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Homeowners across the Sacramento region are asking for drought-tolerant redesigns as another triple-digit summer strains lawns and water bills.

ORANGEVALE, CA, UNITED STATES, August 11, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Sacramento is in the middle of another triple-digit stretch, and the phones at McGuire Earth Works have been busy because of it. The Orangevale-based landscape design/build contractor says more homeowners than usual are calling to talk about ripping out lawn and replacing it with something that can actually handle the heat.

Calls have come in from Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove and Granite Bay this month alone. Different zip codes, but pretty much the same ask every time: less water, a yard that still looks good.

"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.

Part of what's driving this is simple math. A standard lawn in the Sacramento Valley eats up a lot more water in July and August than a drought-tolerant yard covering the same space, and that gap shows up on the water bill every single month. But it's not only about cost. A lot of homeowners are just done watching their grass go patchy no matter how often they water it.

August happens to be a smart time to start, even though nobody's thinking about landscaping when it's 105 degrees outside. Design work, plant selection, permitting, all of that can get sorted out now, while the need is fresh. Then construction starts once temperatures drop in the fall, which is when most hardscape and planting work happens anyway. Crews prefer it, new plants establish better, and homeowners want everything wrapped up before the rain shows up.

What This Kind of Project Usually Looks Like

Tear out the old turf. Prep the soil. Then decide what goes in its place, and that part looks different for pretty much every homeowner McGuire talks to. Some go all in on hardscape: pavers, a patio, maybe decomposed granite. Others want native plants and drought-tolerant beds instead. Plenty land somewhere in the middle and just keep a small patch of lawn for the kids or the dog.

Irrigation almost always comes up too. Sprinkler systems built for a full lawn don't make much sense once that lawn is gone, so a lot of these projects include swapping in drip irrigation, which puts water right at the roots instead of spraying it across open dirt. Retaining walls come up often as well, especially on sloped lots dealing with erosion. And plenty of homeowners are adding shaded outdoor living space while they're at it, somewhere they can actually sit outside even when it's this hot.

"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 books up fast, and not just for McGuire. Wait until October to start calling around and there's a decent chance the good contractors are already booked. Get quotes in August instead. Compare more than one. Actually read the proposal before signing anything, and don't sign if it doesn't spell out what's being done, what materials are being used, and when payments are due. If someone's asking for most of the money before they've done any work, that's a reason to pause and ask more questions.

McGuire Earth Works has been building yards in the Sacramento area since 1980, back when Orangevale looked a lot different than it does now. Somewhere north of 6,000 projects later, the company is still working the same neighborhoods, Orangevale, Folsom, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove, Fair Oaks, Granite Bay. It's licensed under CSLB #412296, C-27 Landscaping, carries an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau that goes back to 1997, and holds 4.9 stars on Google right now.

No maintenance contracts here. Design and build, that's it. Tyler says that's on purpose, that it changes how the team designs a yard in the first place, aiming for something that holds up on its own instead of something that needs babying every week, which matters more than ever for people walking away from a lawn they used to water every single day.

Anyone thinking about a fall project should probably call sooner than later, since the schedule tends to fill up fast once September hits. McGuire does on-site consultations first, walking the property to check soil, slope, and sun before putting together a design and an actual number.

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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