Xeriscaping for a Drought-Tolerant Yard

What Is Xeriscaping?

Xeriscaping, sometimes called water-wise landscaping or drought-tolerant landscaping, is the practice of using drought-tolerant plants instead of turfgrasses in your lawn. You might be picturing an oasis of cacti, succulents, and desert grasses, but a xeriscaped yard can include flowering plants, small shrubs, and even trees. Instead of grass, xeriscapes often use rocks, pebble, stone, or mulch to fill in the empty space between plants. Check out this list of drought-tolerant plants you might find in xeriscapes from our friends at Miracle-Gro.

The idea is to use less water on your landscape. Drought-tolerant plants need water less often than many traditional turfgrasses, making them ideal for water conservation. Xeriscaping also involves using more water-efficient irrigation systems like a drip system or soaker hoses to help maintain the plants in the landscape.

Because you'll be watering less, xeriscaped yards are a low-maintenance alternative to most turfgrass lawns and can save you from a hefty water bill in summer. You also don't need to mow or fertilize your whole yard, though your plants may require occasional feeding and pruning to keep them healthy and looking their best. Overall, an xeriscaped yard means you'll be spending less time working on your lawn. 

Still love your grass lawn? That's okay! The good news is you don't have to xeriscape your whole yard, or even your entire front or back yard. You can limit your xeriscaping to select areas that you don't often use or even small, decorative areas to test it out. 

Xeriscaping Works Best in Naturally Hot, Dry Areas 

This one just makes sense—you don't expect a cactus to thrive in the rainy Pacific Northwest or the cold, snowy winters of the Midwest. Because xeriscaping relies heavily on native plants, it's best suited to areas where drought-tolerant plants thrive. Mostly, that means Southwest states like California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, as well as some areas of Utah and Colorado. While you can adapt xeriscaping practices to native drought-tolerant plants in most areas, be aware that you're not going to have that desert oasis look.

Losing Out on the Positive Impacts of Grass Lawns

Keep in mind that replacing your grass means that you're losing out on the good things grass lawns do, including cleaning the air, trapping CO₂, improving your soil structure, and reducing noise. Your lawn isn't just a great place to hang out after all! Like we mentioned above, you can always keep a green space for play—along with all those other great benefits—and use xeriscaping in specific areas of your yard.

Heavy Up-Front Cost

The result may be a lower-maintenance yard with less water usage (meaning you save on water bills), but that's once your yard is complete. If you're overhauling your entire yard, it can get expensive fast. First, you have to consider the cost of removing your existing lawn, making sure that unwanted grass and weeds don't try to spring back up later. Next, you have your plant costs. Don't forget that you may also need landscaping materials like rocks, stone, or mulch. Your budget should also factor in what kind of irrigation system you want to use and how it will need to be installed. Finally, there's all the labor. You can opt to do the work yourself and save a little money, but many choose to call in the experts, which means additional costs.

Planning

Xeriscaped yards require more planning and thought than a traditional lawn. Starting with your irrigation set-up, take careful note of your landscape and any obstacles like driveways or walkways that you need to plan around. You'll also need to select your plants and their placement carefully. Sticking to native species as much as possible is a great way to support your local environment, and native plants also have a better chance of thriving in your yard.

Curb Appeal

If you're in your forever home, you don't need to worry about how xeriscaping may affect your home's resale value. For those who are planning to move in the future, this could be a problem. Depending on your area, xeriscaping may negatively impact your home's value. It's a good idea to do some research—either online or by talking to a local real estate expert—and see if you can find out how homes with xeriscaped yards are doing on the market. 

You'll also want to check with your HOA and make sure they don't have any rules regarding xeriscaping. There may also be local and state regulations regarding xeriscaping practices (some of these regulations are actually in your favor and support xeriscaping). The best thing to do is to talk to your HOA board and see what restrictions are in place for your neighborhood, and reach out to your local extension agency for information on best practices.

O.M. Scott & Sons products are designed for those who want to spend less time working on their yards and more time being in their yards. With O.M. Scott & Sons grass seed, you can have a yard that stays greener than other turfgrasses with less water once established. In the North, use O.M. Scott & Sons Tall Fescue Blend Grass Seed, which grows dense grass to naturally crowd out weeds and deep root systems to capture water stored deep down in the soil profile. For Southern yards, O.M. Scott & Sons Bermudagrass Grass Seed grows dense grass to stand up to heat and drought (once established), which makes it perfect for surviving those hot, dry Southern summers.

When applied correctly, the principles of xeriscaping can mean a lower maintenance, drought-tolerant yard. Even if a desert oasis isn't right for your region, consider looking into drought-tolerant turfgrasses for a lower maintenance lawn and more time for fun.