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Consultations
Discuss ideas, desires, and vision. The site is evaluated for size, grade, and exposure to sun and wind. You receive a list of selected plants suited to the location and a plant reference guide.
Water-wise Landscapes for Colorado’s Front Range
Xeriscape for Nature’s Sake
Consultations, designs, and installations from Highlands Ranch. Native and adapted plants. Habitat for butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.
Consultations
Designs
Installations
Highlands Ranch, Colorado
Xeric Gardens
A colorful Xeriscape that lives on rainfall.
Our goal is to promote water conservation and sustainability by designing Xeriscapes that both conserve water and are environmentally friendly.
Consultations and designs can help you transform an urban landscape into an inviting, colorful Xeriscape you will enjoy — while saving water and providing a natural habitat for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds, and other essential pollinators.
It’s Xeriscape, not zero-scape
“Zero-scapes” filled with rocks cause wasteful water runoff and heat buildup that parches nearby trees and shrubs. A Xeriscape is designed to survive on rainfall and little to no supplemental water — and still look like a garden.
Services
From a conversation to a walkthrough you can stand in.
Landscape designs are created with water conservation as a major objective, according to Xeriscaping principles. Prices for consultations and design plans vary with the size and complexity of the project. Design plans can be prepared to the Xeriscaping requirements of an HOA or a water-utility turf-replacement rebate program.
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Visual designs
Working from a photo of the property, plantings, hardscapes, and themes are tried until a photo-rendered visual design gives a realistic view of the makeover. Plant reference guide included.
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Design plans
A detailed scale diagram — often needed for larger projects or HOA approval — showing size and placement of plants and hardscapes, an itemized list of materials with estimated costs, and a quote for installation.
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3D virtual walkthrough
See the design in virtual reality. A detail plan includes a video tour of the new landscape and multiple still shots of the virtual model.
Xeric Gardens can also have the Xeriscape design professionally installed. Up-front estimates are provided for visual designs, detail plans, and installations. Quotes for actual installation cost come once a detail plan is complete.
What is Xeriscape?
Named from the Greek xeros — dry.
Xeriscape refers to a landscape that can survive on rainfall and little to no supplemental water. The principles of Xeriscaping were originally developed by Denver Water in 1981 in response to water shortages.
A ColoradoScape
A beautiful and sustainable landscape that can thrive in Colorado’s unique and arid climate. Xeric Gardens specializes in native and adapted plants that require minimal water and maintenance while providing a stunning, functional, and environmentally responsible outdoor space.
Instead of thirsty bluegrass
Use native and adapted plants that can better survive the arid, harsh climate along the Front Range. Replacing turf grass with more drought-tolerant and hardy plants saves on water, mowing, and maintenance.
Seven principles
How a Xeriscape is built.
From Xeric Gardens: landscapes designed with water conservation as a major objective follow these basic principles.
Design
Plan a landscape based on the location, environment, and intended use.
Plant selection
Select native and adapted drought-tolerant plants and group plants with similar water needs for more efficient irrigation.
Soil amendment
Prepare the soil with organic material to provide essential nutrients, improve water retention, and ensure proper drainage.
Reduce turf area
Minimize turf that requires a lot of water, mowing, and maintenance. Replace it with attractive, drought-tolerant native and adapted plants.
Irrigation
Install efficient drip irrigation with programmable timers or smart controllers.
Mulch & maintenance
Mulch around plants to retain moisture and help prevent weeds. Care for plants with proper watering, fertilizing, pruning, and pest control. Once established, they need less of both.
Conserving water
Get paid to Xeriscape.
The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) has a statewide Turf Replacement Program that began in the spring of 2023. It boosts funding for existing rebate programs and creates new turf-replacement programs statewide. Homeowners can get $2,000 or more — check your local water utility.
60%of summer household water can go to outdoor watering
Half+of that water is wasted — evaporation, runoff, overwatering, poor maintenance
30–80%water savings in the landscape with Xeriscape practices and proper irrigation
1981Denver Water developed the principles of Xeriscaping
Check with your local water utility about rebates they may offer for turf replacement.
The American desert Southwest is just that, a desert. It’s just not practical to have a traditional water-thirsty landscape like those in the Eastern and Midwestern parts of the country. Xeric Gardens — “It’s a Desert Out There”
From the gallery
Projects already on the books.
Four projects described as they appear on the Xeric Gardens gallery.
Going Xeric — from start to finish
An entire landscape makeover: stone terraced planting beds filled with colorful perennials, a wide new staircase, less turf, and a backyard of edible and Xeric plants. Installation by Dena Townsend. Landscape lighting by Lighthouse Outdoors.
Taming the swale
A new-construction backyard with a large swale the length of a slope. Regrading was not an option under HOA restrictions, so a dry creek bed keeps drainage while setting a natural place for Xeric plants. Paver patio and a raised perennial bed. Installation by Dena Townsend.
City of Aurora water-wise garden
Restoration of the Contemplative Garden — one of several themed gardens in the 10-acre Xeriscape demonstration garden at the Aurora Municipal Center — after a heavy rain flooded the lowest point of the property. Timber steps, a dry creek bed, and Xeriscape plants for a serene retreat.
Dry creek bed drainage control
A defined path for water to flow and soak into the soil instead of running into the street. Functional and beautiful — low-water ornamental grasses and colorful perennials, and a small Xeric garden for pollinators.
Let’s get started
Want to know more about Xeriscaping?
Contact us today to schedule an appointment that will set you on the way to transforming your landscape into a beautiful water-wise Xeric garden.
- Call 720-772-8130
- Email xericgardens@icloud.com
- Location Highlands Ranch, Colorado
What to expect
A consultation to discuss what you want, then a plant list and reference guide suited to the site. Visual designs are photo-rendered from your property. Detail plans include a scale diagram, materials list, installation quote, and a 3D walkthrough.
Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Work described includes a restoration for Aurora Water at the Municipal Center demonstration garden.