Xeriscape Landscaping: How-To Guide & Xeriscape Inspiration Ideas

Your outdoor space is meant to be a place you enjoy. That means more time engaging with your space in a relaxing way, not spending time maintaining it. When you're looking for backyard or front yard landscaping ideas that prioritize water efficiency and fewer maintenance items, there may be no better option than xeriscape landscaping.

What is Xeriscaping?

Xeriscaping is a specific approach to garden and landscape design that reduces the necessity of irrigation systems, such as sprinklers, or even eliminates them. In other words, it is a low-maintenance landscaping approach that favors drought-tolerant plants and hardscape elements like rock gardens; low-water-needs groundcover and gravel often replace grass lawns in these designs.

Xeriscaping is fairly popular in desert landscapes like those found in the American Southwest. Still, homeowners and commercial property owners in any climate can incorporate xeriscaping design elements into their own yards.

How to Design Xeriscape Landscapes in 4 Steps

Step 1: Brainstorm

Consider the following:

• Rainfall. How much rainfall does your area get, on average, a year?
• Sunlight. How much (or how little) sunlight does your property get? Full sun? Partial sun? Full shade?
• Soil type. What type of soil is on your property? Is it loamy? Silty? Sandy? Something else?
• Seasonality. Do temperatures and weather patterns fluctuate wildly between seasons where you live?
• Budget. How much money are you willing to spend on not just the initial installation but also annual upkeep costs?
• Mature plant spread. When you are planning softscape elements like trees, shrubs, and flowers, consider their mature spread, or how large they will be once fully grown.
• Maintenance. Just because xeriscape designs are lower-maintenance than other garden designs doesn't necessarily mean they're no-maintenance. Factor in how much time you are willing to devote to maintenance on a weekly, monthly, and annual basis.
• Zoning. How many zones will you segment your yard into, and how will you connect them? For example, will you have an outdoor kitchen with a paver walkway that connects it to a rock garden? Creating an outdoor landscape plan can help you get a better idea of how to zone your yard based on curb appeal and function.
• Permitting. Will you need permits or other permissions before you begin your project?
• Ability levels. Are you confident that you can DIY this project? Or would you like peace of mind knowing that your design will be implemented by expert hands when you hire a professional landscaping team?

Step 2: Gather Materials

After getting an idea of how you want your yard to look and function, it's time to gather your materials.

• Plants. Based on the answers to your questions from the brainstorming phase, you should have a better idea of which plants will thrive in your area. In Missouri, native plants and wildflowers are often great options for xeriscaping projects since they are well-suited to the climate and are more efficient with their water use compared to non-native species. For year-round visual interest, select a wide variety of plants with different blooming periods.
• Hardscape materials. Hardscape elements like natural stone, crushed gravel, and wood are staples of xeriscape designs. These materials add structure, are easy to maintain, and bring a natural flair to the area.
• Irrigation system. Low-water landscapes are not no-water landscapes. Depending on where you live and the plants you select, you may still need some form of irrigation for your yard, such as an efficient, low-maintenance drip irrigation system that uses less water than sprinklers.
• Permits. If you need any permits or approvals for your project, get those at this step.
• Other materials. Drought-tolerant landscaping still needs high-quality mulch to help protect plants' root systems. Organic mulch, like wood chips, is a great option for shrubs and trees, while inorganic materials like pea gravel or lava rock work well for succulents (agave, yucca, Echeveria, etc.) and certain kinds of perennials (yarrow, coneflower, milkweed, etc.).

Step 3: Break Ground

After brainstorming and gathering your materials, it's time to get started installing your new xeriscape landscape.

• Hardscape first. Install your hardscape elements, such as natural stone walkways, before your softscape elements like ornamental grasses. If you are replacing your grass with an inorganic ground cover, such as stone, now is the time to start removing the grass.
• Softscape second. After the structure of your yard is established with hardscape features, it's time to start planting.
• Don't forget irrigation. If your plants require some irrigation, a water-efficient drip irrigation system is a great choice. As the name implies, these systems drip water directly onto plant roots, reducing water waste. Most irrigation systems are a simple network of tubes and emitters that are relatively easy and affordable to install.

Step 4: Clean Up & Maintain

After everything is installed, be sure to properly clear the property of any debris or waste. Create a maintenance schedule for your yard to ensure everything looks great and functions properly for years to come.

Xeriscaping Ideas to Get Inspired

Xeriscape Design Ideas FAQs

What are the disadvantages of xeriscaping?

Backyard and front yard xeriscape landscaping projects make sense for many properties, but that doesn't mean these designs are best for every property. Many of these projects have high upfront costs, which can present barriers to entry for some people. Furthermore, because many softscape elements are replaced with hardscape elements such as stone, the yard may be more likely to trap heat.

Does xeriscaping decrease property value?

Well-designed, properly installed, and regularly maintained xeriscaping can increase property value.

What materials are best for xeriscaping?

The best materials for xeriscaping are low-maintenance, water-efficient, and natural materials. These materials can include drought-tolerant plants like succulents, wooden trellises, or pea gravel.

What plants thrive in a modern xeriscape backyard?

Plants that can thrive in a xeriscape backyard with a modern landscape design in Missouri include purple coneflower, butterfly milkweed, little bluestem, and buffalo grass.

How can I add color to my xeriscape garden?

You can add color to a xeriscape garden with softscape elements like salvia and lavender, along with hardscape elements like painted flower pots.

Can I add succulents to my xeriscape design?

Yes, succulents are great options for xeriscape designs.

Can I hire professional landscapers to bring my xeriscape design to life?

When you want to bring your xeriscape landscaping ideas to life, contact Poynter Landscape Architecture & Construction. With decades of experience serving the St. Louis area, we have the know-how to create a stunning xeriscape paradise right in your backyard.