Reference
Xeriscaping: The Seven Principles of Waterwise Landscaping
The short answer
Xeriscaping is a water-conserving approach to landscape design organized around seven principles popularized by Colorado State University: (1) planning and design, (2) soil analysis and preparation, (3) practical turf areas, (4) appropriate plant selection, (5) efficient irrigation, (6) use of mulches, and (7) appropriate maintenance. The core idea is captured in principle one — understand your site and match plants to the place, rather than forcing the landscape to support plants that don't belong there.
Two misconceptions are worth killing early. Xeriscape does not mean 'zeroscape' — you don't have to rip out every blade of grass; the principle is practical turf, keeping lawn where it is actually used and replacing it elsewhere. And it is not plant deprivation: native and drought-adapted plants, once established, create a garden CSU describes as practically taking care of itself, with lower maintenance, less fertilizer, and fewer pesticides. Water that you do apply goes deep and infrequent, which trains roots downward and builds drought tolerance over time.
The seven principles, working order
- 1Plan and design — Map sun, shade, slopes, and wet/dry zones, then assign plants to matching conditions. This step is where most of the water savings are actually won.
- 2Prepare the soil — Amend planting areas with compost where appropriate — CSU notes soil holds substantially more moisture with organic matter added — while leaving areas for natives that prefer lean soil unamended.
- 3Keep turf practical — Retain lawn where people actually walk and play; convert decorative turf to beds, groundcovers, or hardscape.
- 4Choose adapted plants — Favor natives and proven drought-tolerant species suited to your exposure and soil; group plants with similar water needs together.
- 5Irrigate efficiently — Water deeply and infrequently to push roots deep; use drip for beds so water lands at the roots, not the air.
- 6Mulch — Mulch cuts evaporation, suppresses weeds, slows erosion, and buffers soil temperature swings.
- 7Maintain appropriately — A well-adapted landscape needs less mowing, fertilizer, and pest treatment — maintenance shifts from life support to upkeep.
What to expect
The first season or two are the investment period: even drought-adapted plants need regular water to establish. After that, a xeriscape rewards you on every water bill and every skipped mowing. The aesthetic range is wide — meadow, cottage, modern, or classic border — because the method constrains water logic, not style.
Sources
Reviewed 2026-07-18. We cite university Extension, government, and established horticultural sources — and never invent pesticide rates or dangerous treatments.
- Colorado State University — The 7 principles of xeriscape landscaping — The seven principles (planning/design, soil, practical turf, plant selection, efficient irrigation, mulch, maintenance); match plants to place; compost increases soil moisture retention; deep infrequent watering trains drought tolerance; reduced maintenance and chemical inputs.
- Colorado State University — The benefits of xeriscaping: a beginner's guide to drought-tolerant landscaping — Xeriscaping does not require removing all turf; native and drought-resistant plants adapted to the site create a low-input landscape.