Landscape / Valley Vista
Xeriscape Conversions
Turf to desert conversions with composed planting, shaped decomposed granite and drip irrigation, cutting water use without cutting the design.
What we do
A conversion takes out a lawn that never suited this climate and replaces it with a front or back yard that does. Done badly this means rock and three shrubs. Done properly it means a composed landscape with structure, seasonal colour and real presence, using a fraction of the water the lawn did.
How we build it
We remove the turf and its irrigation, reshape grade so water runs where we want it, and set planting in considered groups rather than scattered singly. Plants are chosen for the size they will hold at maturity. Drip irrigation goes in zoned by plant type, and decomposed granite is graded and compacted to a clean finish.
What to expect
A yard that looks better in January than the lawn ever did, costs a fraction to water, and improves as the planting fills in. Desert plants take a season or two to establish, and the design accounts for how it reads during that window.
What it costs
$6 - $14 per square foot
Turf removal through to finished planting and drip. Heavier planting and boulder work runs higher.
What moves the number
- Removal and disposal of existing turf
- Granite depth, colour and shaping
- Plant sizes and quantity at install
- Converting spray irrigation over to drip
Ranges are for planning only. Every quote is priced from a site visit.
How long it takes
- Estimate and design
- 1 - 2 weeks
- Scheduling
- 2 - 4 weeks out
- On site
- 3 days - 1 week
Permits and HOA approval
No permit required. Several West Valley water providers run turf removal rebate programmes with their own pre-approval steps and before-and-after documentation, so check with yours before we begin. We measure and document the converted square footage for the application.
Common questions
How much water will a conversion actually save?
A great deal. A natural lawn is the single largest water demand on most residential properties in this valley, and desert adapted planting on drip irrigation needs a small fraction of it. The exact figure depends on your lawn size and current schedule, but the reduction is substantial and permanent.
Will my yard just look like gravel?
Not if it is designed. That look comes from treating conversion as removal rather than as design. A proper xeriscape has structure, layers, mature shade trees, accent planting and considered circulation. Granite is the background it all sits on, not the finished product.
Do desert plants still need irrigation?
Yes, particularly while establishing. Desert adapted planting needs regular water through its first year or two to root properly, then far less once established. We install zoned drip so the schedule can be reduced over time instead of running at the same rate forever.
Will my HOA approve a xeriscape design?
Most West Valley associations encourage them, though many have guidelines on plant material and front yard appearance. We put the plan in a form the association can review and build the approval window into the schedule, so it is a step in the process rather than a delay discovered halfway through.
