Water-Smart Landscaping
XERISCAPE UTAH
Beautiful, low-water landscapes designed for Utah’s climate. We handle the design, installation, and the rebate paperwork.
Xeriscaping · Utah Landscape Incentive Program
What Is Xeriscaping?
Xeriscaping is the practice of replacing water-hungry turf grass with native plants, decorative rock, and drip-irrigated planting beds designed to thrive in Utah’s semi-arid climate. The word “xeriscape” comes from the Greek xeros(dry) and “landscape” — not, as many assume, from any brand or program name. It describes an entire design philosophy: put the right plant in the right place, deliver water only where it’s needed, and let the region’s natural rainfall do the rest.
Utah is among the driest states in the country, averaging 13 to 16 inches of rainfall per year along the Wasatch Front. Water rates have risen steadily for a decade and the state legislature has mandated usage reductions with more on the way. In that context, the traditional bluegrass lawn — which can consume 50 to 75 gallons per square foot per year — is not just environmentally expensive. It is increasingly unaffordable. The state recognized this years ago and now actively pays homeowners to remove their turf, through a rebate program worth $2 to $3 per square foot.
A xeriscape project with Xperience follows a proven four-stage sequence: design consultation and site measurement, pre-approval application through your water district, installation (site prep, soil amendment, drip system, plant placement, mulch and rock finish), and final district inspection for rebate payment. The result is a landscape that looks intentional and finished, costs far less to maintain, and sends you a check from your water district when it’s done.
By the Numbers
$2–3/sqft
State Rebate Rate
3M+ sq ft
Converted Statewide in 2024
100M+ gal
Saved Per Year
30–50%
Typical Water Bill Reduction
The 7 Principles Of Xeriscaping
These seven principles guide every xeriscape project we design — calibrated for Utah’s alkaline soils, clay-heavy subgrades, and punishing August sun.
01
Planning & Design
Start with a scale drawing of your property. Map sun, shade, slopes, and soil before selecting a single plant. An unplanned xeriscape is just rocks with regrets.
02
Soil Improvement
Utah soils are often clay-heavy or alkaline. Amending with compost and gypsum matters as much as plant selection — roots can't establish in compacted, poorly draining ground.
03
Efficient Irrigation
Drip systems deliver water directly to roots, reducing evaporation by up to 70% vs. spray heads. Drip is also required to qualify for the Utah turf rebate and the $1/sqft drip upgrade bonus.
04
Plant Zoning
Group plants by water need (hydrozoning). Your roses don't belong next to your ornamental grasses. Mixing hydrozones wastes water and stresses both plant groups.
05
Use of Mulch
3–4 inches of organic mulch or decomposed granite suppresses weeds, retains moisture, and moderates soil temperature — a critical factor in Utah's 100°F July heat.
06
Turf Alternatives
Replace turf with native grasses, ground covers, ornamental beds, or hardscape. Each serves a purpose; lawn rarely earns its water when you look honestly at how it gets used.
07
Appropriate Maintenance
Low-water doesn't mean no maintenance. It means smarter maintenance — twice-yearly pruning and a quick drip-line check, rather than weekly mowing, fertilizing, and spray-head repairs.
Utah Will Pay You To Remove Your Lawn
The Utah Landscape Incentive Program (ULIP) stacks state and water-district funding to pay homeowners to convert irrigated turf to water-smart landscaping. Rates vary by district — the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District (JVWCD) currently offers among the highest combined rates in the state. A 2,000 sqft front yard conversion in Sandy or Draper can yield $6,000 or more in rebate payments before accounting for the drip-system bonus or any qualifying trees.
The most critical rule of the entire program: pre-approval is mandatory before removing any grass. Applications submitted after demo begins are automatically denied — no exceptions. This is the single most common and most expensive mistake homeowners make. When you work with Xperience, we file the pre-approval application as the first step in every project, before a single shovel breaks ground.
What Xperience handles in full: pre-application submission, coordination of the required district site visit, design to rebate specifications (plant density minimums, drip system requirements, mulch depth), installation to those specs, and the post-installation documentation for final inspection. You do not need to deal with the water district at any point in the process.
District Rates at a Glance
Rates and program details subject to change. We verify your district’s current rates during the free consultation.
Plants That Belong In Utah
We select from three hydrozones — xeric, adapted medium-water, and rebate-bonus trees — to build layered, year-round color with minimal irrigation.
Blue Grama Grass
Fine-textured native grass; eyelash seedheads; thrives on 8 in/yr
Utah Serviceberry
White spring bloom, fall berry, wildlife value; deep tap root
Rabbitbrush
Yellow fall bloom, silver foliage; anchor plant for dry slopes
Apache Plume
Feathery pink seed tails June–Sept; tolerates rocky alkaline soil
Russian Sage
Lavender spikes all summer; deer-resistant; requires full sun
Showy Milkweed
Monarch host plant; pink fragrant flowers; naturalizes in moister spots
Utah Penstemon
Scarlet tubular blooms; hummingbird magnet; minimal water once set
Desert Willow
Orchid-like pink flowers; fast growth; excellent for part-shade spots
Gambel Oak
Utah’s signature native oak; red fall color; $50 rebate per tree
Three-Leaf Sumac
Multi-stem shrub-tree; red fall color; xeric once established
Western Redbud
Brilliant magenta spring bloom; heart-shaped leaves; 15–20 ft
Bigtooth Maple
Utah’s best native fall color tree; orange/red Oct display
Common Questions
How much does xeriscaping cost in Utah?
Professional xeriscape installation typically runs $8–15/sqft for a complete conversion including design, plant material, drip system, and decorative rock or mulch. With state and district rebates of $2–3/sqft, a 2,000 sqft conversion could yield $4,000–6,000+ back. Our free estimate will calculate the exact rebate you qualify for.
Do I have to remove all my grass to qualify for the rebate?
No — you can convert any portion of your turf. However, strips under 8 ft wide do not qualify, and you must get pre-approval before removing anything. Removing turf before approval disqualifies your application.
What’s the difference between xeriscaping and just killing your lawn?
A proper xeriscape replaces turf with a designed system: drip-irrigated planting beds with the right plants for Utah's climate, properly amended soil, mulch or rock groundcover, and efficient irrigation. Bare dirt or gravel without planting is not xeriscaping and does not qualify for rebates.
How long does a xeriscape project take?
Most residential conversions take 3–7 days of installation after the design phase. The rebate pre-approval process adds 2–4 weeks to the timeline — that’s the main reason to start planning early.
Can I xeriscape in Salt Lake City specifically?
Yes, and SLC water rates make it especially compelling. Note that SLC bans artificial turf in front yards and corner side yards — a xeriscape using native plants and rock is the SLC-compliant alternative that also qualifies for the rebate.
Does Xperience handle the rebate paperwork?
Yes. We handle pre-application submission, coordinate the district site visit, design to rebate specifications, and complete the post-installation documentation. You don’t need to deal with the water district at all.
Free Estimates · We Handle the Paperwork
Start Your Rebate Application
Tell us about your project and we’ll walk the site, confirm your rebate eligibility, and file the pre-approval before a single shovel goes in the ground.
Xeriscape Utah
Xperience Landscaping · (385) 417-5865 · Salt Lake Valley