Ideas · Front yard
Drought-tolerant front yard ideas, on your own house.
No lawn to water or mow, and still a front yard that looks designed. See gravel, boulders and water-wise planting on your own house.
2 free designs · No account · No credit card
The look
What makes a drought-tolerant front yard
A drought-tolerant front yard replaces turf with gravel or decomposed granite, a clear path, and planting that copes with sun and little water: succulents, grasses, native shrubs and a few sculptural plants. Boulders and a dry creek bed add structure and handle rain run-off.
Done well it looks intentional rather than bare. Group plants in drifts, keep the ground cover consistent and add a small tree for shade and height.
Water-wise and sculptural. Colors: sand, rust, sage. Materials: decomposed granite, agave, boulders, concrete.
- Gravel or decomposed granite in place of the lawn
- Succulents, agave, native grasses and flowering shrubs
- Boulders and a dry creek bed for structure and drainage
- A paved or stepping-stone path to the door
- Drip irrigation, hidden under the mulch
Try it
Three ideas to try on your own photo
Each one opens the studio with the description filled in. Upload a photo of your front yard, change any words you like, and compare the result with your own space.
- Drought-tolerant front yard with decomposed granite, boulders, agave, native grasses and a stone path. Keep the house and driveway.See it on mine
- Replace the front lawn with a dry creek bed, succulents and a small shade tree.See it on mine
- Xeriscape front yard with gravel, flowering native shrubs and steel edging.See it on mine
Before you build
Worth knowing first
- Many water utilities run lawn-replacement rebates; check the rules before you start, as some require approval first.
- Use native and regionally adapted plants; they need less water once established.
- Slope gravel and creek beds away from the house so rain drains away from the foundation.
Each design can come with an estimated cost range for your zip code, so you get a rough idea of the budget before asking for quotes. How the estimate works
How much changes
From a refresh to a rethink
- Refresh
- Planting, mulch, furniture and decor. Paving and structures stay.
- Remodel
- New surfaces, beds, lighting and features within the current layout.
- Reimagine
- A new layout for the yard. The house, fences and mature trees stay.
More front yard ideas
See your own home, redesigned.
Upload one photo. Your first design is ready in about a minute.
2 free designs · No account · No credit card