Planting Trees, Shrubs, and Beds Around Elizabeth, CO

HLE Landscaping & Concrete plans and plants trees, shrubs, flower beds, and garden beds for Elizabeth-area homes, from compact town lots to rural parcels.

Out here, the first planting question isn’t which plants you like. It’s where the water will come from, because a home on Town water and a home on a private well can have very different options for anything grown outdoors.

  • 2025 Best of Mile High Award by Inbound Systems
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  • 2024 Best of Mile High Award by Inbound Systems
  • 2023 Best of Mile High Award by Inbound Systems
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Services here range from garden bed installation and flower bed design and installation to shrub and hedge planting and tree planting, with care guidance after every job.

A Planting Plan Starts With Your Water Source

Before we suggest a single plant, we ask how the property is watered and what is underground. Town water, a private well, and the location of any septic field all change what belongs in the ground and where it should go.

From there, Brandon Gallegos and our team put together plantings that suit the property:

  • Shade and screening trees for yards and fence lines
  • Shrubs and hedges for privacy, structure, and color
  • Flower beds along walks, patios, and the front of the house
  • Raised or in-ground beds for herbs and vegetables
  • Mulched beds that pair with drip irrigation in Elizabeth where watering is allowed
Curving walkway through mulch beds with young evergreens and fall color

Sandy Ground and a Short Growing Season

Most of the soil in town is sandy loam, which drains quickly. That is kind to roots that dislike soggy ground, but it also means a new planting can dry out faster than it would in heavy clay, so the first weeks of watering and a layer of mulch matter.

On planting day we set each tree or shrub at the right depth, backfill and settle the soil, and water it in. Timing counts too: the growing season here runs from mid-May into early October, so we schedule tender plants for after the spring frost risk has passed.

New mulch planting beds with young perennials along a sidewalk

What the Wells, Soils, and Frost Maps Say About Elizabeth

These records shape our Elizabeth plant lists. Each links to the public source.

  • Zone 5b, with local variation

    USDA’s 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map places the majority of ZIP code 80107 in zone 5b, defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -15 to -10°F. Low spots and exposed rises can run colder or warmer than the map.

    Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
  • Many wells can't water plants outdoors

    State Division of Water Resources guidance limits the typical exempt well on a parcel under 35 acres to indoor use in one home, which rules out watering outdoor plants or lawn. Some other well permits allow irrigating a lawn and garden of up to one acre, sometimes smaller.

    Source: Colorado Division of Water Resources — Guideline 2023-1
  • Beds and septic fields don't mix

    Elbert County Public Health says irrigated landscaping over a septic soil treatment area is not recommended, because the extra water can saturate the area and cause the system to fail early.

    Source: Elbert County Public Health — General OWTS FAQs

Trees, Shrubs, Hedges, and Garden Beds

Every planting job starts with putting the right plant in the right place for its mature size, light, and water needs.

  • Tree planting for shade, windbreak-style screening along a property line, or a single focal tree near the house
  • Shrub and hedge planting that adds privacy, softens fences, and gives beds structure through winter
  • Flower bed design and installation with perennials and seasonal color laid out for bloom through the growing season
  • Garden bed installation for herbs and vegetables, sited for sun and easy watering

Planting next to a new patio, walkway, or wall? We coordinate beds with hardscape so edges, grades, and drainage all work together, including around retaining walls in Elizabeth.

Beds That Suit Rock, Mulch, and Less Water

Where water is limited, a water-wise bed does the most with the least: drought-tolerant plants grouped by how much water they need, rock or mulch to cover the soil, and space left for plants to reach full size. Mulch holds moisture in the ground and helps keep weeds down.

Native Colorado plants are a natural fit for this kind of planting, since they’re already adapted to the climate. Our guide to native plants for Colorado landscapes and our post on low-water xeriscaping in Colorado are good starting points.

Rock and mulch landscape strip with a boulder along a neighborhood sidewalk

How an Elizabeth Planting Visit Goes

  • Property walk

    We look at sun, slope, existing plants, and where you want color, shade, or privacy.

  • Water and septic check

    We confirm how the property is watered and where any septic field sits before choosing locations.

  • Plant list and layout

    A plan sized to the space and a clear estimate.

  • Planting day

    Each plant goes in at its proper depth, the soil is firmed around it, and everything gets a deep first watering and mulch.

  • Care instructions

    A watering and upkeep plan for the first season.

Aftercare Through the First Seasons

Planting is only the first step. New trees and shrubs need consistent watering while their roots spread into the surrounding soil, a refreshed layer of mulch, and a watchful eye through their first winter. We leave you with specific guidance on watering, mulching, and general care so the investment keeps growing.

If a plant struggles, call us. Catching a watering or placement problem early is far easier than replacing a tree later.

New sod lawn along a split-rail fence with young evergreens

Planting Help From a Licensed, Insured Team

Our licensed, insured crews handle the full job, from preparing the planting area to the final soak. You’ll get a straightforward plan and price before any digging starts. Explore our tree planting services, or see everything we do locally on our Elizabeth landscaping page.

Elizabeth Planting Questions About Wells, Soil, and Timing

How can I find out what my well permit allows for outdoor watering?

Start with the permit itself. The Colorado Division of Water Resources advises reading the uses listed on your well permit, because not every domestic well allows the same things, and permit files can be looked up with the state’s Well Permit Search.

Do sandy soils change how new plants should be watered?

They do. Sandy loam drains fast and holds less water than clay, so new plantings usually need closer attention while roots establish. A layer of mulch slows evaporation, and grouping plants with similar water needs keeps you from overwatering some to satisfy others.

What kind of plants make sense for a property with limited water?

Drought-tolerant plants, including many Colorado natives, arranged in beds grouped by water need and covered with mulch or rock. That approach, often called xeriscaping, gives you color and structure while keeping water use low.

Can you plant a privacy screen along a fence line?

Yes. A row of trees or shrubs can add privacy and shade along a fence or property line. Mature width, spacing, and how each plant will be watered decide what goes where, so we plan the full-grown size before anything goes in the ground.

When is it safe to plant in spring around Elizabeth?

After mid-May for most tender plants. NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for the Elizabeth 2NW station put the median last spring freeze at May 16 and the first fall freeze at October 2, a growing season of about 137 days, so hardy trees and shrubs can go in earlier while frost-sensitive plants should wait.

Thinking about new trees or beds in Elizabeth? Call (720) 634-6540 or send us a message to book a free planting consultation.