Lawn vs. Xeriscape Interactive
Press play to see just how much water xeriscape saves over grass.

Xeriscape is not brown lava rock and a lone palm tree. Instead, a xersicape uses lots of water-efficient plants, shrubs and trees to create an attractive, water-smart landscape.

Grass vs. xeriscape:

• Grass needs about 79 gallons of water per square foot per year to survive in the desert.
• Xeriscape needs about 17 gallons of water per square foot per year.
• Planting xeriscape instead of grass saves about 62 gallons of water per square foot per year.
• Converting a 1,000 square-foot grass yard to xeriscape will save 62,000 gallons of water a year.

Seven principles of xeriscape:

1. Planning and Design – Plan before you plant to avoid costly mistakes.
    
2. Appropriate Turf Areas – Plant grass only in areas where it provides functional benefits, like the children's play area.
    
3. Efficient Irrigation – Water all trees, shrubs and groundcovers with an efficient, low-volume drip system. Irrigate grass areas separately from other plantings and keep your irrigation clock in tune with the season. Check out SNWA's watering schedule for appropriate watering.
    
4. Low Water-Use Plants – Many low water-use plants are available and can provide shade, accents and seasonal bursts of color.
    
5. Soil Improvements – Use organic matter to help the soil yield better water absorption and feed nutrients to your plants.
    
6. Surface Mulches – Use mulches to cover and cool the soil, decrease evaporation, reduce weed growth and slow erosion.
    
7. Appropriate Maintenance – Xeriscapes require less maintenance than traditional landscapes, but to preserve the appearance and water efficiency, some regular maintenance is required.