What Is Xeriscaping and Beautiful Xeriscape Ideas for Your Lawn

While the classic American dream may have once included a tidy house, a white picket fence, and a lush green lawn. Drought and increasing water bills have changed what that dream looks like for many homeowners. In many parts of the country, especially in the Southwest, green grass lawns are increasingly being replaced by xeriscape landscape designs.

What is xeriscaping, and what are the benefits of replacing your water-hungry lawn? In this article, we’ll give you the rundown on the growing popularity of the xeriscape movement and share some xeriscape ideas for your landscape.

What Is Xeriscaping?

The word “xeriscaping” is a Greek term that means “dry-scaping.” As that meaning suggests, xeriscaping is the practice of redesigning a landscape to be as water-efficient as possible. That includes replacing water-intensive grass with more drought-tolerant plants, local plants adapted to the climate, and hardscapes (wood, stone, concrete, or other hard material).

What Are the Benefits of Xeriscaping?

Why are homeowners across the country tearing out their grass lawns and replacing them with xeriscape landscape designs? The simple answer is that many homeowners understand that water-intensive lawns are no longer practical. Here are some of the reasons why more and more homeowners are transforming the exterior of the home to a xeriscape:

Water Savings

The world is changing, and many parts of the United States regularly experience drought conditions. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA), roughly 37% of the U.S. was experiencing moderate to extreme drought in November of 2023.

Many Americans are looking for ways to cut their water usage, and one of the biggest water offenders is the front lawn. According to the EPA, 30% of the water we use each day is for outdoor usage. That adds up to 9 billion gallons of water used per day!

Xeriscaping is one of the best ways American homeowners can dramatically cut back on their water usage.

Cost Savings

While water bills aren’t notably high for most American households, that is likely to change in the coming years and decades as water becomes more scarce. One research group found that the combined water and sewer bill for the typical U.S. household increased by over 54% from 2012 to 2023.

If this trend continues, water bills will inch up year after year. Over time, it may become smarter financially to xeriscape a yard in order to cut back on water usage.

Water Restrictions

Residents in areas prone to drought are starting to see local restrictions placed on individual water usage. Residents in Texas, California, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming have all faced water restrictions over the past few years.

When water is restricted, grass lawns pay the price. Without regular watering, they quickly turn brown and create an unappealing look.

Xeriscaped lawns, on the other hand, will maintain their visual appeal even with minimal watering.

Low Maintenance

Grass lawns require a lot of upkeep, including mowing, watering, fertilizing, aerating, and seasonal cleanups. While xeriscaped lawns aren’t maintenance-free, they do tend to require less regular care.

Xeriscape Ideas

No wonder xeriscaped lawns are becoming so popular across the country. If you’re interested in xeriscaping, what will that mean for your lawn? The good news is that there is no one method or outcome to achieve a xeriscaped lawn. Xeriscape landscaping ideas are abundant, and xeriscaped landscapes can look vastly different from each other. It’s easy to create a one-of-a-kind xeriscaped yard that fits your individual tastes.

Most xeriscaped lawns include a mixture of xeriscaped plants and hardscapes, all supported by smart irrigation.

Xeriscaped Plants

While it is possible to xeriscape a yard with only inorganic hardscapes, many homeowners appreciate the beauty and color offered by live plants. The key to adding plants to a xeriscape lawn is to choose drought-tolerant options that are well-adapted to the local climate. Many xeriscape designers prioritize using regional, indigenous plants that can also support the local fauna.

Here are just a few examples of the many plants you can incorporate into your xeriscaping ideas:

Cactus

• Prickly pear
• Barrel cactus
• Saguaro
• Hedgehog
• Fishhook barrel
• Old lady
• Golden barrel
• Claret cup

Succulents

• Sedum
• Agave
• Aloe
• Jade

Ornamental Grasses

• Muhly grass
• Fountain grass
• Pampas grass

Native Wildflowers

• Coneflower
• Black-eyed Susans
• Bee balm

Herbs

• Lavender
• Thyme
• Rosemary
• Oregano
• Sage

Shrubs

• Russian sage
• Bottlebrush
• Rockrose
• Sumac

Ground Cover

• Dwarf coyote brush
• Creeping mahonia
• Wooly thyme

Other Flowers

• Yarrow
• Zinnias
• Coreopsis
• Cosmos
• Gaillardia
• Spider flower
• Penstemon
• Desert marigold

Hardscapes

The key to a great-looking xeriscaped lawn is to balance plant life with hardscapes. Many xeriscaped lawns dedicate a large amount of space to hardscapes since inorganic design elements don’t require any water.

Depending on your preferred xeriscape ideas, hardscapes can either support the visual beauty of your plant life or be the primary design feature of your yard.

Common hardscapes in xeriscape landscape design include the following:

• Mulch: Mulch is a great way to help drought-tolerant plants maintain moisture. It also adds a visual contrast between different areas of the yard.
• Stones: Large and interesting stones can add variety and color to a garden.
• Walkways and patios: Break up your yard with a walkway made from bricks, stones, or pavers. A large patio can add beauty and utility to your property.
• Lawn art: Statuary, birdbaths, wind spinners, sundials, and other lawn decorations can give your lawn a unique personality.
• Pebbles and stones: Colorful pebbles and stones can replace large swaths of water-hungry grass and give your lawn a unique look. They also require little maintenance and upkeep.
• Garden art: Garden benches, colorful planters, and raised beds can all add vibrancy and beauty to your xeriscaped yard.

Is Xeriscaping Right for You?

If you enjoy the idea of a beautiful, low-maintenance lawn that also cuts your water usage by 30% or more, it might be time to start considering xeriscaping your lawn. One thing to keep in mind is that xeriscaping does come with a high upfront cost and a great deal of effort.

Many homeowners aren’t able or willing to take on the big task of converting their grass lawn into a xeriscaped lawn alone. That’s where The Grounds Guys® can help. We would love to make your xeriscape ideas a reality. Our local team of landscape experts is experienced, friendly, and responsive.

Contact us to learn more.

We are adept in all types of landscape design and landscape installations, so tell us your xeriscaping ideas, and we’ll implement them. Not sure how to change your lawn? We can even recommend xeriscaping landscaping ideas based on your preferences, budget, and local climate. Great customer service is part of our Neighborly Done Right Promise^™.

Ready to xeriscape? Find The Grounds Guys team nearest you and request a free estimate today!