A professionally installed xeriscape from Wall & Company typically costs $4–$12 per square foot.
That means a 2,000-square-foot xeriscape would typically have a planning range of approximately $8,000–$24,000, while a larger 5,000-square-foot project could range from approximately $20,000–$60,000.
| Xeriscape Area | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| 1,000 sq. ft. | $4,000–$12,000 |
| 2,000 sq. ft. | $8,000–$24,000 |
| 3,000 sq. ft. | $12,000–$36,000 |
| 5,000 sq. ft. | $20,000–$60,000 |
| 7,500 sq. ft. | $30,000–$90,000 |
These are Wall & Company planning ranges for professionally installed xeriscaping in the Spokane area—not national averages.
The final price depends on what is currently on the property, how much site preparation is required, irrigation, plant selection, decorative rock, pathways, boulders, lighting and the overall landscape design.
What Is Xeriscaping?
Xeriscaping is landscape design that reduces unnecessary water use by combining appropriate plants, efficient irrigation and landscape materials suited to the environment.
It doesn’t mean eliminating plants.
And it doesn’t mean covering the entire yard with gravel.
A professionally designed xeriscape can include:
- Drought-tolerant trees
- Shrubs
- Perennials
- Ornamental grasses
- Drip irrigation
- Decorative gravel
- Boulders
- Paver pathways
- Slab or stepping-stone paths
- Crushed-stone paths
- Landscape lighting
- Other hardscape features
The objective is to create an attractive landscape that requires less supplemental water while still providing texture, color, shade and seasonal interest.
What Affects the Cost of Xeriscaping?
The major variables include:
- Total square footage
- Existing landscape removal
- Excavation
- Grading
- Soil preparation
- Irrigation
- Plant quantity
- Plant type and size
- Decorative gravel or rock
- Boulders
- Pathways
- Edging
- Equipment access
- Landscape lighting
- Other hardscape features
A simple conversion of an existing planting bed is very different from redesigning several thousand square feet of an established yard.
That’s why the size of the property is only the starting point.
How Does Existing Landscape Removal Affect Cost?
Before the new landscape can be installed, Wall & Company may need to remove what’s already there.
That can include:
- Lawn
- Old plants
- Shrubs
- Roots
- Landscape fabric
- Bark
- Decorative rock
- Existing edging
- Irrigation components
- Unwanted hardscape
Removing lawn from a relatively open property is different from working around mature trees, existing patios, retaining walls, utilities and established planting beds.
The material also has to go somewhere.
Removal can therefore include excavation, loading, hauling and disposal before installation of the new landscape begins.
Why Does Grading Matter in a Xeriscape?
Xeriscaping doesn’t eliminate the need to manage water.
In fact, grading remains an important part of the project.
Rain, snowmelt and irrigation water still need to move appropriately across the property.
Poor grading can direct water toward the home, cause erosion, wash decorative material out of planting areas or create low spots where water accumulates.
A xeriscape should therefore be designed around the property’s existing elevations and drainage—not simply installed on top of the existing yard.
How Do Spokane Soil Conditions Affect Xeriscaping?
There is no single soil condition that describes every Spokane-area property.
The region contains a variety of soils and geologic deposits.
Spokane Valley contains extensive deposits from the Glacial Lake Missoula floods, including gravel, cobbles, boulders and sand.
Green Bluff commonly has deep, well-drained soils with ashy silt-loam upper layers and increasingly gravelly material below.
Areas around Five Mile Prairie, Indian Trail, North Spokane and South Hill can have different combinations of soil, sediment, slope and rock.
Those conditions can affect:
Excavation
- Drainage
- Soil preparation
- Plant selection
- Irrigation
- Grading
The actual conditions need to be evaluated on the property rather than assumed from the neighborhood.
Does Xeriscaping Need Irrigation?
Usually, yes.
Xeriscaping is about efficient water use, not necessarily eliminating irrigation.
New plants require reliable water while establishing their root systems. Even drought-tolerant plants may benefit from supplemental irrigation during prolonged hot and dry periods.
Drip irrigation is particularly useful because it delivers water directly to the root zone rather than spraying large areas of decorative rock or unused ground.
Depending on the project, an irrigation system can include:
- Drip lines
- Emitters
- Valves
- Filters
- Pressure regulation
- Separate irrigation zones
- New supply lines
- Modifications to existing irrigation
- Smart controls
The goal is to deliver the appropriate amount of water where it’s needed rather than watering the entire landscape uniformly.
How Does Plant Selection Affect Xeriscape Cost?
Plant quantity, species and size can all affect the project price.
A xeriscape doesn’t have to be sparse.
In fact, plants are often what keep a xeriscape from looking like a field of gravel.
A thoughtful planting plan can incorporate:
- Trees
- Evergreen shrubs
- Flowering shrubs
- Perennials
- Ornamental grasses
- Groundcovers
Wall & Company selects plants appropriate for Inland Northwest conditions while considering factors such as sun exposure, water requirements, mature size, color, texture and seasonal interest.
Plant size at installation also matters.
Smaller nursery stock may reduce the initial investment and fill in over time. Larger plants provide more immediate visual impact but generally cost more to purchase and install.
How Much Decorative Rock Is Used?
Decorative gravel and rock can serve both functional and aesthetic purposes in a xeriscape.
It can help define planting areas, create visual consistency and reduce the amount of exposed soil.
But the type, depth and quantity of material matter.
Decorative rock can vary significantly in:
- Color
- Size
- Shape
- Source
- Material cost
- Delivery cost
Large properties can require substantial quantities of material.
The design should also consider how rock interacts with plants, pathways, irrigation and drainage rather than simply covering every available surface.
Can Xeriscaping Include Pathways?
Yes.
Pathways can make a xeriscape more useful while breaking large areas into visually distinct spaces.
Options can include:
- Crushed-stone pathways
- Slab or stepping-stone paths
- Paver pathways
Each has a different appearance, construction method and cost.
A crushed-stone pathway can provide a relatively informal appearance.
Large slabs or stepping stones can create a more architectural route through planting areas.
Paver pathways provide a more finished walking surface and can visually connect the xeriscape to patios, entries and other hardscape.
Wall & Company paver pathways typically require proper excavation and compacted base construction rather than simply placing pavers over existing soil.
Can Boulder Features Be Added to a Xeriscape?
Yes.
Boulders can be used as visual anchors within a xeriscape and can help connect the landscape to the natural character of the Inland Northwest.
They can be used individually or in groups.
Larger boulders require equipment for delivery and placement, so boulder size, quantity and access can affect the project cost.
The goal is usually to make the stone look intentionally integrated into the landscape rather than appearing as though individual rocks were randomly placed throughout the yard.
What About Landscape Lighting?
Outdoor lighting can extend the visual impact of a xeriscape into the evening.
Lighting can be used to highlight:
- Specimen trees
- Ornamental grasses
- Boulders
- Pathways
- Steps
- Retaining walls
- Architectural elements
The best lighting doesn’t necessarily illuminate everything.
Selective lighting and contrast can create depth while improving nighttime visibility through the landscape.
For Wall & Company projects in the Spokane area, professionally installed outdoor landscape lighting typically has a planning range of approximately $1,500–$15,000+, depending on the number and quality of fixtures, property size, wiring, controls and design complexity.
Can Xeriscaping Be Combined With Hardscaping?
Yes.
Many xeriscape projects include both living and constructed elements.
For example, a complete landscape might combine:
- Drought-tolerant planting
- Decorative gravel
- Boulders
- Drip irrigation
- Paver pathways
- Retaining walls
- Fire features
- Seating areas
- Landscape lighting
Combining these elements during the design process allows grading, irrigation, pathways, drainage and planting to work together.
What Is Included in a Wall & Company Xeriscape?
Depending on the project, a professionally installed Wall & Company xeriscape can include:
- Landscape layout and planning
- Existing landscape removal
- Excavation
- Grading
- Soil preparation
- Irrigation modifications or installation
- Drought-tolerant plants
- Trees and shrubs
- Perennials and ornamental grasses
- Decorative gravel or rock
- Boulders
- Edging
- Pathways
- Landscape lighting
- Finish grading
- Cleanup
Not every project requires every component.
The scope depends on the property and the landscape being created.
Is Xeriscaping Just for Saving Water?
Reducing water use is an important reason homeowners consider xeriscaping, but it isn’t the only one.
A well-designed xeriscape can also reduce the amount of lawn that needs to be:
- Mowed
- Fertilized
- Edged
- Watered
- Maintained
It can also create a landscape better suited to Spokane’s dry summers.
For some homeowners, the objective isn’t to eliminate lawn completely.
It may be to reduce lawn to the areas where it actually serves a purpose while converting less-used areas into lower-water landscaping.
Does Xeriscaping Mean Zero Maintenance?
No.
No landscape is truly maintenance-free.
Plants still grow. Weeds can appear. Irrigation systems require inspection. Trees and shrubs may require pruning. Decorative gravel can occasionally need adjustment or replenishment.
The goal is generally lower water use and more efficient maintenance, not zero maintenance.
Good design can make that maintenance considerably more manageable.
How Much Should I Budget for Xeriscaping?
For professionally installed xeriscaping in the Spokane area, Wall & Company’s typical planning range is $4–$12 per square foot.
That means approximately:
1,000 sq. ft.: $4,000–$12,000
2,000 sq. ft.: $8,000–$24,000
3,000 sq. ft.: $12,000–$36,000
5,000 sq. ft.: $20,000–$60,000
7,500 sq. ft.: $30,000–$90,000
Those ranges provide a useful starting point.
The final project price depends on the existing landscape, site preparation, irrigation, plants, decorative material, pathways, boulders, lighting and other features incorporated into the design.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does xeriscaping cost in Spokane?
Wall & Company’s typical planning range for professionally installed xeriscaping is approximately $4–$12 per square foot.
How much would it cost to xeriscape a 2,000-square-foot yard?
Using Wall & Company’s planning range, approximately $8,000–$24,000.
How much would it cost to xeriscape 5,000 square feet?
At $4–$12 per square foot, approximately $20,000–$60,000.
Does xeriscaping require irrigation?
Usually. Efficient drip irrigation can help establish plants and provide supplemental water when needed without watering large areas unnecessarily.
Is xeriscaping just rocks and gravel?
No. A professionally designed xeriscape can include trees, shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, pathways, boulders, irrigation, lighting and other landscape elements.
Can I keep some lawn and xeriscape the rest?
Yes. Xeriscaping doesn’t require eliminating all lawn. Many properties benefit from retaining lawn where it is useful while converting other areas to lower-water landscaping.
Does xeriscaping work in Spokane?
Yes. Xeriscaping can be particularly appropriate for Spokane’s dry summers when the design uses plants suited to Inland Northwest conditions and efficient irrigation.
Can xeriscaping include paver pathways and retaining walls?
Yes. Xeriscaping can be integrated with paver pathways, patios, retaining walls, boulders and other hardscape elements.
Is xeriscaping maintenance-free?
No. Xeriscaping can reduce watering and some routine landscape maintenance, but plants, irrigation systems and landscape materials still require ongoing care.