How Much Does Xeriscaping Cost

What is xeriscaping?

How do you know if xeriscaping is right for you?

How much does it cost to xeriscape a yard?

Xeriscaping is a type of landscaping that focuses specifically on native desert plants. This method of landscaping is ideal in desert climates because it is better for the environment and easier for the owner of the property, too.

It can be pricey to xeriscape a yard, but there are some methods to help cut down on costs. In the article below, you’ll find out some information about how much it costs to xeriscape a yard and which elements may incur more cost.

With the help of this information, you can choose whether or not xeriscaping is right for you.

Read on to find out more.

How Much Does Xeriscaping Cost and Is It Worth It?

1. DIY versus professional xeriscaping

Creating your own DIY xeriscaping may help you save some money. By doing this, you’ll need to handle all the work yourself and will need to purchase the supplies and plants, but you don’t have to pay extra for labor.
If you have family members or friends who are interested in helping you with the project, this can help you save both money and time. Otherwise, you will likely need to pay for a professional installation and should consider this as part of the cost you’ll incur when planting a xeriscaping lawn or garden.

2. Size of the area

The size of the area you’re working with makes a difference when it comes to your xeriscaping costs as well. For example, if you’re only working on xeriscaping a small part of your front lawn, this will not cost nearly as much as it might cost to redo your entire front and back lawn both.
With that said, however, the money you save on irrigation and care over the years will eventually help pay for the price of the xeriscaping, no matter what the size of your space might be. The initial, up-front cost, however, may be too much for some individuals.

3. Intended design

The design of your garden or lawn has an effect on its price, too. A xeriscaping environment that has a sparse design with more ground cover than other plants is likely to cost less, while one with many trees and large plants will probably cost more.
The design will also be affected by other elements included, and if you choose to add any water elements, this will add to the price too. Keep in mind, however, that water elements really aren’t a part of xeriscaping in most instances and should usually be avoided.

4. Size and number of plants

Small plants do not usually cost as much as large plants. Additionally, the number of plants you choose to work with in your xeriscaping environment will make a difference in terms of the cost, too. If you have several small plants, it will still probably be more affordable than a few large ones, although this isn’t always the case.
The type of plants you choose can also impact the price of your xeriscape. For example, even if you choose small plants, they may be very expensive if you pick plants that are rarer than others. Save costs even more by choosing more commonplace plants.

5. Hardscaping elements

Hardscaping may add to the price of your xeriscape, whether you install it yourself or choose to go with a professional team. Hardscaping includes pavers, cement, tile, stone, and other “hard” elements that may be included in your design.
Although hardscaping can make your xeriscape look even more aesthetically appealing than ever before, it is also likely to increase the cost by quite a bit. By skipping hardscaping or only using a small amount of it, you can significantly reduce the price of your xeriscape.

6. Grass or turf

When choosing a xeriscape, it’s usually ideal to avoid turf altogether. Turf is harmful to the environment and difficult to keep up in desert climates, which makes it detrimental to xeriscape lawns and gardens.
With that said, you can choose various types of grass and ground cover that are native to the desert and can grow well in this climate. These ground cover choices may be a little costly, but they can improve your outdoor space without harming the environment.
You may also choose to skip grass and ground cover altogether. If you do this, you’ll need to pay for the cost of gravel or sand instead, but this is usually more affordable.

7. Irrigation

Irrigation should not be an issue when you properly xeriscape a yard. This is because the plants you choose for a desert climate xeriscape should be drought tolerant and should not need to be watered very often at all.
However, if you are planting new trees or other plants that need to become established, you may need temporary irrigation solutions to help your plants grow healthy and fully establish themselves.
The cost of irrigation is pricey, and the cost of water is even more so. Try to choose plants that do not require irrigation, for your budget as well as for the environment.

8. Custom elements

Custom elements may include any type of decorations in your lawn or xeriscape that do not fall into these other categories. They may include statues, fire pits, seating areas, or anything else that you want to add to your outdoor spaces.
Custom elements may quickly add to the price of your installation and can put you over budget, so be choosy about which ones you go with for your xeriscape. Think about which are practical and which you can skip when planning your layout.

9. Cost of installation

Low price range: $10,000 for smaller lawns with fewer elements
High price range: $25,000 for larger lawns with lots of elements

10. Maintenance

Finally, remember that your xeriscape is going to require some maintenance over the years. If you choose plants that are very low-maintenance, such as cactuses, you don’t have to worry too much about this cost and you can usually cover the maintenance yourself.
If you have more complicated plants or trees that require professional trimming, you’re going to need to pay a professional team to come out and handle maintenance about once per year. Consider the cost of maintenance over time when you’re thinking about how much money to budget for your xeriscape.

Conclusion

Do you feel inspired to try xeriscaping now, or do you still have some questions about whether or not it’s beneficial? If you’re still unsure, here are a few pros of xeriscaping your yard:

Xeriscaping is excellent for the environment and is much more eco-friendly than lawns.
Xeriscaping can be beautiful, unique and very aesthetically appealing.
Xeriscaping is easy to maintain when established.

And here are a couple of cons to think about:

It can be expensive to start up a xeriscaping lawn, especially if you have an existing lawn that needs to be taken down.
Establishing plants for xeriscaping can be difficult, and if you don’t have prior experience with this type of gardening, it may be harder.