Jefferson County
Xeriscape & Landscaping in Golden, CO
Foothill slopes, rocky ground, wind, and deer — on water that comes straight out of Clear Creek.
- Water provider
- City of Golden
Get a free estimate in Golden
Tell us what you’re working with. We’ll walk the property and give you a real number.
Golden sits right against the foothills, and the landscape shows it: slopes, rocky soil, strong wind, and wildlife moving through town. Plants that do fine on a flat, sheltered Denver lot can struggle here, and plants that belong here often look better than anything you could import.
That makes Golden one of the best places on the Front Range for a native-first landscape — one that looks like it came with the mountains behind it.
Water in Golden
City of Golden
Golden runs its own water utility, and its supply comes from Clear Creek. With low snowpack and below-average stream flows, the city declared Stage 1 drought restrictions starting May 1, 2026: lawns can be watered no more than two overnights per calendar week (you pick the days), after 6 p.m. and before 10 a.m. Drip irrigation for trees, shrubs, and gardens — non-turf areas — is allowed at any time.
Golden partners with Resource Central on lawn replacement, Garden In A Box, and irrigation audits. Check the city's water conservation page for current programs before removing any lawn.
Rules and programs checked September 2026. They change — confirm with your provider before you plan.
Slopes, rock, and wind
On a Golden slope, the landscape has to hold soil. Boulders get set deep enough to work as retaining, beds get terraced where the grade demands it, and decomposed granite stays off steep paths (it washes). Wind dries plants out, especially evergreens going into a dry winter, so we favor tough, low, wind-tolerant natives on exposed sites and use drip with pressure-compensating emitters so the whole slope waters evenly.
Deer and defensible space
Deer browse Golden yards, so plant choice matters — aromatic and tough-leaved natives hold up better than tender perennials. On lots that back onto open space, it's worth keeping the first few feet around the house lean and noncombustible: gravel or rock mulch and low, well-spaced plants rather than wood mulch and dense shrubs against the siding. The Colorado State Forest Service publishes guidance on that home ignition zone.
Around Golden
We work throughout Golden, including Downtown Golden, Clear Creek corridor, and Applewood (nearby).
What Golden yards usually need
Plant & Install
Native, wind-tolerant palettes that belong in the foothills.
Rock & Decomposed Granite
Boulders and rock mulch that hold slopes and read as natural outcrop.
Hardscaping
Terracing and retaining on steep lots.
Drip Irrigation
Pressure-compensating drip so the top of the slope gets water too.
Also in Golden
Golden questions
- What are Golden's watering rules?
- Golden declared Stage 1 drought restrictions starting May 1, 2026: lawns no more than two overnights per week, after 6 p.m. and before 10 a.m., on days you choose. Drip for trees, shrubs, and gardens is allowed any time. Check the City of Golden's water conservation page for updates.
- What plants survive deer in Golden?
- No plant is deer-proof, but aromatic and tough-leaved natives — sages, rabbitbrush, many penstemons, and ornamental grasses — get browsed far less than tender perennials. We lean on those near paths and entries.
- Can decomposed granite work on a Golden slope?
- On gentle grades with stabilizer and good edging, yes. On steep grades it washes out in the first real storm. There we use steps, flagstone, or larger crushed rock instead.
Planning a project in Golden?
Free walkthrough, a straight read on your provider’s rules, and a real number.