It's Xeriscape, not Zeroscape.  It doesn't mean gravel and a few cactus.  The word was coined by the city of Denver in the sixties and defined as a lifestyle with conservation as a main goal.  Your landscaping can be a big part of your lifestyle.  Your landscape can be a drunk, or fit and responsible. In the old days with foundation hedges and two trees, you were left with 95% lawn.  Lawns use up the most water, and water should be conserved.  So the Xeriscape model shoots at:
     1/3 lawn
     1/3 beds
     1/3 hardscape

Lawns
Cutting down from 95% to 33% is huge.  95% to 0% can be ugly.  Excuse me, "Harsh" is a kinder word.  Also I always say it doesn't matter what I think; I don't live there. You do.  My advice could be worth what you're paying for it (nothing).  Assuming you'll have some grass, what are your options?

Turffalo is a new hybrid buffalo grass that's the perfect combination of drought tolerance, texture, and growth.  Rather than rewrite it all, go to TURFFALO.com.  We also (and the Turffalo people) also have ShadowTurf.  It will grow in filtered shade, but not in the dark.  There has to be some sunshine getting to it.

Much more to come.

Beds
coming soon

Hardscapes
coming soon