11403 53rd Place, Arvada CO

Karolyn’s BACKYARD REFRESH

RESILIENCE GUIDE | LOCAL VENDORS

DESIGN WORKFLOW

CONCEPT → IMAGES TO HELP WITH VISUALIZATION (ECO GARDENS BY REBECCA)
2D LAYOUT → FUNCTIONAL MASTER PLAN (ECO GARDENS BY REBECCA)
REQUIREMENTS → HOA OR CITY CHECKLIST (WATER WISE / WUI OR FIRE RESILIENT / COOLING)
INSTALLATION → CUSTOM BUILD (A GOOD EARTH MAINTENANCE)
RESILIENCE GUIDE → RECOMMENDED SEASONAL GUIDELINES (411 FOR YOUR MAINT CONTRACTORS)

Installation Schedule

✔ GOAL = BY OCT 23 RD 2026 | INSTALL = 1 WEEK OR LESS

OCT

WEEK 1 (5th - 9th)

✔ Finalize Design + Submit for HOA Approval

WEEKS 2-3 (12th - 23rd )

✔ Receive HOA Approval +

WEEK 3 or 4 (19th - 30th)

✔ Labor for Hardscape

GOAL = END OF OCT

SPRING 2027

✔ DIY plantings per recommended plant list

CONCEPT EVOLUTION

RAISED 3 TIER PLANTER BED BY SOUTH WALL OF HOUSE IN THE BACKYARD

BACKYARD RAISED PLANTER BED

✅ 1 LONG RAISED PLANTER BED WITH 3 TIERS

✅ SHORT STEP STONE PATH

🚫 NOT INCLUDING: DRY WELL / DRIP / DRAINAGE

PROPERTY LAYOUT

BACK YARD FOCUS | HARDSCAPE RAISED BED

REQUIREMENTS

HOA

Garden space allotted = 108 sq ft per property

✅ PROPOSED BACKYARD TOTAL = 68sq ft

√ 36 sq ft = proposed long raised bed 18ft L x 2ft W at north wall

√ 32 sq ft = 2 existing square planter boxes 4x4 at NW corner

√ Compliant with HOA space allotted

FRONT YARD = ?

✅ Because the Haskins Station neighborhood is surrounded by developed roads, highways, and residential infrastructure rather than dense, continuous wild land timber or wild brush fields, it does NOT fall into a high-intensity Class 2 WUI zone.

√ Instead, the strict 0–5 foot planter bed and landscaping

compliance rules are driven by two factors:

Arvada's Unified Base Code: Arvada applies standard baseline ignition-resistant material rules to properties near transit lines or public open tracts to mitigate spot fires. [1]
HOA / Metropolitan District Guidelines: High-density townhome and patio home neighborhoods in Arvada commonly build stricter noncombustible landscape requirements (like rock borders and banned juniper plants) directly into their own neighborhood Design Review Guidelines. This is done to prevent a fire from easily jumping from one closely spaced building to the next, regardless of what the city's macro-level WUI map says.

SITE

✅ CURRENT RAISED BED MEASUREMENTS

(a) Box 1 = 6x5ft x 12”h (Far Left section)

(b) Box 2 = 6x5ft x 8”h (Center section)

(c) Box 3 = 6x5ft x 4”h (Far Right section**)

✅ LOCATION + MATERIAL

• PLACEMENT = UN ATTACHED at north wall of house

• MATERIALS = Strip Stone recommended

(for precise requested measurements above)

X Wood is not recommended within 5 feet of house footprint to comply with fire risk protocol

X Plastic, Trex, or Modular Kit is not recommended to achieve the specific footprint for the existing measured space

Recommended MATERIALS

recommended plants

A MICRO CLIMATE APPROPRIATE PLANT LIST FOR YOUR UNIQUE RAISED BED GARDENS

Best guidelines for planting within 5 ft of the house:

1. Soil and Mulch Restrictions

Soil + Rock: Use dirt, pea gravel, or river rock as a top layer.
High Organic Soil Caution: Standard potting soil mixes with high concentrations of peat moss or shredded wood fibers can actually catch fire from windblown embers. Clean topsoil or mineral-heavy soils are required.
Mulch: It is recommended to refrain from using shredded wood bark, wood chips, or cedar mulch inside the planter bed. According to the mitigation guidelines, should embers land in the planter, wood mulch may easily ignite right next to your home's siding.

2. Plant Selection

Ideal Plants: Heavily irrigated herbaceous perennials, low-growing succulents,or fire-wise choices matching the Colorado State University Extension Firewise Plant Guide (typically plants with a flammability rating of 8, 9, or 10).
Not Recommended: Small evergreen shrubs (like dwarf junipers or arborvitae) or woody, resinous plants.

CREATING YOUR FLOWER BED THEMES

Because these groups have slightly different sunlight and drainage preferences, you can tweak how you use your soil and ground cover in each section to help them thrive!

Bed 1: The Woodland Shade Bed

The Plants: Rocky Mountain Blue Columbine (Aquilegia coerulea), Jacob's Ladder (Polemonium), and Starry False Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum stellatum).
The Vibe: This is a classic, cool, montane forest floor community.
Soil & Care Tip: This bed will benefit the most from the organic, sponge-like moisture of a premium mix like Paonia Soil Co.'s Raised Bed Mix or a rich topsoil amended with Soil Pep. Jacob's Ladder and Solomon's Seal thrive on decaying forest organic matter.
Ground Cover Strategy: Since this is your shady, north-facing bed, a living mulch of Sweet Woodruff or Spotted Dead Nettle pairs beautifully here. They match the forest aesthetic perfectly and will keep the delicate, shallow roots of your Columbines safely insulated from summer heat.

Bed 2: The Moist Meadow Bed

The Plants: Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve), Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata), and Sticky Wild Geranium (Geranium viscosissimum).
The Vibe: A lush, mid-elevation mountain meadow or stream-bank community.
Soil & Care Tip: Cutleaf Coneflower is a moisture lover that can grow up to 6 feet tall! To anchor these taller, robust root systems, use a heavier bulk loam base like the Pioneer Garden Mix. While they love moisture, the Aster and Wild Geranium prefer it to drain well, so ensure the soil doesn't turn into dense muck.
Ground Cover Strategy: These plants will likely grow tall and dense enough to naturally shade out the ground on their own by mid-summer (acting as their own living canopy). A thin 1-inch top-dress of Soil Pep here is ideal to keep the soil surface from crusting under the sun.

Bed 3: The Riparian / Pollinator Magnet Bed

The Plants: Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata), Wild Bergamot/Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa), and Goldenrod (Solidago).
The Vibe: A vibrant, high-moisture prairie or wetland edge. This bed will be absolutely buzzing with native bumblebees and butterflies.
Soil & Care Tip: Wild Bergamot and Goldenrod are highly adaptable but thrive aggressively when given consistent moisture. Be aware that Monarda can be prone to powdery mildew if it gets zero airflow, so give these plants plenty of room to stretch out in the bed. A standard local topsoil blended with EKO Compost will give them the nutrient boost they need to fuel their heavy late-summer blooms.

Planting Layout Suggestion

When arranging them in your 18-foot beds, remember to place your Cutleaf Coneflower and Goldenrod at the very back or center, as they will easily tower over the others. Place the Jacob's Ladder, Columbine, and Wild Geranium toward the front borders so their delicate foliage and intricate flowers don't get swallowed up by the late-summer giants.

BEDS 4 + 5 (WEST FENCE):

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