“Alice drew the plan on the back of the estimate while we stood in the yard. The grass was out in two days and the drip lines were tested before anyone left.”
Joaquin G.Mesa
Turf-to-desert landscaping
Take out the grass. Keep the yard.
We replace lawns with gravel, boulders, shade and drip-watered desert planting across the Phoenix valley, and walk you through your water provider's rebate steps before any grass comes out.
- Written estimate first
- Se habla español
Desert yards
Gravel, boulders, agave and shade
Instead of grass
A yard that drinks less and still looks planted
Plants chosen for full sun and grouped with room to grow, set in gravel and boulders, on a drip line.
Agave
Sharp, sculpted rosettes that hold their shape all year. We plant them in groups, spaced for the size they reach.
Barrel cactus
Round, slow and low. A few set into gravel give a bed height without a lot of care.
Ocotillo
Tall canes that leaf out after rain and carry red flowers in spring. A good vertical line for a front yard.
Yucca and stepping stones
Narrow leaves and flat stones lead the eye along a path and keep feet off the plants.
The rebate worksheet
From a lawn to a rebate application, in five steps
Programs differ by city and change, so check with your city. This is the order we'd work through them in.
- 01
Step 1: Find who bills your water
Usually your city's water department. In some neighborhoods it is a private water company. The name is at the top of your bill.
- 02
Step 2: Measure the grass you want out
Length times width, in square feet, for each patch. We measure again at the walk-through, but your own number helps you read the rules.
- 03
Step 3: Read the program rules
Look for a minimum area, a plant or ground-cover rule, a before-and-after photo step and a deadline. Many programs ask you to apply before any work starts. Check with your city for what applies to you.
- 04
Step 4: Get our written estimate
It lists what comes out, what goes in and what the drip system covers, so you can attach it if your program asks for a scope.
- 05
Step 5: Apply, wait, then we start
Approval takes as long as your program takes. We put the job on the calendar when you tell us you're cleared.
How pricing works
What moves the price
We don't price from a photo. The number comes after a walk-through, in writing, and it lists what is in it.
What changes the number
Square feet of grass coming out
Slope, gates and truck access
Gravel depth, boulders, pavers
Plant count and plant size
Old sprinklers: convert to drip or remove
Hauling off sod and soil
Who you'll meet
The person who walks the yard also runs the crew
Alfaro Brothers is a family firm of about twenty people. Isaac walks the yard with you, writes down what you want to keep and stays on the job through the final check.
Isaac and two of our crew leads speak Spanish. Ask for them when you call, or write to us in Spanish on the form.
Isaac Alfaro
Co-owner and field lead
From yard owners
What people wrote after the work
“I had questions about my city's rebate rules. Isaac read the program page with me, told me which photos to take and never promised an amount.”
Maeve D.Glendale
“The estimate listed the rock depth and the size of every plant, line by line. That made it easy to compare with the other quote.”
Lance R.Chandler
Service area
The Phoenix valley, east to west
From Gilbert to Surprise, and the neighborhoods between.
Central
- Phoenix
- Laveen
- Ahwatukee
East valley
- Mesa
- Chandler
- Gilbert
West valley
- Glendale
- Peoria
- Avondale
- Goodyear
- Surprise
We don't take jobs in Tucson, Flagstaff or north of Anthem.
ZIP codes: 85003, 85004, 85006, 85007, 85008, 85009, 85012, 85013, 85014, 85015, 85016, 85017, 85018, 85019, 85020, 85021, 85022, 85023, 85027, 85028, 85029, 85031, 85032, 85033, 85034, 85035, 85037, 85040, 85041, 85042, 85043, 85044, 85045, 85048, 85051, 85053
Questions
Before you call
How much does turf removal cost?
It depends on the square feet, the slope, the materials, the plants and what happens to the old sprinklers. We give you a written price after a walk-through. The pricing page lists what moves it.
Do you apply for the rebate for me?
No. The application is tied to your water account and your provider's rules, so it is yours to file. We give you a written scope and measurements to attach where the program asks for them.
Will a rebate cover the job?
We can't say, and only your water provider can. Programs differ by city, have limits and change. Check with your city before you book, and plan the job so it works without the rebate.
When is the best time to plant?
Many desert plants settle in best from fall through early spring. Summer is mostly for taking grass out and building the gravel, paths and edging.
What happens to my sprinklers?
Many yards keep their pipes and convert the lines to drip. Darrell checks the zones at the walk-through, and the estimate says which stay, which change and which come out.
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Isaac and two of our crew leads do, and every page of this site has a Spanish version. Ask for Spanish when you call or fill out the form.
Are you licensed and insured?
Our Arizona contractor license is in the footer of every page, with a link to the state's lookup. Ask us for an insurance certificate and we'll send it.
What should I do before the walk-through?
Mark any plant you want to keep, and tell us where the sprinkler valve boxes are if you know. You don't need to be home, but it helps if you are.
Start your worksheet
Tell us roughly how much grass you want out and where the yard is. We write back to set up a walk-through.
Phone(602) 555-0100
Hours
- Monday – FridayToday
- 6am – 3pm
- SaturdayToday
- By appointment
- SundayToday
- Closed