A tiered backyard hardscape renovation in Folsom, CA, with paver patios, stone retaining walls, and a built-in fire pit.
A drought-resistant backyard in Sacramento, CA, combining a gravel patio, native plantings, and a low-profile fire feature for outdoor living.
Homeowners across the Sacramento region are asking for drought-tolerant redesigns as another triple-digit summer strains lawns and water bills.
We're seeing it across the board. People want their grass gone and drought-tolerant plants put in instead. It's less water, less maintenance, and honestly it ends up looking better than the lawn did”— Tyler McGuire
ORANGEVALE, CA, UNITED STATES, August 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Sacramento is enduring yet another stretch of triple-digit temperatures, and the phone lines at McGuire Earth Works have been ringing steadily as a result. The landscape design/build contractor based in Orangevale reports that a higher-than-usual number of homeowners are reaching out to discuss removing their grass and replacing it with something better suited to the heat.
This month alone, inquiries have arrived from Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove and Granite Bay. Different locations, yet nearly identical requests every time: reduce water consumption while still maintaining an attractive yard.
"We're seeing it across the board. People want their grass gone and drought-tolerant plants put in instead. It's less water, less maintenance, and honestly it ends up looking better than the lawn did," said Tyler McGuire, Owner of McGuire Earth Works Inc.
Simple arithmetic is partly fueling this shift. During July and August, a conventional lawn in the Sacramento Valley guzzles significantly more water than a drought-tolerant landscape covering the same area, a difference that becomes plainly visible on the monthly water bill. However, cost isn’t the sole factor. Many homeowners are simply tired of watching their grass turn brown and patchy, regardless of how frequently they irrigate.
August turns out to be a practical time to begin, even if landscaping is the last thing on anyone’s mind when it’s 105 degrees outside. Design work, plant selection, and permit applications can all be handled now, while the urgency is still top of mind. Construction then begins after temperatures drop in the fall, which is the typical season for most hardscape and planting projects anyway. Crews prefer the cooler weather, new plants establish themselves more successfully, and homeowners want everything finished before the rainy season arrives.
What This Kind of Project Usually Looks Like
Remove the old sod. Prepare the soil. Then decide what will replace it, and that choice varies for nearly every homeowner McGuire consults with. Some go entirely with hardscape: pavers, a patio, perhaps decomposed granite. Others prefer native plants and drought-resistant garden beds. Many land somewhere in between, keeping a small patch of grass for children or pets.
Irrigation systems are almost always part of the conversation. Sprinkler setups designed for a full lawn don’t make much sense once the turf is gone, so many of these projects involve switching to drip irrigation, which delivers water directly to the root zone instead of spraying it over bare soil. Retaining walls are also frequently requested, especially on sloped properties dealing with erosion. And plenty of homeowners are adding shaded outdoor living spaces at the same time, a place where they can actually sit outside even during extreme heat.
"Fall is our busy season, and it's the same for every contractor around here. So take the time now to get quotes and actually compare them. A good contractor will give you a clear plan in writing and payment terms that make sense. You shouldn't ever feel like you're paying for work that hasn't been done yet," added Tyler.
On Timing
Fall schedules fill up rapidly, and this isn’t unique to McGuire. Waiting until October to begin making calls means there’s a good chance the reputable contractors will already be fully booked. Instead, obtain quotes in August. Compare more than one. Actually read the proposal thoroughly before signing anything, and don’t sign if it fails to specify the scope of work, the materials to be used, and the payment schedule. If a contractor requests the majority of the payment before any work has been performed, that’s a reason to stop and ask further questions.
McGuire Earth Works has been constructing landscapes in the Sacramento region since 1980, back when Orangevale looked significantly different than it does today. After completing somewhere north of 6,000 projects, the company continues to serve the same communities: Orangevale, Folsom, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Granite Bay. It is licensed under CSLB #412296, C-27 Landscaping, holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau dating back to 1997, and currently maintains 4.9 stars on Google.
No maintenance contracts are offered here. Just design and build. Tyler says that’s intentional, as it alters how the team designs a yard from the outset, aiming for something that stands up on its own rather than something requiring weekly care, a factor that matters more than ever for people moving away from a lawn they used to water daily.
Anyone considering a fall project should probably call sooner rather than later, as the schedule tends to fill up quickly once September arrives. McGuire conducts on-site consultations first, walking the property to evaluate soil, slope, and sunlight before developing a design and a concrete estimate.
About McGuire Earth Works
McGuire Earth Works Inc. is a family-owned landscape design/build contractor that's been working in the greater Sacramento area since 1980. Design, hardscape, irrigation, outdoor living spaces, no maintenance contracts. Same crew from the first shovel to the final walkthrough, on every job, for more than 45 years and over 6,000 projects. CSLB License #412296 (C-27). BBB A+ accredited since 1997.
Tyler McGuire
McGuire Earth Works, Inc.
+1 916-404-0944
info@mcguire-ew.com
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