Terms of Use
The rules for using Xeriscaping.com: our content and tools, affiliate links, the pro directory, the certification program, and Colorado governing law.
Last updated: September 24, 2026
These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your use of xeriscaping.com, including our articles, newsletter, Plant Finder, zone lookup, calculators, rebate finder, free guide, member accounts, pro directory, and certification program (together, the "Site"). The Site is operated by Xeriscaping.com LLC, a Colorado limited liability company ("we," "us," "our").
By using the Site, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you don't agree, please don't use the Site.
Who can use the Site
Anyone can read the Site. To create an account, claim a directory profile, or buy a certification subscription, you must be at least 18 and able to enter a binding contract. If you act for a business, you confirm you're authorized to bind that business to these Terms.
Accounts
Accounts use passwordless magic-link sign-in sent to your email. Keep access to that inbox secure. You're responsible for activity under your account. Tell us right away at hello@xeriscaping.com if you think someone else has used it. We may suspend or close accounts that break these Terms.
Our content and how you may use it
The articles, guides, plant data, tools, photos we own, graphics, the Xeriscaping.com name, and our logos are owned by or licensed to Xeriscaping.com LLC and are protected by copyright and trademark law.
You may:
- read, print, and save pages for your own personal, non-commercial use
- share links to any page
- quote short excerpts with credit and a link back to the original page
You may not:
- republish, sell, or redistribute substantial portions of our content, including the free guide, course lessons, or plant database, without written permission
- remove copyright notices or photo credits
- use the Site in a way that disrupts it, overloads it, or tries to get around its security or access controls
- use the Site for anything unlawful, or to harass, defraud, or mislead others
Photos by other photographers are used under their licenses, and credits are listed on our image credits page. Those photos remain the property of their creators.
Informational content, not professional advice
Our guides, plant information, and tools are for general educational purposes. Every yard is different. Climate, microclimate, soil, exposure, water availability, local rules, and how a project is installed all affect the results, and we can't guarantee any outcome.
- Plant information. Hardiness zones, water needs, mature sizes, and bloom times are typical ranges from horticultural sources and our own experience. Plants can behave differently in your conditions. Some plants in our guides can be toxic to pets or people if eaten, can be spiny, or may be restricted or considered invasive in some states. Check with your local extension office or nursery before planting.
- Tools and calculators. The zone lookup, water savings calculator, gravel calculator, and similar tools give estimates. They aren't quotes, engineering calculations, or guarantees of savings. Order a little extra material, and ask a professional to check anything structural.
- Rebates and regulations. Rebate amounts, eligibility rules, turf ordinances, and HOA rules change often. We show the date we last checked each figure. Always confirm the current terms with your water utility or local government, and get rebate approval before you remove any lawn.
- Safety. Call 811 before you dig so buried utility lines can be marked. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for tools and equipment. Hire a licensed professional for electrical, plumbing, backflow, retaining walls, and anything you aren't comfortable doing yourself.
Nothing on the Site is professional landscaping, engineering, legal, tax, or financial advice.
Affiliate disclosure
Xeriscaping.com is reader-supported. Some links on the Site, especially the "where to buy" links on plant pages, are affiliate links. We participate in, or have applied to, affiliate programs with plant retailers and networks, including High Country Gardens (through AvantLink), Nature Hills Nursery, American Meadows, and Etsy (through Awin). If you click an affiliate link and buy something, we may earn a commission. It costs you nothing extra.
How this affects our recommendations:
- We choose and rank plants by how they perform in low-water landscapes, using extension services, Plant Select, water utilities, and our own installs. We don't consider commissions.
- Retailers and landscapers can't pay to be included or ranked in our articles and guides.
- Retail links are there so you can find the plants we recommend. Your price is the same whether or not a link earns us a commission.
This disclosure follows the Federal Trade Commission's guidance on endorsements. Questions? Email hello@xeriscaping.com.
The pro directory
Our directory of landscape professionals helps homeowners find companies that do low-water work. A listing is not an endorsement or a recommendation, and we don't guarantee the work, pricing, licensing, insurance, or conduct of any business in it.
Directory profiles come in three tiers:
| Tier | What it means |
|---|---|
| Listed | We added the business from information it publishes on its own website. The business hasn't claimed the profile, and we haven't independently checked its licensing, insurance, or work. |
| Claimed | The business owner has signed in and taken control of the profile. The owner provides and is responsible for the profile's content. Claiming is free. |
| Certified | The business has an active paid Certified Xeriscaping Provider subscription, completed our course, passed the exam, and agreed to the CXP Code of Conduct. Certified profiles are shown above Claimed and Listed profiles, and that priority placement is part of what the subscription pays for. Certification shows that someone has completed training. It is not an inspection of past jobs or a guarantee of future work. |
Ownership disclosure: Xeris Landscaping, a Denver-area design-build company that appears in the directory, is owned by Xeriscaping.com's founder, Tim Woodring. It's listed under the same tier rules as every other business, and its listing carries this disclosure.
Before you hire anyone, check their license, insurance, references, and written contract yourself. Any agreement you make with a provider is between you and that provider. We aren't a party to it and aren't responsible for it.
If you own a listed business and want it corrected or removed, email hello@xeriscaping.com.
If you claim or create a profile
- Everything you submit must be accurate and yours to publish, and must not be misleading. That includes business details, license numbers, insurance statements, photos, and descriptions.
- You give us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display, format, and promote your profile content on the Site and in our marketing of the directory for as long as the profile is published.
- You can't give your own profile Certified status. It's granted only through the certification program.
- We may edit, hide, or remove profiles that are inaccurate, inactive, or that break these Terms.
Certification program
The Certified Xeriscaping Provider (CXP) designation is a private credential offered by Xeriscaping.com LLC. It is not a government license and doesn't replace any state or local contractor licensing, registration, or insurance requirement.
When enrollment is open, these terms apply:
- Plans and price. Solo: $99 per year, for one independent contractor or designer. Company: $299 per year, which certifies the business (one company certificate and directory page). It doesn't certify individual staff members. Prices are in U.S. dollars, plus any applicable tax. We may offer promotional codes at checkout.
- Requirements. You need a Claimed directory profile to enroll. Certification is granted after you complete the course, pass the final exam with a score of 80% or higher, and agree to the CXP Code of Conduct.
- Billing. Subscriptions are billed annually in advance through Stripe and renew automatically each year at the then-current price until you cancel. If the price changes, we'll tell you at least 30 days before your renewal.
- Cancel anytime. Email hello@xeriscaping.com with the subject "Certification," or use the Stripe billing portal from your vendor dashboard when it's available there. Cancelling stops future renewals. When your subscription ends, the Certified badge, priority placement, and the certificate's active status end, and your profile goes back to Claimed.
- Refunds. Except where the law requires otherwise, annual fees aren't refunded for partial years. If you believe you were charged in error, email us within 30 days of the charge and we'll make it right.
- Revocation. We may suspend or revoke certification, without a refund, for breaking the Code of Conduct, misrepresenting your business or qualifications, cheating on the exam, or a chargeback. If a payment is refunded, the certification it paid for ends.
- Using the badge. While your certification is active, you may use the CXP badge, certificate, and LinkedIn credential to promote your business. You must stop using them when certification ends.
Merchandise
A Xeriscaping.com merchandise store is planned but not yet open. No merchandise is currently sold on the Site. When the store launches, these Terms will be updated with the terms for orders, shipping, and returns, and with the name of the company that fulfills them.
Links to other websites
The Site links to water utilities, extension services, retailers, directory businesses, and other sites we don't control. We aren't responsible for their content, products, prices, or privacy practices. Your dealings with them are governed by their terms.
Copyright concerns
If you believe content on the Site infringes your copyright, email hello@xeriscaping.com. Include the page URL, a description of the work, and your contact information. If a photo credit is wrong or missing, tell us and we'll fix or remove it promptly.
Disclaimer of warranties
The Site and everything on it are provided "as is" and "as available." To the fullest extent the law allows, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy, and non-infringement. We don't promise that the Site will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that any plant, design, or provider will perform as you expect.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent the law allows, Xeriscaping.com LLC and its owners, employees, and contractors will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for lost profits, lost data, or property damage, arising from your use of the Site, your reliance on its content or tools, or your dealings with any business listed in the directory. Our total liability for any claim relating to the Site is limited to the greater of $100 or the amount you paid us in the 12 months before the claim.
Some jurisdictions don't allow certain limitations, so some of these may not apply to you.
Indemnity
If you use the Site in a way that breaks these Terms or the law, or you post content that infringes someone else's rights, you agree to cover the claims, losses, and reasonable legal costs that result for us.
Governing law and disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, USA, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. If a dispute arises, please email us first so we can try to resolve it informally. If we can't, you and we agree that the state and federal courts located in Denver, Colorado have exclusive jurisdiction. Either party may bring a qualifying claim in small claims court instead.
Changes to these Terms
We may update these Terms as the Site changes, for example when the merchandise store opens. We'll change the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. For significant changes that affect paid subscribers, we'll email you before they take effect. If you keep using the Site after an update, you accept the revised Terms.
General
If any part of these Terms is found unenforceable, the rest stays in effect. If we don't enforce a provision, we haven't waived it. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, are the entire agreement between you and us about the Site.
Contact
Xeriscaping.com LLC Denver, Colorado, USA Email: hello@xeriscaping.com
You can also reach us through our contact page.