Rethinking Our Lawns: How Xeriscaping Builds Resilience

Not long ago, the front of our town office was transformed into a xeriscaped showcase — native plants, stones, and perennials designed to save water and reduce maintenance. It gained attention and public interest. But when a new council came in, the project was dug up and replaced with turf grass.

This wasn’t just a change in landscaping — it was a symbol of two different directions for our community.

Xeriscaping is a landscaping approach designed around one simple idea: . Instead of the endless cycle of mowing, watering, and fertilizing a traditional lawn, xeriscapes are planted with hardy, drought-tolerant species that thrive naturally in our climate.

And despite the stereotype, xeriscaping is just a patch of gravel with a few lonely shrubs. A well-designed xeriscape can be lush, colorful, and full of life. By layering perennials, ornamental grasses, shrubs, and groundcovers, you get a yard that looks good in every season — spring blooms, summer pollinator activity, autumn seed heads, and evergreen presence through the winter.

A properly designed xeriscape can use less water than turf grass.

Once established, native and drought-tolerant plants need less mowing, fewer inputs, and less fuss overall.

Common Name	Botanical Name	Sun	Soil	Wildlife Resistance	Pollinator-Friendly	Notes
Yarrow	Achillea millefolium	Full	Dry	High	Yes	Aromatic foliage
Blue Flax	Linum lewisii	Full	Well	High	Yes	Delicate blooms
Lavender	Lavandula spp.	Full	Dry	High	Yes	Needs winter protection
Oregon Grape	Mahonia aquifolium	Shade	Moist	High	Yes	Evergreen shrub
Hens & Chicks	Sempervivum spp.	Full	Dry	High	No	Great for rock gardens

Native plants attract pollinators, butterflies, and songbirds while reducing reliance on chemical though the initial installation may take some planning, xeriscapes quickly pay off in reduced water and maintenance costs.

In short, xeriscaping redefines the yard: it’s no longer just an expanse of turf, but a that saves resources and gives back to the environment.

Xeriscaping isn’t just something for demonstration projects — it’s something we can do at home, one yard at a time.

I’ve been exploring how xeriscaping could look on my own property. Using design overlays, I created images of a : bark mulch as the base, colorful perennials for seasonal blooms, ornamental grasses for texture, and low evergreens at the corner for year-round structure.

The result is a yard that requires far less water than turf grass, while offering beauty and biodiversity from early spring to late fall. It also shows what’s possible when we rethink our landscapes:

This experiment also connects with larger efforts — through my account with traditional lawns are some of the thirstiest landscapes we can maintain. In Alberta, turf grass can consume a lot of water. That’s a huge demand on our municipal water system, especially as populations grow and climate change makes summers hotter and drier.

The is one way to turn the tide. By offering incentives to remove turf, municipalities help homeowners make the switch toward more sustainable yards. But the real opportunity is in what comes the turf is gone.

That’s where comes in. With bark mulch, drought-tolerant perennials, and smart planting design, yards can be reimagined as vibrant, water-wise spaces. The payoff isn’t just for individual homeowners:

• less pressure on reservoirs, treatment plants, and infrastructure.
• reduced chemical runoff from lawn fertilizers and pesticides.

Taken together, a lawn buy-back program paired with xeriscaping creates a legacy — a shift away from thirsty, resource-heavy lawns toward resilient, ecologically rich landscapes.

Xeriscaping in the Bigger Picture

While xeriscaping starts with individual yards, its value stretches far beyond property lines. It connects directly to the way we plan and design our communities.

• The Sustainability Manual Xeriscaping is a practical project that fits naturally into the larger framework of community Perhaps most importantly, xeriscaping strengthens resilience. Every turf lawn replaced with drought-tolerant planting is one less strain on reservoirs during summer heat waves. Every mulch bed is one more defense against soil erosion and chemical runoff. Each pollinator-friendly planting is another step toward biodiversity.

Municipal Planning & LEED Standards

Perhaps most importantly, xeriscaping strengthens resilience. Every turf lawn replaced with drought-tolerant planting is one less strain on reservoirs during summer heat waves. Every mulch bed is one more defense against soil erosion and chemical runoff. Each pollinator-friendly planting is another step toward biodiversity.

Community Resilience
Perhaps most importantly, xeriscaping strengthens resilience. Every turf lawn replaced with drought-tolerant planting is one less strain on reservoirs during summer heat waves. Every mulch bed is one more defense against soil erosion and chemical runoff. Each pollinator-friendly planting is another step toward biodiversity.

Put together, these choices create ripple effects — across neighborhoods, councils, and ecosystems. A lawn may seem small, but collectively, these decisions shape our shared future.

📚 References & Resources

• Government of Alberta. Residential Water Use Factsheet.
• City of Calgary. Water Efficient Yard and Garden Design.
• U.S. Green Building Council. LEED v4.1 Water Efficiency Credits. https://www.usgbc.org/credits?Version=%22v4%22&Rating+System=%22New+Construction%22&Category=%22Water+efficiency%22
• Alberta LoXeriscape:The Water Wise Gard“Xeriscape: The Water-Wise Garden” – Documentary on YouTubew Impact Development Partnership. Sustainable Site Design Guide.
• Restor.eco “Restor provides data on biodiversity, carbon, and potential for ecological restoration in our region.”