Horticulture & streetscapes
Louisville’s Horticulture program creates and maintains welcoming, water-wise public landscapes throughout the City, from flower beds and pollinator gardens to medians, streetscapes, and City facilities.
Creating more resilient landscapes
Louisville is gradually transitioning select areas of traditional bluegrass turf to more diverse, water-wise landscapes. Depending on the location, these areas may include native and drought-tolerant grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and pollinator-friendly plants.
These changes can reduce water use and long-term maintenance while providing habitat for pollinators and wildlife. Native and water-wise landscapes also change throughout the seasons and may look different from traditional, regularly mowed turf.
Medians and streetscapes
Many of Louisville’s older medians were originally landscaped with irrigated bluegrass and trees that are now aging or susceptible to pests and disease. As medians are renovated, the City is replacing some high-water-use turf, improving irrigation, diversifying the tree canopy, and adding drought-tolerant and pollinator-friendly plants.
Not every median will look or be maintained the same. Plant choices and maintenance depend on factors such as available space, visibility and safety, irrigation, roadway conditions, and the needs of each location.
Supporting pollinators
Louisville is a designated Bee City USA community and works to create and protect habitat for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Horticulture staff incorporate native and pollinator-friendly plants into public landscapes and consider habitat needs when planning and maintaining these areas.
Caring for public landscapes
Horticulture staff provide ongoing care for landscaped areas throughout the City, including planting, pruning, watering, weed management, and seasonal maintenance. The level of care varies based on the type of landscape, its location, and its purpose.
The Parks General Maintenance and Management Plan helps guide this work and recognizes that horticulture extends beyond parks to medians, rights-of-way, City facilities, and other public spaces.
Create a more sustainable landscape at home
Residents can use many of the same principles at home by choosing plants suited to Colorado’s climate, using water efficiently, reducing unnecessary turf, and creating habitat for pollinators.
Explore water conservation and sustainable landscaping