Davis, CA · Lawn conversion
Replace Your Front Lawn in Davis, California
Davis summers push past 100°F while the Delta breeze does the cooling at night, and a thirsty front lawn can be one of the biggest draws on your water bill from June through September. Replacing turf with low-water plants suited to our Sacramento Valley climate cuts irrigation, softens the heat around your home, and may qualify for water-saving rebates. Use the free planner below to sketch your front yard, estimate the area you would convert, and get a plant-and-materials starting point — then we can connect you with local pros to install it.
Your water providerCity of Davis Public Works Utilities and Operations (retail water utility), which delivers Sacramento River surface water treated by the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency — a partnership among Davis, Woodland, and UC Davis — blended with local groundwater.
The City of Davis promotes water-wise landscaping through its SaveDavisWater.org resources, but it does not advertise a guaranteed city-run per-square-foot turf-replacement rebate. Turf-rebate availability, rates, and eligibility rules change often and can pause without notice, so check your local water provider's current turf-rebate program — start with the City of Davis water-conservation page — and get written approval before you remove any turf. Note that Sacramento County's "Cash for Grass" rebate covers the Sacramento County Water Agency service area only and does not apply to Davis addresses in Yolo County.
1 Pick a look
A knee-high tapestry of native grasses and sedges threaded with seasonal flowers — the relaxed, walkable look that reads as a meadow, not a cactus garden.
2 How much lawn are you replacing?
Not sure of your square footage? Size it by shape
Measure the lawn you're removing. For an odd shape, add a couple of rectangles together.
3 Your plant plan
Clustered field sedge Carex praegracilis
2×1 ft · Sun–part shade · Evergreen
Premier no-mow lawn swap: mow short for turf or leave long for a meadow. Takes light foot traffic; wants regular water to stay green.
139 plantsDeer grass Muhlenbergia rigens
4×3.5 ft · Full sun · Evergreen
Evergreen native clump with tall arching flower spikes for a strong accent. Keep it back from the house, out of the first 5 ft.
8 plantsCommon yarrow Achillea millefolium
2×1.5 ft · Full sun · Evergreen · Blooms late spring to summer
California native that knits into a soft, fern-leafy mat, staying low with white summer flower stalks. Tough and easygoing.
42 plantsPurple needlegrass Stipa pulchra
2×3 ft · Sun–part shade
California's native state grass, great for erosion control and reseeds on its own. Keep it out of the first 5 ft by the house.
21 plantsCalifornia fuchsia Epilobium canum
3.5×1.5 ft · Full sun · Blooms late summer to fall
Scarlet trumpet flowers late summer to fall make it a hummingbird favorite. Cut to the ground each winter for a fresh flush.
6 plantsFoothill Penstemon 'Margarita BOP' Penstemon heterophyllus 'Margarita BOP'
2×1.5 ft · Full sun · Evergreen · Blooms spring to early summer
Electric blue-to-fuchsia tubular flowers pull in hummingbirds and native bees. The toughest, longest-lived foothill penstemon.
21 plants
🔥 Fire-smart placement: Deer grass, Purple needlegrass are drought-tolerant but more flammable — keep them out of the 0–5 ft strip against the house (Zone 0) and use the low-flammability plants there instead. Want a palette that's fire-safe right up to the wall? Try the look.
You're converting about 400 sq ft of lawn. Many Sacramento-area water providers pay a per-square-foot cash rebate for replacing lawn with low-water landscaping (often called Cash for Grass) — programs and rates change, so check your own provider's current offer and rules before you start.
Rebate programs usually want low-water plants covering a set share of the area and drip irrigation in place. This plan reaches roughly 100% live-plant coverage at maturity — GoGarden doesn't determine eligibility or amounts.
Want it installed?
Let a local pro know you're interested · no obligation
Plant counts use triangular on-center spacing and are planning estimates — buy a few extra for losses and confirm spacing with your nursery. Water use follows WUCOLS for the Central Valley; flammability guidance follows CAL FIRE / UC ANR; costs are 2026 retail assumptions, not quotes. Palette drawn for Sacramento (USDA zone 9b) — 48 plants and growing.
Where your Davis water comes from — and how to check rebates
Your tap water in Davis comes from the City of Davis Public Works Utilities and Operations. Since 2016, most of that water has been Sacramento River surface water treated by the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency — a joint effort of Davis, Woodland, and UC Davis — blended with groundwater pumped from local aquifers (in recent years roughly 80% surface water, 20% groundwater). The City encourages water-wise yards through its SaveDavisWater.org outreach, but it does not advertise a guaranteed city-run per-square-foot turf rebate, so check the current City of Davis water-conservation page for whatever turf or landscape incentive is open at the time you plan your project. Keep in mind that the Sacramento County Water Agency's 'Cash for Grass' rebate serves the Sacramento County Water Agency area only, so it does not cover Davis addresses in Yolo County. Because these programs open, close, and revise their rules frequently — and can be put on hold — verify what is currently available with your provider before you start, and get written approval before removing any grass, since most rebates will not pay for work begun early.
Why replace your lawn in Davis
A front lawn in Davis is essentially a cool-season grass fighting a hot, dry Mediterranean summer — it demands the most water exactly when the Valley is driest and hottest. Swapping it for climate-adapted plantings, mulch, and drip irrigation typically slashes outdoor water use, which is the single largest piece of a Davis household's summer demand. Beyond the bill, a low-water yard means no more mowing a strip of grass in July heat, more habitat for the bees and butterflies you already see across the greenbelts and in Village Homes, and a cooler, softer frontage that does not brown out in a drought year. It also future-proofs your landscape against the outdoor watering restrictions that tend to return whenever California's snowpack runs short.
What thrives in a Davis low-water yard
Davis sits in USDA zone 9b — hot, dry summers, mild wet winters, and the heavy valley clay-to-loam soils common across town. The upside is that you have one of the best local plant references in California: the UC Davis Arboretum's 'All-Stars,' a curated list of tough, low-water plants proven in exactly our conditions. California natives and Mediterranean plants do the heavy lifting — western redbud, ceanothus (California lilac), manzanita, and toyon for structure; Cleveland and autumn sage, California fuchsia, yarrow, and lavender for summer-long color; and deergrass or other native bunchgrasses for movement. Group plants by water need, top the soil with three to four inches of mulch, and put everything on drip, and you will have a yard that still looks alive through a Davis August. A valley oak or other shade tree on the west or south side helps keep your home cooler, too.
Replacing a lawn in Davis — FAQs
Who is my water provider in Davis?
The City of Davis Public Works Utilities and Operations delivers your water. Most of it is Sacramento River surface water treated by the Woodland-Davis Clean Water Agency (a Davis, Woodland, and UC Davis partnership), blended with local groundwater. Your monthly water bill and the City's conservation resources are the best place to confirm any current rebate.
Is there a lawn rebate for Davis homeowners?
The City of Davis promotes water-wise landscaping through SaveDavisWater.org, but there is no guaranteed city-run per-square-foot turf rebate you can count on, and turf-rebate availability, rates, and rules change often — sometimes pausing entirely. Check your local water provider's current turf-rebate program, starting with the City of Davis water-conservation page, before planning around one. Note that Sacramento County's 'Cash for Grass' program covers the Sacramento County Water Agency area only and does not cover Davis, which is in Yolo County.
How much of my water bill is the lawn?
Outdoor irrigation is typically the largest share of a Davis household's summer water use, because cool-season turf needs the most water during our hot, dry June-to-September stretch. Removing thirsty grass is usually the single biggest lever on your warm-season bill, though your exact savings depend on your lawn's size, soil, and current irrigation setup.
What should I plant instead of lawn in Davis?
Lean on the UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars and California natives suited to zone 9b — ceanothus, western redbud, manzanita, salvias, California fuchsia, yarrow, lavender, and native bunchgrasses like deergrass. Add drip irrigation and a few inches of mulch, and group plants by water need so nothing is over- or under-watered.
Does GoGarden install my new yard?
No — GoGarden is a free planning tool, not the installing contractor. We help you design the conversion, estimate the area and materials, and understand your local water and rebate landscape, then connect you with independent local pros who can do the installation. You stay in control of hiring and of any rebate application.
Areas we serve
Serving homeowners across Central Davis, North Davis (Wildhorse), West Davis (Stonegate), South Davis (Willowbank), East Davis (Mace Ranch), Village Homes, El Macero and the greater Davis area.
Lawn conversion in nearby cities
aSaaSin Ventures LLC operates GoGarden — a free planning tool that can connect you with a local pro, not the installing contractor. Rebate programs, rates, and eligibility are set by your water provider and change often; confirm the current terms with them, and get any required written pre-approval, before removing turf. Plant and cost figures are planning estimates.