Within the past year, Utah has experienced the lowest snowpack levels ever recorded, severe drought in all 29 counties and a record 285,000 acres of woodlands and forests burned. About 60% of residential water use in Utah comes from outdoor irrigation, and the typical Utah lawn takes more than 150,000 gallons of water every irrigation season to maintain.
A growing number of property owners statewide are replacing landscaping with xeriscaping, a water-wise design that prioritizes native, drought-adapted vegetation, precision drip systems and mulch or rock instead of grass to reduce irrigation needs. Research from Utah State University shows that xeriscaping can reduce outdoor water use by nearly 60%, while also being cheaper and low-maintenance. Many Utah cities now offer rebates of up to $3 per square foot as an incentive for water-wise landscaping.
To get a rebate for xeriscaping in Utah, you must:
- Live in an eligible area
- Have a living lawn at the time of application
- Keep grass until approval and site visit
- Have a minimum of 200 sq. ft. in most project areas
- Provide photos, water bill and a landscape plan
- Pass pre- and post-project inspections
Note: Utah landscapers often use the terms xeriscaping and localscaping interchangeably, but there is a technical difference. Xeriscaping is the generic term for water-wise landscaping with drought-tolerant plants. A Localscape is a specific landscaping design framework trademarked by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District.
Utah Xeriscaping Companies
Service area: Wasatch Front and Wasatch Back
Based in Draper, the All States Landscaping team brings over 40 years of experience with Utah’s soil, climate and terrain. Xeriscaping is one offering within a much larger portfolio that includes pools, outdoor kitchens and sport courts. Projects start with a client consultation and end with a care guide for new plants. The company also offers year-round maintenance plans. Its breadth of services makes it a fit for more complex properties where xeriscaping is part of a bigger outdoor-living vision.
Service area: Statewide
Alpine Landscapes designs and installs what it calls “modern waterwise” landscaping. It uses Belgard pavers, walls and flagstone patios and paths built for beauty and longevity. Alpine Landscapes also integrates raised grow boxes and container systems for herbs, vegetables and edible plants. This combination of hardscape and edible landscaping sets it apart from xeriscapers focused purely on ornamental native plants, appealing to homeowners who want their water-wise yard to double as a small home garden.
Service area: St. George and Southern Utah
Founder Allan Goeser, a southern Utah native, personally oversees every project, bringing over 25 years of experience in desert horticulture to xeriscaping. The company specializes in xeriscape and desert-adapted design suited to the southern Utah climate, which is hotter and drier than the Wasatch Front. For homeowners in Utah’s St. George region specifically, where plant selection differs meaningfully from northern Utah’s higher-elevation climate, Desert Sun’s decades of local desert-specific experience sets it apart.
Service area: Northern Utah
Natural By Design is a company specifically focused on xeriscaping. The experienced team helps homeowners confirm whether a yard and location qualify for local rebates, then they manage design, installation and rebate paperwork through the final approval. This approach is a great option for people who find all the rebate paperwork intimidating and don’t want the red tape to stall their project. The site also mentions a $250 referral bonus for clients (as of this writing) if the person referred completes a xeriscape project with the company.
Service area: Brigham City, Box Elder County, Cache Valley
Peak Utah Landscaping designs xeriscapes that blend drought-tolerant plants with decorative rock and mulch to create a landscape that’s functional and low-maintenance without sacrificing curb appeal. It’s a solid pick for homeowners in the northernmost part of the state, where fewer xeriscape specialists operate compared to the Wasatch Front. Peak also provides broader landscaping services like sprinkler systems and tree care, making it great for Cache Valley and Box Elder County residents who want water-wise design along with other total landscaping services.
Silver Sage Xeriscape & Design
Service area: Salt Lake and Wasatch Front
Silver Sage was founded by two Utah natives and specializes exclusively in low-water, native landscaping. The company is QWEL-certified and part of the Utah Nursery & Landscape Association. It partners closely with Conservation Garden Park and Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. Because xeriscaping is its sole focus rather than one service among many, the company may suit homeowners who want a specialist’s depth of plant knowledge rather than a broader landscaping company’s services.
Service area: Northern and Southern Utah
Thrive Landscape Services is locally owned and operated. It runs a full consultation-to-install pipeline covering design, installation and weekly and seasonal maintenance. Thrive operates throughout the state, which makes them a practical choice for homeowners in more rural areas who want help with everything from initial design to long-term upkeep, rather than coordinating separate installers and maintenance crews across a large service area.
Service area: Salt Lake City, Draper, Sandy, Park City and the greater Wasatch Front
Utah Wildflower Co. specializes in a “mountain-modern” look using native plants and natural stone. The company is QWEL-certified and affiliated with the Xerces Society. Its website states that its designs are built to qualify for municipal rebates while cutting water use by up to 70% compared to a traditional lawn. As a full design firm, they also handle retaining walls, excavation and concrete work among other services, making them a fit for homeowners with multiple goals or projects.
Service area: Weber, Davis, Box Elder and Salt Lake counties
Every design from Xeriscapes of Utah starts with a site-specific plan built around a property’s sun, shade and slope patterns. The company’s services range from small park strip conversions to full yard overhauls. It also handles commercial projects, irrigation retrofits and tree-planting. The company’s site notes that Utah’s rebate program can often cover half or more of a renovation’s total cost, and they will help make sure clients meet those requirements.
Service area: Salt Lake County
This family-owned company combines xeriscape conversions with other outdoor-living builds, such as patios, fire pits and retaining walls. It specializes in smart water solutions, like drip irrigation systems. According to the company’s site, Your Choice Yards offers multiyear warranties on installations and helps homeowners access state rebates to offset project costs.
If you want to help with the drought, cut fire risk and save money and effort in the process, these companies are a great place to start.
Resources
- Utah Water Savers — Check your project’s eligibility and claim a per-square-foot rebate before you tear out a single blade of grass.
- Localscapes — Grab a free localscaping design plan built on Utah’s own five-step layout.
- County-level watering restrictions — Look up your city or county’s watering schedule and restrictions before you start planting. Rules shift throughout the season.
- Conservation Garden Park — Experience a water-wise yard created by Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, the ultimate localscaping pros, before you commit to a design of your own.