Demonstration Landscape Initiative:
Low Water Landscaping Ideas for DIY Home Use

About This Initiative

Welcome to Utah State University’s water-wise demonstration neighborhood landscape located in Cedar City, Utah! Our goal is to provide you with water-efficient landscape design ideas that are easy to replicate in your home landscape. This project wouldn’t be possible without the help of our amazing partners & funding from the Utah Water Initiative. We’re just getting started and do not have a lot of content to share yet, but it’s coming. Currently, there are site plans and plant lists for three of the properties that have been installed thus far. We hope to provide installation costs and water use comparisons in the future. Also keep an eye out for virtual landscape tours which will highlight the efficiency of appropriate design, smart irrigation technology, and stormwater management that has been incorporated into each of these landscape designs.  We’re really excited about this project. 

flyover of xeriscaped front yard with plants and gravel

How Does a Waterwise Design Benefit You?

  • Water-efficient & cost-effective
  • Lower maintenance than traditional designs
  • Well thought out with curb appeal
  • More functional - Enjoy your yard without the extra work!

xeriscape front yard with plants and gravel

The geranium waterwise landscape plan
The Geranium: 124 N 2800 W, Cedar City, UT

TREES

  • 'Royal Raindrops' Crabapple
  • 'Spring Snow' Crabapple
  • Amur Chokecherry

GRASSES

  • Blue Oat Grass
  • 'Little Miss' Dwarf Maiden Grass
  • Undaunted Ruby Muhly Grass

PERENNIALS

  • Geranium
  • 'Walker's Low' Nepeta
  • Creeping Thyme

the Forsythia waterwise landscape plan
The Forsythia: 112 N 2800 W, Cedar City, UT

TREES

  • 'Showtime' Crabapple
  • 'Spring Snow' Crabapple

SHRUBS

  • Flowering Almond
  • 'Gold Tide' Forsythia

GRASSES

  • Sedum
  • 'Walker's Low' Nepeta

The Hawthorn waterwise landscape plan
The Hawthorn: 136 N 2800 W, Cedar City, UT

TREES

  • 'Chanticleer' Pear
  • 'Paul's Scarlet' Hawthorn
  • City Sprite Japanese Zelkova

SHRUBS

  • Hibiscus
  • 'Royal Gold' Genista

GRASSES

  • 'Shenandoah' Switch Grass