Last Updated on April 21, 2026 by Brian Beck
Let’s be honest about what we are walking into this season.
Colorado Springs Utilities says system-wide storage is still in a solid position at 77% of capacity, or about 3 years of demand in storage, which is good news. But the same report says snowpack in its mountain watersheds is at or near record lows, soil moisture is below normal, and runoff is expected to be significantly below average this season. Their latest report showed the Colorado River Headwaters at 64% of normal snowpack and the Arkansas Basin at just 45% of normal.
Add to that the broader drought picture: as of March 10, only 20.66% of Colorado was drought-free, which means most of the state is already dealing with some level of dryness, and over a third was in severe to exceptional drought. NOAA’s seasonal outlook also favors drought persistence and development across parts of the Rockies with below-normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures.
And now we are about to get hit with a very warm stretch. The current 7-day forecast for Colorado Springs shows highs rising into the 70s and 80s, including multiple days near or above record warmth for March. That matters because heat like that wakes landscapes up fast, dries the upper soil profile fast, and exposes every weak lawn system that has been limping along under the surface.
So no, this is not the year to be casual.
But it is also not the year to panic.
It is the year to be smarter.
This Is Exactly Why We Built a Different Program
Most people still think lawn performance is mostly about spraying, feeding, and reacting.
It is not.
A lawn is a functional system. If the soil cannot absorb water properly, hold it properly, cycle nutrients properly, and support real microbial life, then that lawn becomes expensive to own. It will ask for more water, more rescue treatments, more correction, and more attention just to look average.
That is the trap.
The good news is that this can be changed.
Our approach is built around creating a lawn that functions better, not just one that gets propped up temporarily. When the soil is improved biologically and structurally, the lawn becomes more efficient. It can take in water better. It can hold moisture longer. It can feed itself more effectively. And it can maintain a better look with less waste, less stress, and less dependency.
That is hope rooted in function, not wishful thinking.
What This Year Will Reward
This season will reward the people who do the following:
1. Water the soil deeply, not the surface lightly
Shallow watering creates shallow roots and weak turf. Colorado Springs Utilities recommends watering no more than three days per week, and during the warm season watering should happen before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. to reduce evaporation. Their own guidance also emphasizes “cycle and soak,” which means breaking watering into smaller cycles so the soil can actually absorb it.
That is exactly the mindset we use: soak the profile, not the pavement.
2. Fix coverage and inefficiency first
A lot of “dry lawn” problems are really distribution problems. Tilted heads, clogged nozzles, bad spacing, runoff, and poor timing waste a surprising amount of water. CSU specifically notes that brown spots are often a sign of poor sprinkler coverage, not just lack of runtime.
In a year like this, wasted water is going to show up fast.
3. Build humus so the soil can act like a reservoir
The more humus and biological activity you build, the more water the soil can hold and the more forgiving the lawn becomes. That means better hydration, less stress swing, and lower water demand over time. This is where the real win is. Not just “watering more,” but building a soil that does more with the water it gets.
4. Stop managing the lawn like a weekly emergency
The old model waits until the lawn looks bad, then tries to rescue it. That is expensive and inefficient. The better model is to improve the system before the lawn starts gasping. That means strengthening the soil, reducing limitations, and helping the lawn respond better to heat and dryness before visible decline shows up.
5. Think efficiency, not sacrifice
This is important: being water-wise does not have to mean settling for an ugly lawn. Colorado Springs Utilities explicitly says lawns can still be green and healthy under Water Wise rules when watering is done properly.
That lines up with what we have been proving: a better-looking lawn and a more efficient lawn do not have to be opposites. In fact, when the soil works better, those two things start to become the same thing.
The Big Mistake to Avoid
The biggest mistake people will make this year is waiting too long.
They will see warm weather.
They will assume spring moisture will carry them.
They will wait to turn things on.
They will water lightly.
They will hope the lawn catches up on its own.
Then they will spend the rest of the season trying to recover from preventable stress.
That is not a good plan.
The earlier you help the soil hydrate properly and the earlier you correct inefficiencies, the less water it takes to stabilize the lawn and the better it performs when the real heat arrives.
Our Message This Year Is Simple
Yes, conditions are dry.
Yes, this season may put pressure on irrigation.
But no, that does not mean your lawn has to become a casualty of the weather.
This is where a better approach matters.
We have spent years learning how to help lawns function with more efficiency, more resilience, and less waste. That means improving water infiltration, building humus, feeding biology, correcting dysfunction, and helping homeowners get better results without relying on the same tired high-input model.
A lawn that functions better is not just easier on water.
It is easier on your wallet.
Easier on your time.
Easier on your stress.
And it usually looks better too.
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Do not wait until your lawn starts waving the white flag.
If your lawn already struggles with dry spots, stress, poor color, runoff, or high water demand, now is the time to address the system underneath it. Let us show you how to build a lawn that uses water better, holds up better, and looks better with a smarter biological approach.
Call us now or fill out our form to schedule an evaluation.
This is the season to get ahead of the problem, not chase it.
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