This large backyard backs up to a golf course and was previously over 3000sqft of Kentucky bluegrass. Since the backyard received little use, the high water-using bluegrass was converted to Colorado's state grass, Blue grama, and saves about 60% of the water. Many of the plants in this landscape are xeric plants that compliment this native turf well and fit right into the surrounding Colorado backdrop.

This front yard gets creative with landscaping without bluegrass. The dry streambed and various mulch areas help break up large spaces and create areas to leave unplanted and other areas to plant. The plants in this landscape are trees, shrubs and ornamental grasses that need very little maintenance and only a few flowering perennials that need a little more maintenance. This yard creates a unified look by repeating mulch and plants on both sides of the driveway and the parkway, giving this mountain xeriscape a complete look.

After removing the existing bluegrass, flowering ground covers were planted that use less water than a traditional lawn and without all the, mowing, trimming and fertilizing. As the plants mature, they will grow only a few inches tall and about 1-1.5 feet wide to cover the entire soil surface. This type of landscaping may be watered with drip pipe that has the emitters built into it (in-line drip), or efficient overhead spray nozzles that are set less frequently than for bluegrass as these plants like to dry out between watering. Make sure to water a groundcover lawn once a month in the winter to make sure these plants are healthy and ready to grow in spring.