How the swap works
Approval first. Always. We never remove grass before your city approves your project in writing.
- Step 1
Measure
Outline your lawn on the map. We confirm it on a free yard walk.
- Step 2
Design
Pick Sonoran Native, Modern Desert or Pollinator Garden.
- Step 3
Apply
We prepare your city application packet. You submit it.
- Step 4
Approval
We wait for the city's written go-ahead. Nothing comes out before that.
- Step 5
Swap
Grass out. Drip in. Plants and granite in.
- Step 6
Rebate
Final photos and paperwork. The city inspects and pays you.
Approval first. Always.
Approval first. Always. We never remove grass before your city approves your project in writing.
If we ever remove grass before approval and you lose your rebate, we pay you the rebate amount. (Concept business: this shows the promise a real landscaper could make.)
What's included
- Lawn-to-desert conversion. Remove grass, convert sprinklers to drip, grade, plant, and top-dress with 2-inch granite.
- Drip irrigation conversion. Replace spray heads with drip emitters at each plant.
- Desert planting and trees. Low-water plants and shade trees from the regional low-water plant list.
- Rebate paperwork help. Measurement, aerial image with area, photo checklist and plant list for your application. Free with a conversion.
- First-season care visit. One visit after the first monsoon or frost to adjust drip and replace losses. Included.
What we never do
- Never: Remove any grass before your city approves the project in writing.
- Never: Put artificial turf in a rebate area.
- Never: Use black plastic sheeting under rock.
- Never: Leave bare soil when we're done.
Questions
How much will my city pay?
Phoenix pays $2 per square foot (250 sq ft minimum). Mesa pays $1,000 to $2,000 depending on lawn size, plus up to $100 for new trees. Chandler pays $1.50 per square foot, up to $2,000 (500 sq ft minimum). Use the studio to see your number.
Do I have to remove grass before I apply?
No, and you shouldn't. Most programs require written approval before any grass is removed.
Does artificial turf count?
Not in Mesa or Chandler: their rules exclude it. Phoenix asks you to describe your replacement landscape and recommends desert landscaping.
How long does it take?
Phoenix's review can take up to 3 weeks. Time to finish after approval: Phoenix, 6 months from the NTP date; Mesa, 6 months after approval; Chandler, 90 days after the NtP. The swap itself usually takes a few days.
Is the AI preview what my yard will look like?
It's a concept to help you choose a style. Your real design is drawn after a yard walk.
Is Sonoran Swap a real company?
Not yet. It's a concept business built to show how a local landscaper's website could work. The rebate information is real and linked to official city pages.