Transform Your Yard: The Redesigned Xeriscaping Guide Is Here for Fall Planning and Planting

We’re excited to share that the redesigned "Xeriscaping: Landscaping with Style in the Arizona Desert" is now available. This popular guide has helped many Arizonans create beautiful, sustainable yards. The new edition arrives just in time for fall and is full of fresh ideas, updated photos, and practical tips to help you rethink your outdoor space. Whether you’re experienced or just starting out, you’ll find helpful advice for creating a water-smart yard that thrives in Arizona while saving you time and resources.

The book gives clear, step-by-step instructions and is organized into three main sections:

DESIGN: A great yard begins with a great plan

A long-term plan helps you get the most from your yard by considering cost, how you’ll use the space, how it looks, how much work it takes, and ways to save water and energy. The book helps you create a design that fits your lifestyle, needs, and vision, no matter your experience or budget.

INSTALL: Turn your vision into reality

After you have a plan, you can start building your xeriscape. This part of the book gives step-by-step guidance for each stage, like preparing the soil, setting up irrigation, choosing plants, and adding mulch. You’ll find useful tips for every step, so your yard starts off strong and stays healthy for years.

MAINTAIN: Maximum results with minimal effort

Xeriscapes do well in places where regular yards struggle. With tips on using native plants, collecting rainwater, and easy maintenance, you’ll see how simple it can be to keep your yard green and healthy while using much less water and effort. The book shares simple routines and smart ways to make yard care easy.

This new edition is more than just a gardening book. It encourages our community to take action. Did you know that up to 65% of home water use is outside? With Arizona’s hotter summers and less water from the Colorado River, it’s more important than ever to change how we landscape. Xeriscaping helps you save water, improve your lifestyle, and make a real difference for Arizona’s future.

With cooler weather here, this is a great time to get inspired, plan, and change your yard. The space you create will reward you for years by saving time, water, and money, and it will help Arizona’s future. Join this movement and enjoy the beauty of a yard made for the desert.

Contact your local water conservation office for a free copy of the updated Xeriscaping: Landscaping with Style in the Arizona Desert. Additionally, you can now download a complete digital version from https://www.amwua.org/landscaping-with-style

For 57 years, the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has worked to protect our member cities' ability to provide assured, safe, and sustainable water supplies to their communities — Avondale, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe. For more information, visit amwua.org.