Smart Watering This Summer: A Northern Colorado Homeowner’s Guide
Colorado summers are legendary - warm evenings, blue skies, and a backyard you actually want to spend time in. This year, with a drier-than-usual season underway, a few simple adjustments to your lawn care routine can keep your outdoor space looking great while being a good steward of our shared water resources.
At Pride Landscape, we love helping Northern Colorado homeowners get the most our of their yards all season long. Here’s everything you need to know to keep your lawn healthy, happy, and water-smart this summer.
A Quick Look at Where Things Stand
Colorado has seen a lighter snowpack this winter, which means water districts across the Front Range are encouraging conservation this season. The good news? Northern Colorado communities are well-prepared, and a few easy changes at home can make a big difference.
Here’s a quick breakdown by city:
Fort Collins is under Stage 1 guidelines, with outdoor watering on 2 days per week. Think of it as an opportunity to water smarter, not less effectively.
Loveland (served by the Fort Collins-Loveland Water District) recommends watering no more than 3 days per week and skipping the midday window between 10AM and 6PM. Stay up to date at fclwd.com.
Greeley is in great shape - city officials have confirmed adequate water storage and no mandatory restrictions are in place.
The bottom line: with a little planning, your lawn can thrive within these guidelines.
Good News: Your Lawn Is Tougher Than You Think
Here's something that surprises a lot of homeowners — cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue are actually built for this. They have a remarkable built-in survival mode called dormancy.
When temperatures rise and water is limited, grass naturally slows down and shifts into a resting state. It may lose some of that deep green color, but the roots stay alive and healthy underground. As soon as conditions improve, it bounces right back — often greener than before. Dormancy is one of the smartest things your lawn can do, and it's completely normal.
The key is to work with your lawn's natural rhythms rather than against them. That's where a few smart habits go a long way.
5 Easy Wins for a Water-Smart Lawn This Summer
1. Mow a little higher. Raise your mower deck to 3–4 inches. Taller blades shade the soil, lock in moisture, and keep roots cooler. It's one of the easiest changes you can make with a big payoff.
2. Water at the right time of day. Early morning (before 10 a.m.) is the sweet spot. The water soaks in before the heat of the day, and your grass gets the full benefit. Evening watering works too if mornings are tough. Both Fort Collins and Loveland already recommend avoiding midday watering — and for good reason.
3. Water deeply, not daily. Longer, less frequent watering sessions encourage roots to grow deeper into the soil, where moisture sticks around longer. Your grass becomes more self-sufficient as a result, and you'll actually use less water overall.
4. Give your irrigation system a quick checkup. A misaligned sprinkler head or a minor leak can waste surprising amounts of water. A fast walk-through of your system can reveal zones that are getting too much water — and others that could use a little more attention.
5. Skip the summer fertilizer. Hold off on high-nitrogen fertilizers until things cool down in the fall. Heavy feeding during summer heat pushes fast growth that needs more water. Let your lawn rest a bit and it'll thank you come September.
Ready to Go Further? This Could Be Your Year
Some homeowners look at a dry summer as the perfect opportunity to think bigger about their landscaping — and we love that energy.
Colorado native plants are having a moment, and for good reason. Species like Blue Grama grass, Rocky Mountain Penstemon, and Apache Plume are gorgeous, low-maintenance, and thrive on natural rainfall once established. Mixing them into your landscape can add color and texture while dramatically reducing your water needs long-term.
Even swapping out a high-traffic or problem area of turf for native plantings, decorative rock, or mulched beds can make your yard feel fresh and intentional — while being easier to maintain than a lawn that's always fighting the Colorado climate.
If you've been curious about xeriscaping or just want to explore your options, this is a great time to have that conversation.
We're Here to Help
Whether you want to get your irrigation system dialed in, explore some drought-smart landscaping ideas, or just get a professional eye on your lawn before the summer heats up — Pride Landscape is here for it.
Our team serves Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Johnstown, and the surrounding Northern Colorado area. We know this region's soil, climate, and growing conditions inside and out, and we'd love to help you make the most of your outdoor space this season.
Give us a call or reach out online to schedule a consultation. Let's make this a great summer for your yard.