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Find a Pro · Reno, NV

Xeriscape Landscapers in Reno

4 companies in the Reno 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 Reno

  • USDA zone (2023)7a–7b[2]89501: 5 to 10°F extreme min.
  • Annual precipitation7.3 inches[1]Reno-Tahoe Intl Airport
  • Median last frostApr 20[1]32°F, 1991–2020
  • Median first frostOct 23[1]32°F, 1991–2020
  • Frost-free season184 days[1]
  • Station elevation4,410 ft[1]

High desert in the Sierra Nevada rain shadow at about 4,400 ft: only about 7.4 in. of precipitation, two-thirds of it November–March, and hot, very dry summers. The median last frost is around April 20 and the first around October 23.

On the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the ZIP codes we sampled in Reno fall in zones 7a to 7b; 89501 (zone 7b) has an average annual extreme minimum of 5 to 10°F. Choose perennials, shrubs, and trees rated at least to zone 7. The median last spring frost (32°F) at Reno-Tahoe Intl Airport is Apr 20 and the median first fall frost is Oct 23, a typical frost-free season of about 184 days.

Average annual precipitation is 7.3 inches (Reno-Tahoe Intl Airport, 1991–2020), and 65% of it falls November–March. Summers are dry (July is the driest month), so plants lean on stored soil moisture and supplemental water through their first summer. The average high in July is about 94°F and the average low in December is about 26°F, measured at about 4,410 ft.

Reno 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 Reno xeriscape contractor

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

    No lawn-replacement rebate is open for most Reno homes right now (see below), but programs reopen. If one does, nearly every program voids the rebate if grass is removed before approval.

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

    Every plant should be rated to at least zone 7 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 (Apr 20), or in early fall at least six weeks before the median first frost (Oct 23) 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 a license or registration number and look it up with the Nevada State Contractors Board before signing, and ask for a current certificate of insurance. Nevada State Contractors Board lookup.

Rebates for Reno homeowners

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

In Southern Nevada, SNWA's Water Smart Landscapes Rebate pays single-family homes $5 per sq ft for the first 10,000 sq ft, and Las Vegas Valley Water District customers get an extra $2 per sq ft. In the Reno/Sparks area, Truckee Meadows Water Authority lists no turf-replacement rebate on its current conservation pages.

Verified Sep 2026 from each agency's program page.

All Nevada rebatesEstimate your water savings

Low-water plants that suit Reno

From our plant database: hardy to zone 7 and at home in zone 7, driest first. Ask your contractor whether these are in their plan.

See every plant for zone 7

Already listed? Claim your listing.

Sources

  1. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, Reno-Tahoe Intl Airport (USW00023185). ncei.noaa.gov
  2. USDA ARS 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map, by ZIP (89431: 7a, 89436: 7a, 89501: 7b, 89509: 7b, 89523: 7a). planthardiness.ars.usda.gov