Common Landscaping Mistakes Colorado Homeowners Should Avoid
Are you making any of these top landscaping mistakes? A great yard adds beauty, value, and comfort to your home but yards require maintenance and design for overall comfort and functionality. These mistakes can cost time, money, and can hurt your plants or pathways. The good news? With the right knowledge, you can avoid them—or fix them if you’ve already made them.
At Aspenwood Landscaping in Parker, Colorado, we’ve seen it all. Below are the top landscaping mistakes Colorado homeowners should avoid, why they happen, and how to make them right.
1. Planting the Wrong Plants for Colorado’s Climate
The Mistake:
Many people pick plants because they “look pretty” at the garden center. But not all plants can handle Colorado’s dry climate, high elevation, and sudden weather changes. Let’s face it, most of us are not plant experts so utilize the knowledge of your local nursery to help you plan before you make decisions.
Why It’s a Problem:
Plants not suited to our conditions often struggle to survive. They may need too much water, die in the cold, or burn in the summer sun. This means wasted money and frustration.
How to Fix It:
Choose native plants that naturally thrive in Colorado. Examples include blue grama grass, serviceberry shrubs, and coneflowers.
Ask your nursery (like Pine Lane Nursery in Parker) for plants labeled “Colorado hardy.”
If you already planted the wrong ones, replace them gradually with more durable options.
2. Overwatering or Underwatering
The Mistake:
Some homeowners water their lawns every day. Others hardly water at all. Both extremes cause problems.
Why It’s a Problem:
Overwatering leads to shallow roots, weeds, and wasted water (along with a high water bill or fines from the city in drought season.)
Underwatering leaves grass and plants dry, brown, and weak.
How to Fix It:
Water deeply, but less often—2 to 3 times per week in summer. Check out our seasonal lawn care tips for more info on this and how often I water my own lawn!
Use drip irrigation for plants and shrubs so water goes to the roots.
Install smart irrigation systems that adjust to Colorado’s weather.
3. Ignoring Soil Quality
The Mistake:
Colorado soil is often clay-heavy and hard. Many homeowners skip testing or improving their soil.
Why It’s a Problem:
Poor soil drains badly, keeps plants from getting nutrients, and stunts growth.
How to Fix It:
Test your soil with a home kit or at your local extension office.
Mix in organic matter like compost to improve texture.
For lawns, aerate once a year to loosen compacted soil.
4. Planting Too Close Together
The Mistake:
In new landscapes, homeowners often plant too close to fill empty space. Remember, great things take time.
Why It’s a Problem:
Plants grow! Crowding leads to competition for water, sunlight, and nutrients. This can cause disease and poor growth.
How to Fix It:
Read plant tags carefully for spacing instructions, then follow the instructions.
Give trees and shrubs enough room to mature.
If you already planted too close, move plants in the cooler spring or fall seasons.
5. Forgetting About Maintenance
The Mistake:
Many people create a beautiful yard but forget that it needs regular care. Believe us, we know how busy life can get with kids, school, work and fun, I’m sure you’re not the only one who puts yard maintenance on the backburner.
Why It’s a Problem:
Without maintenance, lawns turn patchy, weeds take over, and shrubs grow wild. A once-great yard can look messy fast. If you are like me, you may also not like to spray chemicals all over your weeds with kids or pets around which means you have to pull your weight in keeping up on maintenance.
How to Fix It:
Schedule weekly or bi-weekly lawn mowing.
Prune shrubs and trees at the right times of year.
Use mulch to keep weeds down and hold moisture.
Or hire a local company like Aspenwood Landscaping for routine landscape maintenance needs such as sprinkler set up/blow out (we do not currently support lawn mowing).
6. Neglecting Hardscaping Needs
The Mistake:
Focusing only on plants and forgetting about walkways, patios, or retaining walls. Guilty! A much needed walkway down the side of our house is on the radar.
Why It’s a Problem:
First off, a yard without good hardscaping can be difficult to use so start there if you don’t have anything. Slopes may erode, and foot traffic may damage the grass.
How to Fix It:
Add paver patios, stone walkways, or retaining walls to create balance and function.
Use materials that match Colorado’s climate, like pavers that handle freeze-thaw cycles.
If you already have issues, consult a professional to repair or redesign your hardscape.
7. Cutting Grass Too Short
The Mistake:
Scalping your lawn by mowing too low.
Why It’s a Problem:
Short grass dries out faster, struggles to compete with weeds, and gets damaged by the Colorado sun.
How to Fix It:
Set your mower blade higher, around 3 inches.
Mow often, but only remove one-third of the blade length at a time.
Keep mower blades sharp for clean cuts.
8. Forgetting About Drainage
The Mistake:
Not planning for proper drainage in your yard.
Why It’s a Problem:
Water pools in low spots, which can drown plants, damage roots, or cause foundation problems.
How to Fix It:
Grade your yard so water flows away from your house.
Add French drains, dry creek beds, or rain gardens.
Use permeable pavers that let water soak into the ground.
9. Ignoring Sunlight Needs
The Mistake:
Planting sun-loving plants in shade, or shade-loving plants in full sun. This also applies to decks and concrete patios, consider the sunlight impact on materials.
Why It’s a Problem:
Plants won’t grow well if they don’t get the right amount of light. Certain deck materials get hot, fast and can burn your feet (yes, we are talking to you composite).
How to Fix It:
Observe your yard for sun and shade patterns.
Match plants to the right conditions. For example, lavender loves full sun, while hostas do better in shade.
Move struggling plants to better spots in spring or fall.
10. Not Planning for All Four Seasons
The Mistake:
Designing a yard that only looks good in summer.
Why It’s a Problem:
Colorado has long winters. A yard that lacks evergreen shrubs, winter interest, or spring flowers can look bare and dull.
How to Fix It:
Plant evergreens like spruce or juniper for winter greenery.
Add spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils for early color.
Choose trees and shrubs with fall color, like maples and viburnum.
11. DIYing Everything Without Help
The Mistake:
Taking on big landscaping projects without enough knowledge or tools.
Why It’s a Problem:
DIY projects often cost more in the long run if mistakes need fixing.
How to Fix It:
Start small with DIY projects like flower beds or mulching.
For bigger projects—patios, irrigation systems, grading—hire professionals like Aspenwood Landscaping.
A mix of DIY and expert help gives you the best results.
12. Forgetting About Future Growth
The Mistake:
Designing a yard for “right now” without thinking about how it will look in 5 or 10 years.
Why It’s a Problem:
Trees may get too big, roots may push up patios, and plants may overrun your yard.
How to Fix It:
Plan with maturity in mind. Choose trees that won’t overpower your space.
Leave space for kids, pets, or future outdoor living features.
Think of your landscape as a long-term investment.
Landscaping in Colorado comes with unique challenges—high altitude, dry climate, sudden weather changes, and tough soil. Avoiding these common mistakes will save you stress and money, and help you create a yard you love year-round.
At Aspenwood Landscaping in Parker, CO, we help homeowners every day design, build, and maintain landscapes that fit Colorado’s climate and lifestyle. Whether you need routine maintenance, a new patio, or a full landscape design, our team is here to help.
📞 Call Aspenwood Landscaping today to schedule your consultation and avoid these costly mistakes before they happen!