It may surprise you, but this entire yard is xeriscape! The plants in this landscape are all well adapted to Colorado and grouped according to water need which makes the best use of water in the landscape. The turfgrass is a dwarf tall fescue and looks great with 2/3rds the water of traditional grass. A tip for large yards like this one is to plant in groups to create unity and interest and to choose larger xeric shrubs where possible to help reduce maintenance.

The stonework and hardscape in this yard help add structure and planting space while allowing the landscape to blend into the surrounding native areas. The planting beds closer to the house and near the patios are slightly higher water using and have a pop of color that accents the entrance. The plants outside of the courtyard require less water and maintenance and help blend in with the Colorado landscape that surrounds this yard. This is a great example of a no-grass yard that instead features courtyard gardens, patios and a pathway around the house.

This renovation eliminated all bluegrass from the plan, and instead took advantage of plants that offered a variety of color and texture. This yard had a few different challenges when considering a new landscape: slope, deer, western exposure and low water and maintenance needs. The rock chosen for this yard is slightly angular so it doesn't roll downhill easily, the plants are selected for deer resistance and heat loving which is necessary for a west facing yard that has a heat-holding rock mulch. In fact, many of these plants actually prefer rock mulch rather than wood mulch that may hold too much water too near the plant. And finally, the landscape is watered with drip irrigation to make best use of water. With drip irrigation, water is applied only where the plants need it, and not in unnecessary areas where only weeds might grow, saving time with maintenance.