New home in Arizona? Your backyard guide

Many new Arizona homes come with a finished front yard and a backyard that's bare dirt. Finishing it is one of the first big projects after closing, and it's easy to get the order wrong. Here's how to plan it.

1. Read your HOA rules first

Most new Arizona subdivisions have an HOA, and the HOA usually has the final say on backyards that can be seen from the street or a neighbor. Before you sign with anyone:

• Find the landscaping section in your CC&Rs and design guidelines. Some HOAs require the yard to be finished within a set time after closing.
• Check whether you need design approval before work starts, and how long approval takes.
• Look for plant lists, rock color rules, wall and gate rules, and limits on artificial turf in visible areas.

2. Check what the builder already did

• Grading and drainage: the lot was graded so water flows away from the house. Changing it can cause drainage problems, so ask your builder's warranty team before regrading.
• Water and power: ask whether there's a hose bib or water stub for irrigation and an outdoor outlet for a controller.
• Front-yard irrigation: if the builder installed it, note where the valves and controller are so a new backyard system can connect.

3. Decide what goes in first

Order matters, because heavy equipment needs a path into the backyard:

1. Pool, if you want one. It needs access across the yard, so it usually goes in before anything else.
2. Walls, gates, patios and concrete (pavers, extended patio, walkways).
3. Irrigation lines (drip for plants and trees; separate zones for trees, shrubs and any grass).
4. Plants and trees, then rock or turf last.

Before any digging: contact Arizona 811 so underground utility lines get marked. Your contractor normally handles this, but confirm.

4. Pick your surfaces: rock, turf, pavers or a mix

Most Arizona backyards use decorative rock for most of the space, pavers or concrete for a patio, and sometimes a small patch of turf for kids or dogs. Compare costs and heat in our rock vs. turf guide, and see rock colors, sizes and a tons calculator, turf costs and paver patio costs.

5. Plan for shade and water

• Plant shade trees early. They take years to fill in, and afternoon shade makes a big difference on west-facing patios.
• Choose desert-adapted plants and put them on drip. See how to water desert plants.
• Ask your city about water rebates. Grass-removal rebates usually need existing grass, but some cities also offer smart irrigation controller rebates.

6. Hire a licensed contractor

In Arizona, landscaping jobs of $1,000 or more generally require a contractor licensed by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC). Every contractor on Dry Heat Yards is matched to an active ROC license and re-checked monthly. Before you hire:

• Get 2–3 written quotes with the same scope so you can compare them.
• Check the license yourself, and ask for proof of insurance and recent references.
• Get a written contract with the price, payment schedule, start and finish dates and any plant or workmanship warranty. Avoid paying most of the price up front.

7. Where to buy rock and landscape supplies

Rock yards sell decorative rock, decomposed granite, boulders, sand and soil by the ton, for pickup or delivery. It helps to see rock colors in person before your landscaper orders, and some HOAs limit which colors you can use. Rock yards are suppliers, not contractors, so they aren't ROC-verified. How many tons do I need? →

West Valley yards (Peoria, Surprise, Glendale, Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye). See all Arizona rock yards by city →

Builders, HOAs and real estate agents: you're welcome to share this page with new homeowners. Link: https://dryheatyards.com/guides/new-home-backyard-guide-arizona/

Last checked Nov 6, 2026. This is general information, not legal or professional advice. Your HOA documents, builder warranty and city rules control.