Xeriscape Landscape Design for Low Water Houston Yards
Xeriscaping replaces thirsty turf with planting that lives on close to what Houston rain gives it, held together with gravel, decomposed granite, and stone. Done well it is a designed scheme rather than a rock yard: layered planting, seasonal colour, and a fraction of the irrigation and mowing.
Why Texan Landscape Group for Xeriscaping
- 01
The number on this page is the number we work to.
Texan Landscape Group publishes an investment range of $8,000 to $30,000, or roughly $12 to $25 per square foot of planted area for this service before you call, rather than qualifying you on the phone first. Almost no Houston landscape contractor does.
- 02
A xeriscape here is a designed planting scheme in layers with seasonal colour, not a gravel field with three agaves in it.
The drip zoning is dialled back after establishment rather than left running.
- 03
Workmanship coverage and manufacturer registrations are written into the agreement you sign before work starts.
They are not produced afterwards, and the crew that installed the work is the crew that comes back.
- 04
One call afterwards.
No claims portal, no ticket number, and no subcontractor who has moved on.
What Xeriscape Landscape Design Involves
Every project has the same core scope, adapted to the specific property and program.
- 01
Site & Soil
Sun, drainage, and soil assessed so the plant list matches what each part of the yard actually offers.
- 02
Turf Removal
Existing lawn removed or smothered and the ground prepared so it cannot come back up through the new scheme.
- 03
Planting Scheme
Adapted and native species laid out in layers for structure, seasonal colour, and mature size rather than the size at delivery.
- 04
Gravel & Boulders
Decomposed granite, gravel fields, and boulder placement setting the ground plane between the planting.
- 05
Mulch & Edging
Mulch depth, bed edging, and separation fabric where it helps, so beds hold their line and their moisture.
- 06
Drip Irrigation
Low-volume drip and bubblers zoned for establishment, then dialled back as the planting takes.
Our Xeriscaping Process in Houston
- 01
Site and Soil Assessment
Sun, drainage, and soil are assessed so the plant list matches what each part of the yard actually offers. A xeriscape on a wet, shaded corner is the wrong scheme for that corner.
- 02
Turf Removal
Existing lawn is removed or smothered and the ground prepared so it cannot come back up through the new scheme. Bermuda in particular will return through gravel if it is not dealt with properly first.
- 03
Planting Scheme
Adapted and native species are laid out in layers for structure, seasonal colour, and mature size rather than the size at delivery. This is what keeps it reading as a garden rather than as a rock yard.
- 04
Gravel, Boulders and Edging
Decomposed granite, gravel fields, and boulder placement set the ground plane between the planting. Mulch depth, bed edging, and separation fabric hold the line and the moisture.
- 05
Drip Irrigation and Handover
Low-volume drip and bubblers are zoned for establishment, then dialled back as the planting takes. We hand over the controller programming and the schedule for reducing it.
Everything you see.
Everything you don’t.
What separates xeriscaping that lasts from work that fails in two summers is the part you never look at again once it is finished. On this job that is site & soil and turf removal — decided before anything visible goes in, and impossible to correct afterwards without taking up what sits on top. Houston water restrictions and the cost of irrigating turf through a drought summer are what make a xeriscape scheme pay for itself here, not a lack of rainfall on average. What you do see gets held to the same standard: the joint lines, the edges, and how the finished work meets the house.
How Much Does Xeriscaping Cost in Houston?
The range below is what work of this kind typically runs in Houston, so you can place yourself in it before you call. It is a starting point, not a quote — every project is scoped to the specific property, program, and material selections.
We confirm a clear investment range in the initial consultation and issue a detailed proposal after the design phase.
- Area converted, and how much lawn has to be removed first
- Plant sizes at delivery, and how densely the scheme is planted
- Boulders, gravel fields, and decomposed granite quantities
- Bed edging, mulch depth, and separation fabric where it helps
- Drip irrigation zones added, or an existing system reworked
$8,000 – $30,000
Most projects of this type
- At the lower end
- A front bed conversion — lawn removed, gravel and decomposed granite laid, and adapted planting at a starter size.
- At the upper end
- A whole yard rebuilt as a designed scheme, with boulders, layered native planting at mature sizes, stone paths, and drip zoned through it.
A range, not a quote. Your figure depends on square footage, materials, how much grading and drainage the site needs, and equipment access.
Xeriscaping Across Houston and the Surrounding Area
Texan Landscape Group designs and installs xeriscapes across River Oaks, Tanglewood, Memorial, Braeswood Place, Southgate, West University Place, Bellaire, Meyerland, Spring Valley Village, Hilshire Village and Garden Oaks, and throughout Harris and Fort Bend counties. Houston water restrictions and the cost of irrigating turf through a drought summer are what make a xeriscape scheme pay for itself here, not a lack of rainfall on average. That is a design decision on every project, not a note added at the end of one.
Adapted and native species selection follows the water-efficient landscaping guidance the Texas Water Development Board publishes for the Gulf Coast region. Design and construction sit inside one in-house team, which is why the drawing and the finished work match. You can learn more about our crew, or see all of our Houston landscape services for the full scope we design and build.
What Houston Homeowners Say About Our Xeriscaping
“Texan Landscape Group did a great job on my recent landscaping project. The owner came out personally to provide the quote and take measurements. He was very professional, knowledgeable, and easy to communicate with thro…”
Hieu Vo7 months ago “Couldn’t be more proud of the work Texan Landscape group for a fine work they did with my field and the turf installation around the fiend. I recommend them to anyone interested in having their landscape done with turf.…”
thiago Reis7 months ago “I had an amazing experience with this company. They turfed and landscaped my entire backyard at my brand new home and built a modern pergola that matches the house perfectly — it looks incredible. They finished everythi…”
Chase Stock7 months ago
Xeriscaping FAQs
What is included in the price of a xeriscape scheme?
Most xeriscape projects run $8,000 to $30,000, or roughly $12 to $25 per square foot of planted area. Gravel and boulder work, plant sizes at installation, and how much existing turf has to be removed are the main variables.
Does xeriscaping mean no plants and just gravel?
No, and the schemes that look like that are the reason the term has a bad reputation. A xeriscape here is layered planting held together with decomposed granite, gravel, and stone, with seasonal colour. The gravel is the ground plane, not the design.
Will a xeriscape still need watering?
During establishment, yes, on low-volume drip. After the first year or two the zones are dialled back substantially, which is where the water saving comes from. Nothing planted in Houston clay establishes without water in its first summer.
What plants work for a Houston xeriscape?
Adapted and native species selected for this region rather than for a West Texas or Arizona palette. What survives a Houston August also has to survive our humidity and our rainfall when it does arrive, which rules out much of what is sold as drought planting.
Will a xeriscape meet my HOA rules?
Many Houston HOAs have specific requirements about turf coverage and street frontage. We check the covenants for your address and design within them, or handle the submittal where approval is needed.
Work that goes with this.
Most projects combine several of these, and doing them together costs less than doing them one at a time.
- 06 / Gravel
Paver Walkway and Gravel Path Installation in Houston
Decomposed granite and gravel paths with two-foot concrete pavers set as stepping squares — the side yard and garden route that drains, at a fraction of a slab.
Explore Paver Walkway and Gravel Path Installation in Houston - 23 / Turf
Artificial Turf Installation Built on a Drainage Base
Synthetic lawns that stay green through a Houston August — for shaded yards, dog runs, pool surrounds, and paver-and-turf hardscape.
Explore Artificial Turf Installation Built on a Drainage Base - 28 / Irrigation
Houston Sprinkler System Installation and Repair
Sprinkler and drip systems installed, zoned, and tuned — new systems, repairs, and the retrofits that stop a system watering the driveway.
Explore Houston Sprinkler System Installation and Repair - 24 / Sod
Houston Sod Installation, Graded, Amended and Watered In
New lawns installed on prepared, graded soil — with the variety matched to how much sun the yard actually gets.
Explore Houston Sod Installation, Graded, Amended and Watered In
Written about this work.
What we have published on it — what it costs, what it is like to live with, and how it is put together.
- Plants & Planting · 4 min read · By Chris GosselinXeriscaping in Houston: Cutting Water Use Without Losing Curb AppealXeriscaping has a reputation for gravel yards and cactus. Done right in Houston, it looks nothing like that, and it cuts a real cost most homeowners underestimate.
- Plants & Planting · 6 min read · By Chris GosselinNative Texas Plants That Handle DroughtNative plants that survive a Houston summer without constant irrigation — and why “drought tolerant” still means watering through the first year.
- Plants & Planting · 2 min read · By Chris Gosselin100 Native Plants for Harris and Adjacent CountiesOne hundred natives picked for two things at once: they grow in Harris County gumbo, and they feed birds, butterflies and beneficial insects. The full list.
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