Xeriscape | Landscape Supply of Utah (2024)

In North America, over 50% of residential water is used on landscapes and lawns. That is a huge amount of water that could be used for growing crops and human consumption.

Xeriscaping is a type of landscape design that dramatically decreases the amount of water needed to maintain a beautiful front or back yard landscape. A well-designed xeriscape can decrease your water usage anywhere from 50 to 75 percent. Utah is a great region for homeowners to consider using xeriscape. Statistically, Utah is the 2nd driest state in the nation! With an average of 8-11 inches of rain annually, this makes Utah an ideal place to install a water-wise yard.

Utah’s natural plant life offers a wide range of color, texture, and interest to any xeriscaping design. When deciding if you’ll enjoy a xeriscape design in your yard, take a drive around your local nature reserves, or walk through a nature trail to see what your environment has to offer for vegetation. Whatever you see in the wild will thrive within your xeriscape design.

A well-designed xeriscape can not only significantly reduce water consumption, but will also save you money on your water bill. In an effort to promote water efficiency, many local governments are offering incentives to move to a more water-conscious landscaping design.Utah Water Saversshares that Utah residents can receive up to $1.25 per square foot of lawn that is replaced with a water-efficient design.

Because of xeriscaping’s reduced use of lawn and water, it can sometimes be confused with hardscaping, however, these two methods of landscaping are very different. While xeriscaping is reduced greenery that requires manual watering, hardscaping is the non-living element within a landscape design. Hardscaping usually consists of any hard landscape materials such as bricks, wood, walkways, pavers, walls, driveways, fountains, pools or ponds.

If you choose a xeriscape design, you will have hardscaping elements that within the landscape. Hardscaping serves a specific purpose and adds elements of interest and texture to your overall design.

Xeriscaping seems like an easy project – no lawn, no sprinklers and lots of rock, however, there is an art to xeriscape. There are specific, necessary steps that should to be taken when creating a xeriscape design to ensure your yard and home look spectacular for many years to come.

For a truly functional xeriscape, knowledge of native Utah plants is key. Knowledge of native vegetation’s sun and water needs, cold hardiness, heat tolerance and more will help ensure your design will be successful. For example, if you place a native plant without proper sun exposure, even though it’s native, it likely won’t survive. This simple, yet crucial mistake can impact the overall look of your xeriscape and create more maintenance than necessary.

If you already have a landscape design that includes sprinklers or irrigation of any kind, there will be additional steps needed to ensure you properly seal off water lines that will no longer be used. You may even need to completely remove them. While some experienced DIYers may be able to take on such a large project, it won’t be quite as easy for the everyday homeowner.

For a large-scale project, it is best to call All States Landscaping, our sister company.

1. Zeroscape Is Not Xeriscape

Zeroscape is a complete reduction in any type of vegetation. It’s usually large gravel or rock-covered areas with minimal plants. Xeriscaping on the other hand can be a lush design, but with a dramatically reduced water requirement. You may not even see gravel coverage, but if you do, it won’t be the focus of the xeriscape design.

2. Xeriscaping Isn’t Just For Desert Climates

Xeriscape is not empty or barren landscaping. Xeriscaping uses native plants, trees and shrubs, which allows for a design that can survive with what nature provides.

3. Xeriscaping Will Pay You Back

Replacing your lawn with a properly designed xeriscape cansave youup to 5,000-8,000 gallons of water each year. Some local governments will give you rebates for water-saving landscape designs.

4. Knowledge of Local Plants is Key

The proper choice of plants, shrubs and trees are essential to a beautiful xeriscape. An understanding of what will thrive in your local region and ensuring it is added to the design in a way that is healthy and beautiful is essential to a successful xeriscape and will prevent extensive maintenance.

5. You May Need Permits

Some local governments, or even local HOAs, may have requirements regarding your landscape designs. Be sure you check with your local government to see if there are permits required for structures, storm runoff adjustments, sidewalk adjustments, etc. Or better yet, call our sister company, All States Landscaping and we’ll take care of this part for you!