Orem Xeriscaping & Water-Wise Landscape Design
Xeriscaping in Orem is a different job than in the newer cities up the valley. Much of Orem went up between the 1950s and the 1970s, so the yards came with mature trees, thirsty lawns, and sprinkler systems patched for decades. Summers run hot and dry. Orem bills water in tiers, so the more you run those sprinklers, the more every gallon costs. We design drought-tolerant yards for these conditions, with native plants, drip irrigation, and hardscape built for a Utah winter. Most of our Orem xeriscape projects qualify for rebate money, and we build the paperwork into the job.
Our Service Area in Orem
At Utah Wildflower, we work with homeowners across Orem, from the Timpanogos foothills down to the flats near Geneva Road.
East Orem climbs toward the bench. The soil runs gravelly there and drains fast, and the slope sheds water toward the street. West Orem sits on old Lake Bonneville lakebed, where heavy clay holds water and gives it up slowly. Those two halves need different plans. Northridge, Cherry Hill, Sharon Park, Scera Park, Windsor, and Geneva Heights round out the neighborhoods we visit most.
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Why Xeriscaping Fits Orem
Old Sprinklers Waste Water
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A system installed in 1968 was not built for today's water prices. The failures we find most often:
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Heads drifted out of alignment over the years
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Zones that double up in some spots and miss others entirely
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Brass valves stuck part open
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Spray landing on the sidewalk and the fence
Most Orem yards we walk are watering the concrete as much as the lawn. Drip lines fix the waste at the source.
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Orem Bills Water in Tiers
State law requires Orem to charge more per gallon of culinary water as you use more. Here is what a standard three-quarter-inch meter costs:​
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Up to 11,000 gallons: $0.93 per 1,000 gallons
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11,000 to 34,000 gallons: $1.17
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34,000 to 65,000 gallons: $1.39
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Over 65,000 gallons: $1.64​
Summer lawn watering is what pushes a household up those tiers. The top rate runs 76 percent above the bottom one. Cut the outdoor water and you drop back down, and the savings repeat every July and August.
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Mature Trees Change the Plant List
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Orem has real shade. Sixty-year-old maples and sycamores cover much of these yards for part of the day. Full-sun xeriscape plants sulk under them. We build split palettes, with sun-loving natives out in the open and shade-tolerant, low-water species under the canopy. Tree roots matter here too. We route drip lines around established root plates rather than trenching straight through them.
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What We Build in Orem
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You approve the finished yard on screen, then we break ground.
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Zoned lines and smart controllers put water where roots need it. No overspray, no runoff down the gutter.
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Usable outdoor space, built to last through Utah winters.
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Seasonal cutbacks, weed control, and drip system checks. A few visits a year, not a weekly mowing contract.
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Plants That Hold Up in Orem
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Open sun
Blue grama and little bluestem carry texture into fall. Penstemon and blanketflower bring color from May through August. Rabbitbrush blooms yellow late in the season, after most things fade.
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Under the tree canopy
Oregon grape, snowberry, and creeping mahonia hold up in the shade that covers much of Orem.
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Bench and foothill lots
Serviceberry and mountain mahogany anchor beds on the fast-draining east side.
Every plant here is drought-tolerant, roots deep, and gets through August on very little water. All of them qualify under the rebate program.
Xeriscape Rebates for Orem Homeowners
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Orem sits in the Central Utah Water Conservancy District. That puts your property inside the Landscape Incentive Program, run through Utah Water Savers. Orem homeowners leave real money on the table every year by skipping it.
What the Rebate Pays
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Lawn replacement pays up to $3 per square foot, at a rate that tracks your city and water provider. Enter your address on the Utah Water Savers portal for the number on your street. Residential projects cap at $50,000. A second track pays for converting spray beds over to drip.
Apply First, Dig Second
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This is the step that costs Orem homeowners their rebate. Applications need written pre-approval, and grass torn out ahead of that approval stops qualifying. The design rules are strict on top of that:
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Perennials covering half the project area at maturity
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Mulch 3 to 4 inches deep
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Drip on its own zone for every converted bed
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Park strip plants no taller than 24 inches
We draw the plan, shoot the photos, build the base map, and design to those rules from day one.
Common Questions About Xeriscaping in Orem
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What does a xeriscape cost in Orem?
Price tracks square footage, soil condition, and how much hardscape you want. A park strip conversion runs a few thousand dollars. A full front yard runs more. We give you a firm number after we walk the property.
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Will my yard look like rocks and cactus?
No. A good Orem xeriscape has grasses, flowers, shade trees, and open space. Gravel does the work between the plants, not instead of them.
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Can I keep my mature trees?
Yes, and you should. Established trees are the most valuable thing in an Orem yard. We design the beds around them, water them on their own zone, and keep trenching clear of the root plate.
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How long does installation take?
Most Orem projects run one to two weeks. Larger builds with retaining walls or patios take longer. You get a schedule up front.
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What maintenance does a xeriscape need?
Far less than a lawn. Cut the grasses back in early spring. Weed the beds a few times a season. Check drip emitters twice a year. No mowing, no fertilizing, no weekly sprinkler repairs.
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How much will this cut my Orem water bill?
Orem prices water in four tiers, and summer lawn watering is what moves you into the expensive ones. Most homeowners we work with drop their outdoor water use by half or more after one full season. The savings land hardest in July and August.
Ready to Start Your Orem Xeriscape
Tell us about your yard. We walk the property and draw a plan around your space and your budget. We price the xeriscape and the rebate together, so you see the real number. Consultations are free.
Every Project, Tailored to Your Unique Needs
Transform your outdoor area with our specialized xeriscaping services in Orem, Utah. Our approach focuses on sustainable landscaping practices that produce beautiful, water-saving gardens perfect for our local climate.
★★★★★
"Design fits the space perfectly..."
From initial consultation to project completion was two weeks and at a fair price! Design fits the space perfectly. Plants installed will look great as they mature. Very excited to see it over time. Thanks for the great job.