Xeriscaping is landscape planning that reduces the need for supplemental irrigation by matching plants, soil care and watering to the site. It can include trees, flowers, shrubs and useful lawn areas. It does not mean covering the entire yard with gravel or choosing only low-growing plants.
The practical goal is a garden you can sustain with the water available in your climate. Savings depend on what you replace, the plants you choose and how you irrigate; no single percentage applies to every yard. New drought-tolerant plants still need establishment care.
Start With the Yard You Actually Use
Sketch the house, paths, existing trees, utilities and outdoor activities before buying plants. Note sunny and shaded areas, slopes, places where rain collects and areas exposed to reflected heat. Keep access to meters, drains and maintenance routes clear.
Decide where you need an open play surface, seating, privacy or a planted view. A compact lawn that serves a purpose can fit the plan. An awkward strip that requires frequent mowing and overspray may be a better candidate for conversion. Work in sections if replacing everything at once would leave you unable to water and weed new planting.
The Seven Xeriscaping Principles
Denver Water’s seven principles combine planning, soil improvement where appropriate, efficient irrigation, suitable plants, mulch, practical turf areas and maintenance. Their plant examples reflect their region; apply the principles using local advice.
- Plan the whole site. Group changes around how you use the garden and the conditions plants will experience.
- Understand the soil. Assess drainage and obtain a soil test before adding nutrients. Amendments should suit the soil and plants; phosphorus, bone meal or compost are not automatic requirements everywhere.
- Water efficiently. Separate plants with different irrigation needs. Choose equipment that applies water to the intended root area and inspect it for leaks or blockage.
- Choose appropriate plants. Match mature size, winter hardiness, summer heat, exposure and moisture needs. A drought-tolerant plant for one climate may fail in another.
- Use suitable mulch. Select material and depth for the planting. Keep mulch away from trunks and plant crowns; gravel and organic mulch behave differently.
- Make turf purposeful. Retain grass where it performs a useful job and choose locally suitable species. Lawn is optional, not a compulsory visual centerpiece.
- Maintain the garden. Weed, monitor irrigation, prune as needed and replace unsuitable plants. Water-wise does not mean maintenance-free.
Plant Choices: Use Local Conditions, Not a Universal List
Begin with a regional extension or water-provider list and check the exact species and cultivar. Locally native plants can be useful, but a native wetland species is not automatically suitable for a dry bank. Similarly, silvery leaves or small foliage alone do not prove that a plant will thrive without irrigation.
Build the planting in layers: an appropriately sized shade tree where there is room, shrubs for structure, and perennials or groundcovers for seasonal interest. Ask a nursery which selections cope with your soil and rainfall pattern after establishment. Include flowering plants with different bloom periods if you want a changing display rather than one brief flush.
Before buying, check local invasive-plant guidance as well as appearance. A plant promoted in an old regional list may be invasive or restricted elsewhere. Colorado State University’s retrofit guidance also explains why existing trees need attention when lawn irrigation is removed. Do not assume a mature tree will manage simply because it survived before the conversion.
Design Ideas for Different Spaces
A Small Rectangular Yard
Keep a direct route to doors and storage. Place a seating area where it will be comfortable at the time you use it, then repeat a small selection of plants along the edges. Leave enough planting width for mature growth instead of relying on repeated trimming to keep a path open.
A Curved Bed or Central Sitting Area
Use broad curves that are easy to edge and maintain. Arrange plants by water needs within the design, rather than alternating thirsty and dry-site plants just for color. Place tall planting where it will not obscure sightlines at driveways.
A Sunny, Dry Border
Compare local low-water perennials, grasses and shrubs before deciding whether succulents are suitable. A cactus design requires compatible winter temperatures and drainage. Rock is a design material, not evidence that the plants underneath have the right conditions.
Irrigation and Long-Term Care
Check moisture in the root zone and adjust watering as plants establish and weather changes. Young plants, containers and mature trees have different needs. Drip irrigation still needs correct placement, maintenance and scheduling; it does not eliminate evaporation or waste automatically.
Follow current local watering restrictions. Rain storage can supplement irrigation where permitted, but useful capacity depends on roof area, rainfall timing and tank size. It is not a guarantee of a year’s supply.
Keep a short record of plants that struggle, where runoff occurs and which irrigation zones need adjustment. Use that information for the next stage of the garden. CSU’s water-wise design guidance is a useful example of planning around site conditions and actual use.
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