The main pros of xeriscaping are lower water use, less routine maintenance, lower long-term cost, and a yard that survives drought restrictions. The main cons are the upfront cost, a first year that takes real work, HOA paperwork, and heat and weed problems when it's done with too much rock. The cons are front-loaded; the pros keep paying. Most articles on this are written by people selling xeriscapes, so the cons section reads like a job candidate admitting to perfectionism. We're pro-xeriscape too, but both lists below are the real ones.
Pros and cons at a glance
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 30–50%+ less outdoor water (CSU estimate) | Upfront install cost ($5–$20/sq ft pro, $1–$6 DIY) |
| No mowing, fertilizing or aeration | Year one needs regular watering and weeding |
| Lower cost of ownership over time | Design takes more skill than a lawn |
| Rebates can offset the install | HOA approval may be required |
| Keeps going under watering restrictions | Too much rock adds heat and weeds |
| Pollinator habitat and year-round interest | Less soft play surface for kids and dogs |
The pros
Water savings you'll see on the bill. EPA WaterSense says outdoor use is more than 30% of household water on average and up to 60% in arid regions. CSU Extension estimates xeriscaping can cut outdoor water use by 30–50% or more, depending on how much you water now. That's the core case for xeriscaping, and under tiered rates the gallons you save are the most expensive ones.
Low maintenance, eventually. A mature xeriscape skips the weekly mow, the fertilizer program and aeration. The routine is a spring cutback, some weeding and occasional mulch. We rank the options by effort in low-maintenance landscaping.
Lower cost of ownership. After the install, you're not paying for lawn water, fertilizer, mower fuel or a mowing service. The lawn vs. xeriscape ledger shows how that compounds.
Rebates can shrink the price. Many western utilities pay to remove turf. Amounts and rules change, so check what's current (or the Colorado and California pages) before you dig.
It survives restrictions. As of September 2026, Denver Water is in Stage 1 drought and, beginning Oct. 1, prohibits watering grass or using spray irrigation while still allowing drip and hand-watering for trees, shrubs and other plants. A xeriscape on drip barely notices rules like that.
Habitat and curb appeal. A well-designed xeriscape supports pollinators a lawn can't. Plants like agastache, blanket flower and rabbitbrush feed bees and butterflies from summer into fall, and the yard looks designed rather than defaulted. Whether that adds resale value depends on the market; we look at the evidence in does xeriscaping increase home value.
The cons
Upfront cost is significant. Professional installs commonly run $5–$20 per square foot and DIY $1–$6, covering plants, drip, mulch, hardscape and labor. DIY and phasing bring it down a lot, but it isn't free. The cost per square foot guide shows what moves the number, and what xeriscaping costs covers payback.
Year one is work, not savings. New plants need regular establishment watering, and open mulch grows weeds until the plants fill in. Anyone promising instant zero maintenance is selling something. See what the first year actually takes.
HOA paperwork. Even where water-wise landscaping is allowed, HOAs can require plan approval, plant coverage and specific materials. Skipping the paperwork can mean fines or forced rework. Submit a plan first and lean on the "planned landscape, not gravel lot" distinction (HOA approval guide).
Rock done wrong makes heat and weeds. A yard of unshaded gravel absorbs and re-radiates heat, which is bad for plants and worse for the bedroom window above it. Gravel also collects dust where weed seeds sprout (weeds in gravel). The fix is design: plant coverage, shade trees and the right mulch in the right place. This is the most common xeriscape mistake, and it's why "zeroscapes" give the practice a bad name. Rebate programs push the same way: Southern Nevada's, for example, requires at least 50 percent living plant cover at maturity in converted areas.
Design skill matters more. A lawn is one decision; a xeriscape is dozens. Badly planned ones look sparse or chaotic. Following the 7 principles prevents most of that.
You lose the play surface. If kids and dogs use the lawn, they need somewhere to go. Keeping a small patch of buffalograss or blue grama (native lawn guide) is the usual compromise, and a good one.
Resale depends on the market. In dry western cities, a good xeriscape is increasingly expected. In markets where buyers expect turf, an unfamiliar landscape can read as a project. Design quality, not the concept, decides which way it cuts.
Who should (and shouldn't) xeriscape
- Good fit: you'll be in the house three or more years, pay tiered water rates, live somewhere with watering restrictions, or dislike mowing.
- Start small: you're unsure or on a budget. Convert a hell strip or single bed first.
- Keep some lawn: you have kids, dogs or a real use for turf. Convert everything else.
- Wait: you're selling within a year in a turf-expecting market. A fresh xeriscape looks sparse until it fills in.
From our installs: the cons we hear about most from Front Range homeowners are the first two, cost and year-one effort, and both shrink with phasing. Converting the front yard one season and the side yards the next spreads the cost and the watering. The con people underestimate is heat: a south-facing wall of rock with no plants in front of it gets brutally hot by July. We plan shrubs or a small tree in front of hot walls on almost every job.
Frequently asked questions
What are the disadvantages of xeriscaping?
Upfront cost, a first year that needs regular watering and weeding, the design skill required, possible HOA approval, and heat and weed problems when too much bare rock is used. Most of these are front-loaded or avoidable with good design.
Is xeriscaping worth it?
For most homeowners in dry western climates, yes, especially if you'll stay three or more years. CSU Extension estimates 30–50% or more savings on outdoor water, maintenance drops sharply after establishment, and rebates can offset part of the install.
Does xeriscaping lower property value?
Not when it's done well. A planted, designed xeriscape generally reads as an asset in dry markets. A bare gravel yard or a neglected, weedy one can hurt curb appeal, which is a design problem rather than a xeriscaping problem.
Is xeriscaping really low maintenance?
After the first year or two, yes. You trade weekly mowing and fertilizing for a spring cutback, some weeding and occasional mulch. The first season needs more attention while plants establish.
