Xeriscaping costs $17,000 on average, depending on the size of the yard and materials. Most homeowners spend between $3,000 and $24,000.
The cost of xeriscaping ranges between $3,000 and $24,000 and averages $17,000. You can estimate your project by size, or $5 to $20 per square foot. If you’ve ever seen your water bills after a particularly dry summer, xeriscaping might have come to mind as a solution. Xeriscaping can help by conserving water while allowing you to have a beautiful yard.
Knowing where your expenses go can help you better prepare for the cost of xeriscaping your yard. For the most part, the size of your yard, the materials you choose, and the amount of labor you’ll need play the biggest roles in determining the base cost of your project.
You’ll pay approximately $5 to $20 per square foot to install a xeriscape in your yard. As such, a larger space means you’ll spend more on your xeriscape project. Some homeowners may opt to focus on converting a smaller portion of their yards to a xeriscape, while others choose to xeriscape a backyard, which generally costs the most.
Below is a breakdown of different yard areas and a general cost estimate for xeriscaping:
| Project Type and Size | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Patio (350–550 square feet) | $3,000–$7,500 |
| Pool (500–800 square feet) | $4,000–$16,000 |
| Front yard (1,000–4,000 square feet) | $11,000–$15,000 |
| Backyard (1,200–6,000 square feet) | $6,000–$22,000 |
The different kinds of materials you choose for your project can greatly impact the total cost. On average, materials range from $9 to $11 per square foot and include seedling plants from nurseries and basic landscape materials like mulch, artificial turf or other grass alternatives, and gravel. If you want more elaborate materials—like rocks and stones—you might spend closer to $25 per square foot.
If you’re hiring a professional to install your xeriscape, this will cost around $5 to $20 per square foot or $500 to $1,000 per hour.
You’ll spend around $200 to $500 to remove waste and debris from your yard. The price falls toward the higher end of the price range if you use a removal company, and it falls toward the lower end of the price range if you rent a vehicle to remove the debris yourself.
You’ll need a drip or low-flow irrigation system to hydrate a xeriscaped yard. This irrigation system costs anywhere from $2.50 to $4.50 per square foot and tends to cost more than traditional above-ground or in-ground irrigation systems.
However, drip irrigation ultimately saves water because of its slow-releasing design. It’s the best irrigation system for xeriscaping plants, which might become overwatered with other irrigation systems. This price will increase if you also install a rainwater harvesting system to work alongside the drip irrigation system and further conserve water.
If you’re not sure how to design a xeriscape, you’ll also need to work with a local landscape designer to help you plan your project. The price for a design plan and consultation can cost anywhere between $500 and $8,000, depending on the complexity and scale of your project.
| Design Style | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Desert garden | $8,000–$18,500 |
| Classic garden | $10,000–$18,000 |
| Modern garden | $8,500–$15,000 |
| Cottage garden | $10,000–$15,000 |
The site location might not seem like an obvious cost factor, but if your home is in a remote location or you’re building on undeveloped land, anticipate higher costs for the delivery and preparation of your project, respectively.
If you need excavation, tree, or boulder removal services, these can increase the cost of your project significantly.
Excavation costs: $1,400–$5,300
Tree removal costs: $200–$2,000
Boulder removal costs: $650–$1,200
Overall prices for xeriscape materials can vary depending on the type of materials you choose, the quantity of the materials, and the quality of your materials. This chart gives you a brief overview of how much each material costs:
| Xeriscape Material | Material Cost |
|---|---|
| Trees | $100–$300 each |
| Shrubs | $25–$50 each |
| Flowers | $3–$20 each |
| Mulch | $30–$120 per cubic yard |
| Pea gravel | $5–$75 per cubic yard |
| Artificial turf | $2–$8 per sq. ft. |
| Rocks and stones | $250–$2,500 |
| Ground covers | $10–$25 per sq. ft. |
Drought-resistant trees are useful when it comes to xeriscaping. The trees can protect the soil from heat and sunlight, limit water evaporation, and keep the ground cooler. Here are a few common tree types you can use for xeriscaping:
Kentucky coffee tree: These tall green trees love to catch sunlight—or rather intercept it in this case. They cost between $115 and $140.
Hackberry: Hackberry trees are low maintenance and easily transplanted. They cost between $45 and $90.
Golden rain tree: Golden rain trees are adaptable and grow up to 40 feet tall and wide. They cost between $70 and $125.
Flowers can add a pop of color to your garden, but if you’re xeriscaping you want to be sure the flowers you use for that pop are xeric, too. Here are a few xeric flowers you can plant:
Perennial Alyssum: Also known as “basket of gold” this flowering plant is low-lying and wide, covering and protecting the ground. It costs around $100 for three perennial alyssum seeds, but you don’t need many considering how wide they spread.
Calendula: These gorgeous orange flowers don’t need much maintenance once they’re established, making them a good, simple xeric plant. It costs about $2 for 100 seeds.
Primrose: Not only do primrose flowers smell sweet, they are drought resistant and cover a lot of ground—great for xeriscaping. They cost about $2.50 for 100 seeds.
Though you’ll have to wait for shrubs to reach their full height, those that are drought-resistant can assist in your xeriscaping sooner than that. Here are some different types of xeric shrubs you want to consider for your xeriscaping project:
Russian sage: A tolerant, drought-resistant, and overall low-maintenance xeric shrub. They cost around $18 to $34.
Evergreen sumac: This shrub can grow 3 feet to 12 feet tall, and its Texas nativity makes it adaptable to and familiar with drought conditions. They cost around $14 to $25
Japanese Holly: With a low, spreading growth pattern, this xeric shrub can cover a lot of ground and protect your soil. They cost around $15 to $50.
After you’ve created a xeriscaped yard, don’t forget to factor in the additional cost to maintain your yard.
Even though xeriscaping is a low-maintenance landscaping option, you’ll still need to maintain it to keep the plants thriving—especially during the first two years when the plants aren’t fully established.
Xeriscape maintenance costs range anywhere from $50 to $100 per hour, and it’s a good idea to check for signs that your landscape needs maintenance in the spring and fall.
If you opt for DIYing your xeriscaping idea, you’ll pay for the materials, the delivery of the materials, the reconfiguration of your yard, and the removal of debris if necessary. This can pile up to over $1,600 if you don’t have your own transportation for materials.
The cost to deliver hardscape materials can fall anywhere between $300 and $1,100, while debris removal services cost an extra $200 to $500.
If you need to invest in rental equipment, you could end up paying anywhere between $500 and $1,600 extra just to move your materials around. If you hire a local landscaper, you’ll need to factor in $500 to $1,000 per hour on average. This means that if your project requires just a single hour of labor, it might be more cost-friendly to work with a professional.
While you’re xeriscaping your yard, you might be tempted to tackle an add-on or two to knock multiple projects out of the way in one go—especially if you’ve already hired a pro to come help you xeriscape your lawn.
A few add-ons worth considering include:
Rainwater collection system cost: $2,500
Soil testing cost: $1,400
Soil amendment cost: $10–$50 per cubic yard
Lawn fertilization cost: $400
Lawn aeration cost: $130
Weed removal cost: $135
Lawn mowing cost: $130
Debris removal cost: $240
If you want stunning xeriscaping in your yard but don’t want to break the budget, a little creativity can go a long way. Here are a few tips for saving money on your xeriscape project:
Opt for young, small plants from your local nursery as opposed to mature plants.
Try to install as much of the xeriscaping yourself as possible.
Choose natural hardscape materials like gravel, mulch, and shells.
Ask around for free materials like boulders, driftwood, lumber, or recycled metal scraps.
Install a surface irrigation system rather than a drip irrigation system.
Hold off on unnecessary upgrades like concrete pavers or natural stone slabs.
Start with a small section of your yard to avoid a large, costly project.
Xeriscaping can be more affordable than traditional landscaping, but it depends on your landscape design. However, you will save on water. If you live in an arid climate or a location prone to droughts, xeriscaping is an especially efficient way of reducing your lawn’s water demand without detracting from the beauty of your yard.
There are several potential disadvantages to choosing xeriscaping for your yard. For one, it can take a lot of hard labor and dedication to get your xeriscape up and running. Your lawn will also have less of a traditional green appearance, potentially decreasing your pool of potential buyers if you decide to sell. On a personal note, you also might not like having less greenery in your yard.
