3?

Alpine Currant
Alpine Currant
Apache Plume
Apache Plume
Blanket Flower
Blanket Flower
Little Blue Stem
Little Blue Stem
Pawnee Buttes Sandcherry
Pawnee Buttes Sandcherry
Hot Wings Maple
Hot Wings Maple
Rock Elm
Rock Elm
Columbine
Columbine
Sunset Hyssop
Sunset Hyssop
Little Trudy
Little Trudy
Fernbush
Fernbush
Tall Fescue
Tall Fescue

Learn More: 

 

Buffalograss turf

Buffalograss turf has received a lot of attention lately. It's a native species to Northern Colorado and does well in cold weather. Additionally, buffalo grass needs to be mowed less and needs less water than Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue.  However, buffalo grass turns green late in the season, turns brown quickly when the weather cools down, and doesn't hold up to foot traffic as well. 

Buffalograss throughout the season

Buffalograss is a warm-season grass.  That means it turns green significantly later in the year than tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass. Buffalograss also turns brown earlier in the year.  We have some photos from the Demonstration Garden below.

Bermudagrass Through the Year
  Buffalograss Kentucky bluegrass
May
Buffalo grass in May. It's still light brown with only small bits of green.
Kentucky bluegrass in early May. Most of the grass is green.
October
Buffalo grass in October. It's still light brown with only small bits of green.
Kentucky bluegrass in early October. Most of the grass is green.
December
Buffalo grass in December. All of the grass is brown.
Kentucky bluegrass in early December. About half of the grass is green.

 

What plants are in Garden 4?

Alpine Currant
Alpine Currant
Apache Plume
Apache Plume
Blanket Flower
Blanket Flower
Little Blue Stem
Little Blue Stem
Pawnee Buttes Sandcherry
Pawnee Buttes Sandcherry
Hot Wings Maple
Hot Wings Maple
Rock Elm
Rock Elm
Columbine
Columbine
Sunset Hyssop
Sunset Hyssop
Little Trudy
Little Trudy
Fernbush
Fernbush
Chocolate Flower
Chocolate Flower

How much water is each garden using?

Water monitors track the total water usage and soil moisture of the garden, allowing Extension Specialists to report back how much water was required to keep each garden healthy and thriving.  Check back soon for a comparison between the two landscapes.

Learn More: 

Bermudagrass

Bermudagrass is known for being tough. In fact, many sports stadiums use bermudagrass because of how well it holds up to foot traffic. However, it's not known how well bermudagrass handles cold winters in Northern Colorado. In late 2022 to early 2023, we will be testing to see how well the bermudagrass 'Tahoma 31' cultivar holds up in the cold weather. 

 

 

Bermudagrass throughout the season

Bermudagrass turns green significantly later in the year than tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass. Bermudagrass also turns brown earlier in the year.  We have some photos from the Demonstration Garden below.

Bermudagrass Through the Year
  Bermuda Grass Kentucky bluegrass
May
Bermudagrass in May. About 30% of the grass is green.
Kentucky bluegrass in early May. Most of the grass is green.
October
Bermudagrass in October. About 30% of the grass is green.
Kentucky bluegrass in early October. Most of the grass is green.
December
Bermudagrass in December. None of the grass is green.
Kentucky bluegrass in early December. About half of the grass is green.

 

What plants are in Garden 5?

Check back soon!

 

How much water is each garden using?

Water monitors track the total water usage and soil moisture of the garden, allowing Extension Specialists to report back how much water was required to keep each garden healthy and thriving.  Check back soon for a comparison between the two landscapes.

Learn More:

Clover Lawn *COMING SOON*

Clover lawns are frequently shared as an alternative to grass. While not planted yet, you can soon stop by to see what a clover lawn looks like and learn more about maintenance. 

Potential benefits of a clover lawn:

  • Less fertilizer is needed (compared to a tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass lawn)
  • More attractive to honey bees and pollinators
  • Cold hardy
  • Tolerant of foot traffic
  • May not need mowing (depending on type of clover seeded)

Potential downsides of a clover lawn: 

  • Difficult to convert
  • Not drought resistant
  • Damaged by herbicides (difficult weed control)
  • May not need less water than tall fescue or Kentucky bluegrass

Learn More:

You can find the Demonstration Gardens 5280 Arena Circle, just south of the First National Bank Building.  

Non-Discrimination Statement

Colorado State University Extension is an equal opportunity provider. Colorado State University does not discriminate on the basis of disability and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations. CSU’s Office of Engagement and Extension ensures meaningful access and equal opportunities to participate to individuals whose first language is not English. Colorado State University Extension es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

Colorado State University no discrimina por motivos de discapacidad y se compromete a proporcionar adaptaciones razonables. Office of Engagement and Extension de CSU garantiza acceso significativo e igualdad de oportunidades para participar a las personas quienes su primer idioma no es el inglés.

Col.st/ll0t3

Larimer County Colorado State University Extension

Send email

ADDRESS
1525 Blue Spruce Dr.
Fort Collins, CO 80524-2004

Phone: (970) 498-6000 

7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday 

Sign up for our e-newsletter. 

Our office follows the Larimer County Holiday Calendar for office closures.