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Find a Pro · Austin, TX

Xeriscape Landscapers in Austin

5 companies in the Austin area advertise xeriscape, native-plant, or water-wise landscaping. Before you call one, here is what the local climate asks of a low-water yard, which rebates are open, and the questions that separate a real xeriscape contractor from a rock-and-weed-fabric crew.

Growing conditions in Austin

  • USDA zone (2023)9a[2]78701: 20 to 25°F extreme min.
  • Annual precipitation36 inches[1]Austin Camp Mabry
  • Median last frostFeb 20[1]32°F, 1991–2020
  • Median first frostDec 3[1]32°F, 1991–2020
  • Frost-free season291 days[1]
  • Station elevation670 ft[1]

On the edge of the Texas Hill Country: about 36 in. of rain a year, wettest in May, with August highs averaging near 98°F. A freeze occurs in almost every winter (median last freeze February 20).

On the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the ZIP codes we sampled in Austin fall in zone 9a; 78701 (zone 9a) has an average annual extreme minimum of 20 to 25°F. Choose perennials, shrubs, and trees rated at least to zone 9. The median last spring frost (32°F) at Austin Camp Mabry is Feb 20 and the median first fall frost is Dec 3, a typical frost-free season of about 291 days.

Average annual precipitation is 36 inches (Austin Camp Mabry, 1991–2020), spread across the year with May the wettest month and February the driest. The average high in August is about 98°F and the average low in January is about 42°F, measured at about 670 ft.

Austin xeriscape pros

Sorted by tier, then alphabetically. Tiers explained below the list.

  • Listed

    A public listing we compiled from the company's own website because it advertises xeriscape or water-wise work. Listed is not an endorsement and we have not reviewed the company's work.

  • Claimed

    The business owner has claimed the profile and manages its details, photos, and service areas.

  • Certified

    The company completed the Xeriscaping.com certification course and agreed to our Code of Conduct.

Before you hire: 8 questions to ask a Austin xeriscape contractor

  1. Will you wait for rebate pre-approval before touching the lawn?

    WaterWise Landscape Rebate (Austin Water) requires approval before any grass is removed. A contractor who starts early can cost you the whole rebate. Ask them to build the approval date into the schedule.

  2. Can I see a written plant list with hardiness zones?

    Every plant should be rated to at least zone 9 here. Ask for botanical names, mature size, and water use, and for plant coverage at maturity. Many rebates require 50% or more.

  3. How will you convert the sprinklers?

    Spray heads in a xeriscape waste water and feed weeds. Ask whether planted areas get drip on a separate zone with a filter and pressure regulator, how unused spray heads will be capped, and whether the controller will be reprogrammed or replaced with a smart controller.

  4. What happens to the sod, and how will you prep the soil?

    Ask whether they will cut and haul the sod, smother it, or use herbicide, and what they will add to the soil. Many xeric plants prefer lean soil, so heavy compost everywhere can backfire. Loosening compacted ground after sod removal matters more.

  5. What mulch, how deep, and is there plastic underneath?

    Rock and wood mulch both work, but depth matters: rebate rules in the West commonly call for about 3 inches. Several programs prohibit plastic sheeting, and it starves soil of air and water anyway.

  6. Will I get a first-year watering schedule?

    New xeriscapes are not no-water in year one. Ask for a written establishment schedule by season. Plant container perennials and shrubs after the median last frost (Feb 20), or in early fall at least six weeks before the median first frost (Dec 3) so roots can settle in before the ground freezes.

  7. Is there a plant warranty, and what voids it?

    Get the length (often one season or one year) and the conditions in writing, including whether it covers winter kill and what watering records you need to keep.

  8. Are you licensed and insured for this work?

    Ask for any city or county license your project needs, a current certificate of insurance, and references from xeriscape jobs at least two years old.

Rebates for Austin homeowners

Get pre-approval before you remove any grass. Almost every lawn-replacement program requires photos or an inspection of the living lawn first.

Rebate programs serving Austin, verified September 2026
ProgramAmountStatus
WaterWise Landscape Rebate
Austin Water
Check current amount
Cap: Up to $3,000
Open
Austin Water publishes the cap (up to $3,000) but not a per-square-foot rate on its live pages.
Landscape Survival Tools Rebate
Austin Water
Rebate for mulch, compost and core aeration
Cap: Up to $120
Open
WaterWise Rainscape Rebate
Austin Water
$0.50 per sq ft converted (100 sq ft minimum)
Cap: $1,500
Open

Verified Sep 2026 from each agency's program page.

All Texas rebatesEstimate your water savings

Low-water plants that suit Austin

From our plant database: hardy to zone 9 and at home in zone 9, driest first. Ask your contractor whether these are in their plan.

See every plant for zone 9

Already listed? Claim your listing.

Sources

  1. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, Austin Camp Mabry (USW00013958). ncei.noaa.gov
  2. USDA ARS 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map, by ZIP (78664: 9a, 78701: 9a, 78704: 9a, 78745: 9a, 78759: 9a). planthardiness.ars.usda.gov