Smarter Landscaping. Thriving Landscapes. Picturesque Spaces.
The snow is finally retreating, the rivers are rising, and the short growing season is officially underway. Now’s the time to set your landscape up for success with smart choices that reduce wildfire risk, save water, and support the native species that make this place feel like home.
Whether you’re planting new beds, updating your yard, or just pulling out the hose for the first time, Alpenscapes is here to help you do it with intention.
Tips for New Plantings
Late May through June is one of Big Sky’s best planting windows. Cooler temperatures and lingering soil moisture help plants get established before the hottest days of summer.
Start with clean, well-prepared soil and focus on native or drought-tolerant species. Water consistently until plants are established, and group species with similar needs to make irrigation easier. Adding mulch helps hold moisture, suppress weeds, and buffer soil temperatures as days warm.
Tip: Stay ahead of invasive growth by pulling weeds early and often, especially in the first few seasons, when young plants are still getting established.
Expect new plantings to need extra attention for their first 1–3 seasons, including weeding near and watering frequently to support solid establishment. After that, they’ll repay you with resilience, beauty, and less maintenance.
Fire-Wise + Water-Wise + Minimize Lawns
Spring is also a great time to reassess your lawn. Grass consumes more water than any other part of the yard, and offers little value when it comes to wildlife or fire safety.
As wildfire season approaches, consider replacing lawn edges or unused patches with native wildflowers, low-water groundcovers, or decorative hardscape features. These changes reduce irrigation needs and can create natural firebreaks that slow or stop flame spread.
And remember:
- Keep grass under 4 inches
- Clear dead vegetation
- Maintain at least 5 feet of non-flammable space around your home
Alpenscapes Landscaping Guidelines
If you haven’t yet, now is the perfect time to explore the Alpenscapes Landscaping Guidelines—your go-to resource for creating beautiful, resilient landscapes, designed to thrive in Big Sky. This is for residents, property owners, homeowners associations, and developers looking to align their outdoor spaces with Big Sky’s distinctive environment and climate challenges. Inside, you’ll find:
- Firewise strategies tailored to high-elevation living
- Water conservation tips rooted in snowpack realities
- Native plant recommendations to support local pollinators and wildlife
- Real-world design ideas that look good all season, even when the sprinklers aren’t running
If these practices are not yet adopted by your homeowners association, leverage this tool to influence your association for a safer/more resilient neighborhood.
Planning landscape updates this summer? Let’s walk your property together.
Alpenscapes offers free site consultations to help you identify wildfire risks, suggest native planting strategies, and improve irrigation efficiency. We’ll help you work with Big Sky’s environment, not against it.
Stay Connected
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for early-season planting tips, design inspiration, and stories from across the Big Sky community.
Tag your project with #Alpenscapes—we’d love to share your success.
Reach Out
We’re here to support you. Whether you’re just getting started or already deep into planting, we’d love to help.
