Turf, xeriscape and grass each fit different spaces. Turf suits small, shaded areas you want to walk or play on. Xeriscape, meaning desert plants and rock on drip irrigation, uses little water and stays cooler. Grass is cool underfoot but thirsty. Try the fit checker above for your spot.
Water
AMWUA says Bermuda grass with winter overseed needs more than 55 inches of water a year, while xeriscape needs less than 18. Turf uses less than grass, but the City of Peoria notes that cooling and cleaning water may limit the savings.
Heat
Grass is the coolest surface underfoot and turf is the hottest. Xeriscape with shade trees provides real cooling through shade and plants. See our heat guide for the measured turf temperatures.
The rebate rule
Peoria's Grass to Xeriscape Rebate pays city water customers up to $3,000 for converting grass to low-water plants. The amount depends on square footage and plant canopy, and the city requires a pre-consultation. The city is explicit that artificial turf is ineligible and may not be installed in the removal area.
The other conditions matter as much as the turf rule. The rebate runs from $200 to $3,000, and the converted area must be at least 500 square feet or all of the remaining grass. Plants must come from the AMWUA or ADWR low-water-use plant lists, the higher amount needs 50% plant canopy coverage at maturity and the lower one 25%, a 2-inch mulch layer is required, and taxes and installation costs don't count toward it.
That doesn't stop you combining them. Some homeowners convert most of a lawn to desert plants for the rebate and put turf in a separate, smaller area. Check the details with the city's Sustainability and Water Conservation office before you plan around it.
Cost and upkeep
Turf costs $10 to $25 per square foot installed nationally, according to HomeGuide, and the turf cost guide breaks that down. Turf needs brushing and rinsing; xeriscape needs pruning and drip checks; grass needs mowing, fertilizing and the most water.
Which fits where
Turf works best where you need a soft, usable surface: a play spot, a dog run, a putting green, ideally in shade. Desert plants and trees fit big sunny areas and front yards, where they cool the space and may qualify for the rebate. A mix of the two often works well. If turf fits your space, our turf installation page explains how we set up estimates.