Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC), your local environmental nonprofit, has a solution for how to do-it-yourself landscape a Front Range lawn into a thriving, low-water perennial garden.  This is possible through Garden-In-A-Box, a product designed for any DIY gardener from novice to expert.  Garden-In-A-Box is a professionally designed, plant by numbers xeriscape garden that makes drought-resistant gardening easy, affordable and convenient.  These affordable gardens are available for purchase online and thanks to the support of 11 water municipalities, prices are highly discounted for local residents.

The gardens contain xeriscape, or low-water requiring plants, selected by professional landscapers, and already healthy starters when gardens arrive.

It’s important to recognize that xeriscaping does not mean covering your landscape with rocks and cactus – or that you can’t have any bluegrass.” says Dan Stellar, CRC’s Water Division Director, “The key is to come up with a landscape design that will suit your needs while still conserving water. Garden-In-A–Box does just that.”

The Garden-In-A-Box is an easy way to reduce water consumption in a state where half of the water use of the average household is for landscaping. As Colorado’s population grows and water supplies become more stressed, xeriscaping will continue to be a key way for homeowners to save water.  For more than 10 years, the Garden-In-A-Box program has been a huge success in the Front Range and is expected to sell-out early.

CRC provides xeriscape gardens with plants chosen for our region’s dry conditions. The designs are filled with vibrant flowers and eye pleasing textures, while maintaining low water needs. Xeriscape gardens require less than half the water of bluegrass lawns and, according to Colorado Water Wise, can increase property values by up to 15%.

A repeat Garden-In-A-Box customer, Maureen Taylor says, “With a GIAB, all you have to know is whether your site is in the sun or shade. The gardens are literally turn-key; all you need is the land. The headache is gone.”

This year’s innovative designs, the Morning Sunrise, Western Horizon and Shady Jubilee, have some of the Front Range’s most reliable perennials.  Plants such as Purple Veronica, Ladies Mantle, and Poppy Mallow are hearty, drought tolerant, and can withstand some of the poorest soils.  The Garden-In-A-Box kit provides the plants and professionally developed, easy-to-follow planting and care instructions.  CRC also sells drip irrigation kits and control clocks to go with the gardens.  Gardens cost between $99 and $134, depending on the design chosen. Residents in the following cities are eligible for a $25 discount at the time of purchase thanks to partnerships between CRC and the local water municipality: Arvada, Boulder, Brighton, Castle Pines, Fort Collins, Golden, Greeley, Lafayette, Longmont, Loveland and Westminster.

Gardens can be ordered online at Gardenstore.ConservationCenter.org or by calling 303.999.3820 ext. 222.   This program is expected to sell out so call now to reserve your garden.  CRC is also offering 8 free Water-wise Landscaping Seminars, taught by local experts. This year’s topics range from “Xeriscaping for Beginners” to “Creating a Lush Xeriscape”. Registration is now open for the seminars at www.conservationcenter.org or 303.999.3820 ext. 217.

About the CRC:

Founded in 1976, the Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Each year, the CRC empowers more than 30,000 individuals to conserve natural resources and to live a more sustainable life through educational programs and services designed to help members of our community conserve water and energy and minimize waste. Our programs include Garden in a Box, ReSource Boulder and ReSource Ft. Collins, Tool Library, Woodworks, Slow The Flow, Renew Our Schools and more. Join us for the Earth Day 5k on Sunday, April 21! Learn more at conservationcenter.org