Xeriscaping & water-wise landscaping
Less lawn, less water, still looks intentional — not just rocks.
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What's included
Done well, xeriscaping isn't just gravel dumped where lawn used to be — it's a planting and hardscape plan built around plants that actually thrive in this climate, with irrigation zoned to match, so it looks intentional instead of like the lawn just gave up.
We work within the same principles as Utah's own Localscapes design standard: a single, usable open shape for any lawn you keep (rather than lawn scattered in odd corners), defined planting beds with drought-tolerant, zone 6b–7a–appropriate species, and drip irrigation on its own zone separate from any turf.
This matters for your water bill and not just aesthetics — a typical Utah household can use several thousand gallons a year watering areas like park strips and unused lawn corners that nobody actually walks on. Water conservancy districts across the valley, including Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District's 'Flip Your Strip' program, offer real cash-back incentives for replacing lawn with a qualifying water-wise design — we can point you to current program details for your specific water district since funding and amounts vary and change year to year.
How it works
Step by step, here's what actually happens on site:
- 1Assess sun exposure, soil, and how the space actually gets used
- 2Remove existing turf where it's being replaced
- 3Grade and install a compacted or amended base as needed for the new design
- 4Zone drip irrigation separately from any turf you're keeping
- 5Plant drought-tolerant, zone-appropriate species
- 6Finish with mulch or rock groundcover sized correctly for the planting
Why Ironwood
We design and build both the hardscape and the planting, so the finished yard reads as one cohesive design instead of a patchwork of rock.
Correct drip zoning is what separates a water-wise yard that thrives from one that's either overwatered or left to die — we don't just cap a system, we re-zone it.
We can point you toward current rebate programs for your water district, even though we don't handle the applications ourselves.
Project gallery
Xeriscaping & water-wise landscaping FAQ
Is xeriscaping just rocks and cactus?
No — done right it's a real planting design using drought-tolerant species suited to our zone, with defined beds and usable space, not just gravel.
Are there rebates for replacing lawn with water-wise landscaping?
Often, yes. Several Salt Lake Valley water conservancy districts, including Jordan Valley's 'Flip Your Strip' program, offer cash-back incentives — current amounts and eligibility vary by district and by year, so we recommend checking your district's program directly before you budget around a specific number.
Can I keep some lawn, or does it all have to go?
You can keep lawn — Utah's Localscapes standard actually recommends up to about 35% of a yard in a single, usable open shape rather than removing it entirely.
How much water does this actually save?
It varies by yard, but replacing high-water areas that don't get used — like oversized park strips or side-yard lawn nobody walks on — is where most of the savings comes from.