Grounds & Landscaping Update

Beginning this summer, we are implementing a new landscaping plan and vision for our parish. The project’s goals, affectionately labeled “Brown is the New Green” by our fantastic Facilities Director, Mike Hutchinson, are threefold:

• To make Pax Christi a good community member and neighbor by conserving water and natural resources;
• To be good financial stewards of the parish’s monetary gifts;
• To be in harmony with our surrounding natural environment.

This endeavor is designed to save the parish thousands of dollars every year, while also making us a leader in environmentally friendly landscaping here in Douglas County.

Watering in our Dry Landscape

The area surrounding our church was planted around 20 years ago, when planting turf bluegrass was a widely accepted practice. Since then, other options have become available–and in some cases necessary–because of watering restrictions.  

Our irrigation water line is 1-inch in diameter. Experts tell us it is 1/3 the diameter required to properly water all the grass we currently have planted. That means in order to keep all the currently planted bluegrass green, we would need to water 7 days a week, 24 hours every day–and that’s in an optimum year where we are getting rain regularly. This year’s drought and dry conditions further impact our ability to provide the grass with enough water to keep it green and beautiful.

Replacing the current 1-inch line with a 3-inch line would require extensive digging, re-piping, and obtaining required county permits (not to mention great expense). We expect the county and water districts to be reluctant to grant increases for future irrigation, and instead implement even more frequent and drastic water restrictions in the future. As a result of those anticipated restrictions, we need to consider reducing our irrigation needs–not increasing them…so this project simply doesn’t make sense. In the interest of good stewardship, we are implementing the following plan to maintain a beautiful, natural landscape while conserving water and saving money… 

The Plan

STEP 1: Irrigating & Improving Some Turf

Our plan is to continue irrigating the areas most used and seen, and replace or improve the turf grass in these areas by either re-sodding or re-seeding. The first area we hope to improve is the “plaza” area between the small chapel and the great hall entrance. Next, we hope to improve the grass on either side of the main walkway on the east side of the Great Hall, and down the hill to the school’s entrance and playground.

UPDATE 9/15/22

We implemented Phase I this week, and it’s looking beautiful! Please keep off the grass for the next two weeks while the grass becomes established.

STEP 2: Reclaiming Natural Areas with Native Plants

For the rest of the landscaping, we will be embarking on a 2-4 year “reclamation” project. The current turf will be allowed to dry out and die off. We will spray for weeds throughout the growing season to prepare the area for seeding in the fall. At that point we will seed the former turf-grass areas with a “low-grow” native grass and wildflower mix, which will give a maximum height of about 12 inches. This drought-friendly alternative will require little or no extra watering, no fertilizer, and only one mowing per season. Irrigation costs are expected to drop 60-70%, and contracted landscaping work (mowing, etc.) will be reduced by 50%.

Next year we expect the growth to be minimal, but by continuing to reseed annually for the next 2-4 years, we hope to establish a thick and consistent growth that will blend into our already-beautiful, natural High Plains environment.

Already Underway

Over the last several years our main irrigation water line has been cut multiple times, by various parties. The lack of water has already begun the drying and dying process we mentioned above. That, in addition to a very dry and hot spring have resulted in the grass dying off in large areas, giving us the perfect opportunity to begin work this year. We’re excited to continue with this plan to help make our property more beautiful in the years to come, all while conserving natural resources, saving money, and being good neighbors!

Update: 8/5/22

As expected, our area is now under State 1 Drought Restrictions. The goal of Stage 1 restrictions is to reduce water use by 15%-20%. Outdoor irrigation is limited to 2 days per week, and no watering can take place between 10 AM and 6 PM.

Update: 10/10/22

Things are coming along with our Landscaping Plan, ahead of schedule! In addition to new sod bluegrass being installed and taking root, we also did some heavy-duty aeration and weed spraying of the new natural grass area. The new native seed mix has also been applied! If anyone wants to toss in some wildflower seed along the sidewalks now is the time to do it. 

The large dirt pile has been removed and graded. Finish work will include blending in the sides, removing all temporary fencing and poles, removing any trash, blending in the dirt around the new electronic sign, and then “drill seeding” the area with a “Douglas County seed mix.” This final step should be completed before our first snow fall; please pray for a wet and prolonged springtime for our new grasses to sprout and grow at their new home.

A huge thanks to our Facilities Director, Mike Hutchinson for all of his hard work!