Tempe Desert Landscaping
Desert Landscaping in Tempe, AZ
Grass-to-desert conversions with low-water plants, granite and boulders that look good in July.
Tempe Desert Landscaping
Grass-to-desert conversions with low-water plants, granite and boulders that look good in July.
Desert landscaping, sometimes called xeriscaping, replaces thirsty grass with plants that are built for the Sonoran Desert: agave, cactus, desert spoon, red yucca, salvia, brittlebush and shade trees like palo verde and mesquite.
Done well, it is not just rock. Layered plants, color through the seasons, boulders for structure and a drip system on its own zone give a yard that looks finished and uses much less water than a lawn.
The City of Tempe offers a grass removal rebate for single-family homes: $0.50 per square foot of grass removed, up to $2,000 per home per fiscal year. You need pre-approval before any grass comes out, and the converted area needs low-water plants covering at least 30% of it. Questions go to Tempe Water Conservation at 480-350-8351 or conservation@tempe.gov.
Tempe also has a desert plant rebate of up to $75 per fiscal year, or up to $125 when combined with a grass removal rebate. It requires attending a qualifying landscape workshop within 90 days of your plant receipt, and you apply at waterrebates.com/tempe. Rebate amounts and rules can change, so confirm the current terms with the City before work starts.
Turf is cut out or killed and removed so it does not grow back through the rock.
Flowering desert shrubs, accents and trees chosen for full sun.
A clean, compacted layer of granite in the color you choose.
Natural boulders and sculptural plants for structure.
| Rebate | Amount | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Grass removal | $0.50 per sq ft, up to $2,000 per home per fiscal year | Single-family home, pre-approval before removal, at least 30% plant coverage in the converted area |
| Desert plants | Up to $75 per fiscal year, or up to $125 with grass removal | Attend a qualifying workshop within 90 days of the plant receipt; apply at waterrebates.com/tempe |
Rebate amounts and rules can change, so confirm the current terms with the City before work starts.
The City's grass removal rebate pays $0.50 per square foot, up to $2,000 per single-family home per fiscal year. You must be pre-approved before the grass is removed.
For the grass removal rebate, the converted area needs to reach at least 30% coverage with low-water plants. We plan the planting with that in mind.
Bare rock can reflect heat. Shade trees and enough plant coverage keep a desert yard comfortable and help the house too.
Removing grass completely, a pre-emergent treatment and a proper depth of granite keep weeds down. Some light weeding after monsoon rains is normal.
Tell us how much grass you want to remove. We will measure it and walk you through the rebate steps.
Free estimate, no obligation