How to Maintain a Healthy Lawn in Denver’s High-Altitude Climate

By Stuart Kushner

Colorado’s unique climate paired with Denver’s elevation means maintaining a lush, green lawn is no walk in the park. But armed with proper knowledge and a willingness to put in effort, you can maintain a healthy lawn that’s sure to impress your neighbors.

Maintaining healthy grass in Denver involves amending the soil and adopting a mowing schedule based on the Mile High City’s variable weather patterns. Discover how to establish a lawn care routine tailored to our high-altitude environment.

Key Takeaways

• Know Your Soil: Amend Denver’s clay-heavy soils with organic materials and sulfur.
• Mow Correctly: The optimal mowing height is 2.5 to 3 inches.
• Water Properly: Give your lawn 1 to 1.5 inches of water weekly. Water deeply and infrequently.
• Fertilize: Add nutrients in the spring and summer. Avoid over-fertilizing to prevent damage.
• Weed Control: Herbicides, mulch, and/or manual removal help maintain a weed-free environment.

Know Your Soil

Denver’s earth is clay-heavy, compacted, and often lacks essential nutrients. As a result, it holds water longer than desired and hinders root growth. Soil amendments are the best way to address this issue.

Perform a basic soil test. Denver’s soils are alkaline, so add sulfur to balance the pH and make it more fertile. Monitor the soil pH several months to a year after the initial application, and reapply sulfur yearly to achieve a neutral pH.

Add organic materials like compost, aged manure, and grass clippings to the soil. They add nutrients, increase water retention and drainage, and enhance microbial activity.

Aerate your lawn with a lawn aerator. You’ll create holes in the soil, giving air, water, and nutrients a passageway to the roots. The best time to aerate your lawn in Denver is in spring or fall when temperatures are cooler.

Mow Your Lawn Correctly

Mowing your lawn is vital to making it healthy. However, it’s very easy to mow incorrectly.

Never cut more than a third of the grass blade at a time. Cutting too short will stress it out, especially during the summer.

Mow at the right height depending on your grass type – between 2.5 to 3 inches.

If factors like weather disrupt your mowing schedule, temporarily raise the height of the lawn mower to avoid cutting too much at one time.

Water Your Lawn Properly

Denver’s arid climate makes watering crucial, but the city’s water restrictions make it more difficult. Water your lawn smartly for the best results.

Water early in the morning to ensure your lawn absorbs as much water as it can before the sun evaporates the rest. Note that Denver prohibits watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Water two days per week (watering three days is not allowed).

Give your lawn 1 to 1.5 inches of water a week. This ensures that water penetrates the soil and that the roots grow strong.

Use a gauge to track natural rainfall. You never want to overwater your lawn, as it will become weak and unhealthy. Tracking how much rain Denver gets will help you adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

Water Your Lawn Properly

Denver’s arid climate makes watering crucial, but the city’s water restrictions make it more difficult.

Water your lawn smartly for the best results. Water early in the morning to ensure your lawn absorbs as much water as it can before the sun evaporates the rest. Note that Denver prohibits watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Water two days per week (watering three days is not allowed).

Give your lawn 1 to 1.5 inches of water a week. This ensures that water penetrates the soil and that the roots grow strong.

Use a gauge to track natural rainfall. You never want to overwater your lawn, as it will become weak and unhealthy. Tracking how much rain Denver gets will help you adjust your watering schedule accordingly.

Fertilize

Fertilizing your lawn gives it the nutrients needed to grow green, thick, and lush. However, over- fertilizing can cause fertilizer burn and nutrient runoff. Read the label carefully to prevent this.

Use a slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer. A slow-release formula lets grass absorb nutrients at a controlled rate, lowering the risk of fertilizer burn. At the same time, lower nitrogen levels prevent rapid, excessive top growth that weakens the grass in Denver’s climate.

Fertilize your lawn in Colorado in spring and fall when cool-season grasses grow best. As a result, they’ll absorb the nutrients more effectively. If you have a lawn made of warm-season grass, fertilize in late spring and summer instead.

Weed Control

Denver lawns are quite susceptible to weeds. These thieves take vital nutrients, water, and space from the grass that needs them, weakening your lawn overall. Here’s what you can do to get rid of them.

Apply pre-emergent herbicides in March to prevent weeds from germinating. For best results, the soil temperature should be between 50 and 55°F. Follow label directions and do not exceed recommended rates.

Add a layer of mulch (2-4 inches deep) in and around the garden beds to suppress weed growth. It blocks sunlight needed for weed growth while maintaining consistent soil moisture. It also moderates the soil’s temperature, keeping it cool. If you have a small number of weeds, manually remove them. Ensure you pull out the entire root system to guarantee they don’t return.

Conclusion

Denver’s unique climate can make lawn care challenging, but with the right knowledge, proactive prevention, and vigilant maintenance, you can create an Instagram-worthy lawn. Contact us today and we’ll help you develop a lawn care plan tailored to your needs.

Stuart Kushner is a NYC-based writer who is passionate about home improvement. When he’s not cleaning kitchen cabinets, adding gadgets to his apartment, or caring for his indoor plants, he’s reading, exercising, cooking, listening to music, or enjoying the city’s cuisine.