Quick answer
Xeriscaping is a way of landscaping that saves water by combining seven practices: planning, soil preparation, limited turf, well-matched plants, efficient irrigation, mulch and sensible upkeep, rather than by replacing a yard with rock.
Denver Water coined the word in 1981 from “landscape” and the Greek “xeros,” meaning dry. A xeriscape can be green and full of plants; what makes it xeriscape is the method.
Quick facts
The key facts about Xeriscaping, with sources:
- Coined
- 1981 by Denver Water, from “landscape” plus Greek xeros, meaning dry 3
- Core idea
- Seven water-saving principles used together, not one trick 1
- Not required
- Cactus and rock gardens; extension says a xeriscape can be cool, green and full of plants 1
- Why it matters
- In Texas cities about 25 percent of the water supply goes to landscapes; up to 60 percent of summer household water 1
- Mulch depth
- Penn State advises 2 to 4 in. of organic mulch around trees; 1 to 2 in. if finely textured 5
- Trademark
- Xeriscape and its logo are trademarks of Denver Water 1
- Zone map
- USDA hardiness zones cover winter minimums only; the 2023 map has 13 zones 6
Key takeaways
- Xeriscaping means using less water through seven connected practices. It does not mean rocks and cactus.
- Two official lists of the seven principles agree on planning, soil, irrigation, mulch and upkeep. They differ in how they name plant choice and turf.
- Lawn is not banned. The aim is a smaller lawn in shapes that are easy to water.
- A xeriscape still needs care. Some water, weeding and pruning remain.
- Water rules, climate and soil change what works. Check local rebates and watering rules before you plan.
Xeriscaping in plain English
Think of a yard as a water budget. A lawn spends a lot of that budget. Xeriscaping is a plan for spending it where it counts.
Denver Water, a Colorado utility, says it coined the term “xeriscape” in 1981 by combining “landscape” with the Greek word “xeros,” meaning dry 3. The idea grew from dry-climate planning, but it travels.
Texas A&M extension encourages it for Texas, and says xeriscapes need not be cactus and rock gardens. They can be cool, green landscapes full of beautiful plants maintained with water-efficient practices 1.
The seven water-saving principles are not new, the Texas A&M authors write. Each has been used in the landscape trade for decades. What makes xeriscape distinct is combining all seven into one program 1. A bed of rock with no plan fails that test.
The word is a trademark: Texas A&M’s publication notes that Xeriscape and the Xeriscape logo are trademarks of the Denver Water Department 1. Many people use it as a general word for water-wise landscaping, and you will see “xeriscaping” used that way here.
How the seven principles work, in order
The Texas A&M list runs in a build order. Each step makes the next one cheaper to do well.
- Planning and design. Sketch the yard and note how each area is used. Find the spots that need the most water, then design for beauty and use while saving water 1.
- Soil analysis and preparation. A soil test tells you what fertilizer and organic matter your soil needs. Organic matter helps soil absorb and store water 1.
- Practical turf areas. Turfgrass needs more water and care than most plants. Keep grass in blocky shapes that are easy to water, and use patios, decks, shrub beds and ground cover for the rest 1.
- Appropriate plants. Pick trees, shrubs and ground cover adapted to your region’s soil and climate. Many natives need less water and fertilizer 1.
- Efficient irrigation. Water zones by plant type. Drip irrigation applies water slowly under low pressure, with little chance of loss to evaporation or runoff 1.
- Mulch. A layer of mulch cuts evaporation, reduces weeds and moderates soil temperature 1.
- Appropriate maintenance. Mow at the right height, fertilize only as needed and check the irrigation system so it keeps working well 1.
- Plan and designMap uses and water needs
- Prepare soilTest it, then add organic matter as advised
- Shrink and shape turfBlocky shapes, smaller area
- Choose adapted plantsGroup them by water need
- Irrigate efficientlyZone by plant type; drip where it fits
- MulchHold moisture and block weeds
- MaintainMow, prune and check the system
Sequence follows the Texas A&M extension list. A different published list orders turf and plants differently. Source: [1]
Two published lists of the seven principles, side by side
| Step | Texas A&M AgriLife Extension | City of Lakewood, Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Planning and design | Planning and Design |
| 2 | Soil analysis and preparation | Soil Improvements |
| 3 | Practical turf areas | Efficient Irrigation |
| 4 | Appropriate plant selection | Zoning of Plants |
| 5 | Efficient irrigation | Mulches |
| 6 | Use of mulches | Turf Alternatives |
| 7 | Appropriate maintenance | Appropriate Maintenance |
Different order, same seven jobs
The lists reorder turf, plants and irrigation, but both start with a plan and end with maintenance. If a utility rebate refers to “the seven principles,” ask which list it uses.
The Lakewood page says all seven must be considered during planning and design, and that the installation sequence matters for a successful result 2. Texas A&M groups plant choice and plant zoning slightly differently 1. Use whichever list your local utility publishes, because rebate rules usually follow it.
Example: what a yard changes when it follows the principles
The is below a labelled example, not a design. It walks one invented front yard through the seven steps. The only sourced facts are the extension advice quoted in the third column 157.
| Principle | Example yard before | Example change | Sourced reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning and design | One big lawn, plants scattered | Draw zones by sun and use; list water needs | Planning finds the areas needing the most water 1 |
| Soil | Packed clay near the street | Test soil, then loosen and add compost for beds | Organic matter helps soil absorb and store water 1; Nebraska extension keeps compost near 25 percent of the mix 7 |
| Turf | Long, narrow strip beside the drive | Replace the strip with a bed; keep a square lawn | Narrow or oddly shaped areas are hard to water well 1 |
| Plants | Mixed plants with different needs | Group plants by water need | Zoning lets each group get what it needs 2 |
| Irrigation | One sprinkler zone for everything | Drip for beds, a sprinkler zone for the lawn | Drip loses little to evaporation or runoff 1 |
| Mulch | Bare soil in beds | Organic mulch around plants, kept off stems | 2 to 4 in. of organic mulch, and 1 to 2 in. if finely textured 5 |
| Maintenance | Set-and-forget | Check heads and lines each season | Systems need checking to keep working efficiently 1 |
None of these changes removes the lawn. They move water to where plants use it. Our lawn water cost calculator and sprinkler runtime calculator help you size what is left.
Where you meet the word: rebates, HOA rules, bids and plant tags
In a utility rebate. Many water utilities pay for removing turf and use the word xeriscape in their rules. Our turf rebate research and turf rebate tool show how programs are set up. Read each program’s own conditions; they differ.
In an HOA or city rule. Some associations limit rock yards or require a share of living plants. Others cannot ban water-wise yards by law. Check HOA landscaping rules by state before you plan.
On a bid. “Xeriscape” on a quote can mean anything from a full seven-step plan to a rock refresh. Ask which principles the scope covers, and see the landscaping estimates guide.
On a plant tag. A tag that says “low water” is the nursery’s claim, not a certification. Match it to your climate with local extension plant lists and the hardiness zone, remembering that zones cover cold only 6.
What xeriscaping can do, and what it cannot promise
What it helps
- Less water on landscape. EPA says residential outdoor use totals nearly 8 billion gallons a day, mainly for landscape irrigation 4.
- Texas A&M says a well-designed xeriscape can cut maintenance by as much as 50 percent through less mowing, once-a-year mulching, fewer thirsty plants and efficient irrigation 1.
- Healthier plants when each one sits in the right place.
- A yard that holds up better in dry spells once plants are established.
What it does not fix
- No-maintenance yards. Some weeding, pruning and system checks always remain.
- Instant results. Newly planted trees and shrubs need frequent water until rooted, which may take two growing seasons 1.
- Poor drainage or bad soil. A plant list does not repair those.
- Local rules. A rebate or HOA limit can change what you may do.
Limits and trade-offs
The savings figures above come from one Texas publication dated 2001 and describe Texas conditions. They are useful for scale, not as a promise for your lot. Your soil, climate and starting yard set the real result.
Water savings depend on what you replace. Swapping a well-watered lawn for beds with drip irrigation saves more than swapping a lawn that was barely watered. A rock-only yard saves water but gives up shade, cooling and habitat.
A poor plant list can fail in a freeze. The USDA map shows average annual extreme minimum winter temperature in 10-degree zones with 5-degree half-zones, and says nothing about summer heat, humidity or rainfall 6. Use it as one check among several.
Finally, the word has a Colorado origin. Denver Water now also uses “ColoradoScape,” which it describes as native and adaptable plants suited to Colorado’s semi-arid climate 3. A plan for a humid region needs plants and practices for that region.
What changes the price of a water-efficient yard, and how long it takes to mature
We do not publish prices. A bid moves with the area you change, the amount of lawn removal, soil work, the number and size of plants, the mulch volume and the irrigation work.
Drip lines for beds and a controller for zones add parts and labor. Removing grass is often a large share of the job.
Utility rebates and local rules can change what you pay, so read them before you sign. Our cost hub and landscaping cost estimator show the cost drivers, and the mulch calculator turns bed area and depth into volume.
Plants take time. Texas A&M says newly planted trees and shrubs need frequent water until rooted, which may take two growing seasons 1. We do not give a lifespan for a xeriscape; it depends on plants, care and weather. Ask any installer about plant warranty terms; see plant warranties.
How a xeriscape project usually unfolds
Homeowners can do the early steps. Irrigation changes and large grading are jobs for a qualified contractor.
- Walk the yard and note sun, slope, wet spots and how each area is used.
- Test the soil. Your county extension office can tell you how 1.
- Check water rules, rebates and HOA covenants before you remove anything.
- Call 811 before digging for beds, drip lines or posts. Wait for every utility to reply and dig carefully around marks 8.
- Remove or shrink turf, loosen soil, and add organic matter as the soil test and local advice suggest.
- Install irrigation by zone, then plant, then mulch.
- Water new plants until they are rooted, then adjust. Check the system each season.
Keep runoff on your own lot
Regrading to save water must not send runoff onto a neighbor or into a sanitary sewer. Larger grade changes may need a permit or an engineer. See drainage and grading and call 811 before any digging.
Keeping a xeriscape working
Upkeep is lighter, not zero. Timing depends on your climate and plants, so these are tasks, not dates.
- Check irrigation. Look for broken heads, clogged emitters and leaks. Texas A&M advises checking the system periodically so it operates efficiently 1.
- Top up mulch. Keep it at the right depth and off trunks and stems 5.
- Weed early. Weeds compete with other plants for water 1.
- Prune and divide as plants need. Do not prune trees near power lines yourself; call a certified arborist.
- Adjust water as plants root in. Established plants need water less often than new ones 1. Use local advice, not a fixed schedule.
Warning signs a water-wise yard is not working
- Wilting plants with wet soil. Roots may lack oxygen; the cause may be drainage, not thirst.
- Bare, hot, weedy ground. Thin or missing mulch lets soil dry out and weeds in.
- A lawn that looks worse after you shrank it. Narrow strips and corners are hard to water evenly 1.
- New plants dying in the first season. Young trees and shrubs need frequent water until rooted 1.
- Plants winter-killed. The zone map shows cold only; check the plant’s hardiness against it 6.
If a slope is eroding or a wall is leaning, stop DIY work and ask a licensed contractor or engineer. See irrigation for system problems.
Rules and standards that touch xeriscaping
No federal xeriscape rule. The practice is voluntary guidance from extension offices and water utilities. Denver Water holds the trademark for the term 1.
Local water rules. Cities and utilities set watering limits, rebate terms and plant lists. Our watering restrictions tracker collects what we have verified; confirm with your own utility.
HOA and zoning. Covenants and zoning can limit front-yard changes, rock coverage and plant height. State laws sometimes limit HOA bans on water-wise yards; see our HOA research.
Fire zones. In wildfire areas, defensible-space rules can restrict what grows near a house and how it is kept. Read defensible space rules before planting.
Voluntary label. EPA’s WaterSense program labels irrigation products and professionals; it is a voluntary label, not a law 4.
Xeriscaping vs. related terms
| Term | What it is | Main difference |
|---|---|---|
| Xeriscaping | Seven-principle water-saving landscaping 1 | A method that can include lawn, plants and mulch |
| Zeroscaping (rock yard) | A term often used for a yard mostly of rock with few plants | Often a shortcut; skips soil, plants and shade |
| Native landscaping | Plants native to the area; see native landscaping | Focuses on plant origin, not only water |
| Sustainable landscaping | A wider approach to water, chemicals and habitat; see sustainable landscaping | Water is one of several goals |
| Drought-tolerant plants | Plants that need little water once rooted | A plant trait, not a design method |
Common xeriscaping myths
- Myth Xeriscaping means cactus and rocks.
- Reality Texas A&M extension says xeriscapes need not be cactus and rock gardens and can be cool, green landscapes full of plants 1.
- Myth It means no lawn.
- Reality The principle is practical turf: keep grass where it is useful and easy to water, and use other plantings elsewhere 1.
- Myth It needs no maintenance.
- Reality The seventh principle is appropriate maintenance: mowing, weeding, checking irrigation and refreshing mulch 1.
- Myth It is only for deserts.
- Reality Texas A&M promotes it for a state with a feast-to-famine cycle of rain and drought 1, and Denver Water’s ColoradoScape points to plants suited to a semi-arid climate 3. The method adapts to place.
- Myth More gravel always means less water.
- Reality Mulch is what cuts evaporation, and Texas A&M counts both organic and inorganic materials such as lava rock as mulch 1. A layer of rock on its own still skips soil work, plant choice and irrigation planning.
The regional variable: climate, rainfall and the hardiness map
Which plants and practices work depends on your climate. The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shows the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature across 13 zones in 10-degree steps with 5-degree half-zones, and about half the country shifted to a warmer half-zone in the 2023 update 6.
It says nothing about summer heat, humidity or rainfall. Pair it with your extension office’s plant list and your utility’s watering rules.
When xeriscaping is worth considering
Xeriscaping makes sense when water is costly or limited, when a lawn is hard to keep alive, or when a utility rebate lowers the work. It makes less sense where the existing lawn is small and well watered, or where local rules limit changes.
Start small. Pick one problem area, such as a narrow strip or a slope, and apply the principles there. Then look at the rest of the yard. A smaller first step also shows you what your site needs before you commit.
Your next step: check your utility’s rebate and watering rules, test the soil, and read the landscape design page or lawn renovation to see what a bid should cover.
- If A narrow strip or corner of lawn is always dry
- Then Convert it to a bed with mulch and plants grouped by water need
- If Your utility offers a turf rebate
- Then Read its conditions, then plan with the seven principles
- If Soil drains slowly or floods
- Then Fix drainage first; plant choice will not solve it
- If You live in a wildfire area
- Then Check defensible space rules before choosing plants
Questions about Xeriscaping
What is xeriscaping in simple terms?
Xeriscaping is water-efficient landscaping built on seven practices used together: planning, soil preparation, practical turf, suitable plants, efficient irrigation, mulch and upkeep. Denver Water coined the word in 1981 from “landscape” and the Greek “xeros,” meaning dry. A xeriscape can be green and full of plants; it does not have to be rock.
What are the seven principles of xeriscaping?
Texas A&M extension lists planning and design, soil analysis and preparation, practical turf areas, appropriate plant selection, efficient irrigation, use of mulches, and appropriate maintenance. The City of Lakewood, Colorado lists planning and design, soil improvements, efficient irrigation, zoning of plants, mulches, turf alternatives and appropriate maintenance. The two lists name turf and plants differently.
Does xeriscaping mean no grass?
No. The practical-turf principle keeps grass where it is useful and easy to water. Texas A&M advises shrinking the lawn with patios, decks, shrub beds and ground cover, and keeping grass in blocky, squarish areas instead of long narrow strips. Lakewood’s list calls the matching step turf alternatives.
Is xeriscaping the same as zeroscaping?
No. Zeroscaping is a term often used for a yard covered mostly in rock with few plants. Xeriscaping is a seven-principle method that includes soil work, plants, mulch and efficient irrigation. A rock-only yard skips most of those steps and gives up the cooling and habitat that plants provide.
Does xeriscaping really save water?
It can, but results depend on your yard. Texas A&M reports that in Texas cities about 25 percent of the water supply goes to landscapes, and that a well-designed xeriscape can cut maintenance by as much as 50 percent. Those figures are from a 2001 Texas publication, so treat them as scale, not a guarantee.
Do xeriscapes need maintenance?
Yes. The last principle is appropriate maintenance. That includes mowing at the right height, weeding, pruning, checking the irrigation system and keeping mulch at the right depth. New trees and shrubs need frequent watering until they are rooted, which may take two growing seasons.
How deep should mulch be in a xeriscape?
Penn State Extension advises 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch, and no more, with less if soil drains poorly. For finely textured or double-shredded mulch it advises 1 to 2 inches, and says to keep mulch away from trunks. That advice is for trees; check local guidance for beds.
Is xeriscaping only for dry climates?
No. The method began in a dry Colorado climate, but extension offices in other states, including Texas, promote it. Denver Water now also describes ColoradoScape, which uses plants native and adaptable to Colorado’s semi-arid climate. The practice adapts: the plant list and watering must match your region.
Can I get a rebate for xeriscaping?
Some water utilities pay to remove turf, but rules vary by utility and change often. Read the program’s own conditions, including which plants, how much grass must go and whether inspection is required. Our turf rebate research page and turf rebate tool collect the programs we have verified.
Do I need a permit or HOA approval?
Possibly. Front-yard changes can need approval from an HOA or a city, and large regrading can need a permit. State law limits some HOA bans on water-wise landscaping. Check your covenants and local rules first, and call 811 before any digging so buried lines are marked.
Sources
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, E-447 Xeriscape: Landscape Water Conservation (May 2001), retrieved .
- City of Lakewood, Colorado, Horticulture: the seven Xeriscape principles, retrieved .
- Denver Water, ColoradoScape and xeriscaping, retrieved .
- U.S. EPA WaterSense, Outdoors, retrieved .
- Penn State Extension, Mulching Landscape Trees, retrieved .
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, USDA unveils updated Plant Hardiness Zone Map (15 November 2023), retrieved .
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, EC1264 Planting the Landscape (2014), retrieved .
- 811, the national before-you-dig service, retrieved .
Expert review
Written by the HyreYard Research Desk. Not yet reviewed by an outside expert. We say so rather than imply a review that has not happened; see our editorial policy.
How the numbers were checked: The seven principles were read from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension publication E-447 and the City of Lakewood horticulture page. The origin of the word and ColoradoScape come from Denver Water.
Water-use figures are Texas A&M’s, dated 2001, and are labelled as Texas figures. Mulch depth is Penn State’s tree guidance. Rebate and watering rules are linked, not summarized. No prices, schedules or universal plant lists are given.
Suggest a correction. We fix errors and say what changed.