Xeriscaping is landscaping designed to thrive on the water your climate naturally provides, and the case for it is simple: it uses far less water, takes less work, and keeps your yard alive when drought rules shut the sprinklers off. CSU Extension estimates it can cut outdoor water use by 30–50% or more. If you picture a yard full of gravel and a lone cactus, you're in for a surprise. Done well, a xeriscape is lush, colorful and full of bees and birds. It also shrinks your water bill and your weekend chore list.
What the word actually means
Denver Water coined "xeriscape" in 1981, combining "landscape" with the Greek xeros, meaning dry. Denver Water now also calls it "ColoradoScape." The idea spread across the West because the math works anywhere summers are dry, not just in the desert. It's pronounced ZEER-uh-scaping, not "zero-scaping."
The key idea is right plant, right place. Instead of forcing a thirsty lawn to survive somewhere it was never meant to grow, you design with plants and materials suited to your local rainfall, soil and sun, and you organize them around seven practical principles.
The case for it
1. Water savings that show up on the bill
According to EPA WaterSense, outdoor water use accounts for more than 30% of household water on average, and as much as 60% in arid regions. EPA also estimates that as much as 50% of the water used outdoors is lost to wind, evaporation and runoff from inefficient irrigation. Most of that goes onto lawns.
Replacing turf with climate-adapted plants on drip attacks both problems. CSU Extension puts the savings at 30–50% or more of outdoor use, depending on how much you water now. Under tiered rates, where the most expensive gallons are the summer ones, that cut comes off the top of your bill. We break down the numbers in how much water xeriscaping saves.
2. It holds up when the rules change
Drought restrictions are no longer rare. As of September 2026, Denver Water is under Stage 1 drought restrictions, with outdoor watering limited to two assigned days a week through Sept. 30. Beginning Oct. 1, watering grass or running spray irrigation is prohibited, while trees, shrubs and other plants can still be watered with drip or a hand-held hose with a shutoff nozzle. A lawn under those rules goes brown. A xeriscape on drip keeps going.
Local rules and programs vary by city. Our regional guides cover what applies where you live: Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, Boise and St. George.
3. Less maintenance, more weekends
No more weekly mowing of turf you barely use. Once established, native and adapted plants mostly take care of themselves: no fertilizer program, little pruning, no reseeding a struggling lawn. The yearly routine is a spring cutback, some weeding and occasional mulch. CSU's John Murgel makes a related point: plants stressed by heat and drought are more prone to other problems, so choosing plants that can take the conditions heads off trouble before it starts.
4. It's beautiful, and it's alive
People don't expect this part. Xeriscapes are full of texture and color: silver Russian sage, steel-blue blue oat grass, purple salvia 'May Night', golden yarrow. Plant things that belong, and the pollinators and birds that belong with them show up. Your yard becomes habitat as well as decoration.
5. It can pay you back
Many western utilities offer rebates for replacing turf, which can cover part of the conversion cost. Programs and amounts change often, so check the current figures for your utility in our lawn-removal rebate guide before you start. A finished, well-planted xeriscape can also be a selling point in dry markets; we look at the evidence in does xeriscaping increase home value.
What xeriscaping is not
- Not "zeroscaping." The gravel-and-nothing look gives xeriscaping a bad name. A true xeriscape is planted and green; it just drinks less. See xeriscaping vs. zeroscaping.
- Not maintenance-free. It's low maintenance, especially after establishment. The first year still needs regular watering while roots take hold.
- Not only for the desert. The principles apply anywhere with dry spells. The plant list changes with your climate and hardiness zone.
- Not all or nothing. You can keep a lawn where you use it and convert the rest.
The trade-offs
Xeriscaping costs more up front than seed or sod, and plants take a season or two to fill in. There's also a learning curve: you'll be learning new plants and a new watering rhythm. We lay out both sides in xeriscaping pros and cons.
From our installs: the conversions that win people over on the Front Range are rarely the whole-yard ones. It's usually the hot south-facing strip of lawn that never looked good, or the parkway that browned out every August. Once that area is planted and blooming on a fraction of the water, the homeowner wants to do the next section. The one thing we tell everyone: expect to water regularly the first summer. The savings show up in year two.
Where to start
You don't have to rip out your whole yard this weekend. Most people start with the thirstiest, least-used corner, such as a strip of struggling lawn or a hot bed by the driveway, and expand from there. The beginner's guide walks through planning your first project.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main benefits of xeriscaping?
Lower water use (CSU Extension estimates 30–50% or more of outdoor use), less maintenance, resilience during drought restrictions, and habitat for pollinators and birds. Many utilities also offer turf-replacement rebates that offset part of the cost.
Does xeriscaping really save money?
Usually, over time. The install costs more than seed or sod, but the savings on water, fertilizer, mowing and equipment recur every year, and a rebate can cut the upfront cost. How fast it pays back depends on your water rates and how much turf you replace.
Is xeriscaping only for desert climates?
No. The principles work anywhere summers are dry or water is expensive, from Denver to Boise to California. Only the plant list changes to match your climate and hardiness zone.
Why is it called xeriscaping?
Denver Water coined the word in 1981 by combining "landscape" with the Greek word xeros, meaning dry. It's pronounced ZEER-uh-scaping.
