Updating established Tempe yards
Tempe is home to Arizona State University, Tempe Town Lake and the red sandstone buttes of Papago Park. Away from the busy core, many neighborhoods date to the 1950s through the 1980s, and the City of Tempe still delivers flood irrigation to some of them. Those yards often have grass, mature ash or pine trees and older shrubs that were planted for a lot more water than they really need.
Local conditions and what grows well
In established yards, you are often planting around existing trees and roots, and you may be dealing with soil that has been flooded for years. Good choices for Tempe include:
- Replacement shade: Desert Museum palo verde, mesquite and Chinese pistache to take over as older trees decline.
- Under-canopy plants: Red yucca, desert spoon and Mexican honeysuckle, which tolerate partial shade.
- Sun-loving color: Texas ranger, Baja fairy duster, globe mallow and damianita.
- Accents: Agaves, golden barrel and totem pole cactus for a modern look on smaller lots.
If you are leaving flood irrigation, plan where water will go and keep cactus and agaves out of low spots that still collect it. Our tree watering rules help bridge the switch for existing trees.
Tempe landscape rebates
The City of Tempe offers a residential Grass Removal and Conversion Rebate for converting grass to a low-water desert landscape. The city's page lists $0.50 per square foot of grass converted, up to $2,000 per home per fiscal year, and requires pre-approval before the project starts. Tempe also has a Residential Desert Plant Rebate toward eligible desert-adapted plants, which requires completing a city workshop. Review the current program rules on tempe.gov before you begin.
Small lots, big impact
Many Tempe lots are on the smaller side, so every plant has to earn its spot. A single well-placed shade tree on the west side of the house can cool a patio and lower the heat load on the wall behind it. Pair it with a few structural accents and a band of flowering shrubs, and even a modest front yard can look finished with very little water. Fall is the best time to plant trees, and spring is great for cactus.
Planting notes for Tempe
Tempe is mostly built out, with older yards, mature trees and smaller lawns. Small conversions add up here because there is no minimum size for the rebate.
Plants we recommend in Tempe
- yellow bells and chuparosa for hummingbirds
- Texas sage for low hedges
- sweet acacia for a small shade tree
- desert milkweed and red yucca as accents
Helpful guides: Valley rebate guide, drought-tolerant plant list, watering guide.
For every rebate rule, amount and step, read our step-by-step rebate guide.
How it works in Tempe
Order your plants at threetimbersshop.com and add planting and the plant survival warranty at checkout. Delivery is free anywhere in the Valley on orders over $150, and you will have the receipts you may need for any rebate paperwork.
Our delivery team drops plants on day one, and you do not need to be home. The planting crew comes the next day. Condos, townhomes and gated communities should send the gate code before delivery day.
Full xeriscapes, booking now
We are offering xeriscape design and installation again: consultation, design and install, with native plants, weed fabric, landscape rock, dry riverbeds and boulders, plus advice on optimizing irrigation.
Start your Tempe makeover
Shop at threetimbersshop.com, or call (612) 214-1955 to talk through your yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tempe have a minimum size for its grass rebate?
No. Tempe pays $0.50 per square foot with no minimum, up to $2,000 per property per year.
Is there a Tempe rebate for desert plants?
Yes. Tempe's Desert Plant Rebate pays up to $125 for low-water plants and trees. Check the timing rules on the city page.
What plants fit small Tempe yards?
Compact shrubs like Texas sage, chuparosa and yellow bells, plus accents like red yucca, fit small spaces without constant trimming.
