Landscaping is never really low cost but if you are able bodied some hard work can yield great results . Grass IMO last choice for a desrt landscape and yours tells why. I actually am just in the process of landscpaing in a Canadian desert where we also get minus 30 c temps and lots of snow. My whole property is at the moment gravel and I like it a lot more than grass but I do like plants . This is one idea I have looked at for my front yard might take me a couple of years to do it all but can be done. I guess if your yard was mine I would be removing the gras in as large an area as you can handle right now and start there with gravel and a few plants in the front yard. In the back I would be plannig a huge patio for outdoor entertaining and then same type landscaping for the rest of the grass area.

I had a large cactus/succulent garden inside of our semi-circle driveway in Los Angeles.

It won't be low cost, because the cactus and succulents that you want aren't cheap plants. Come up with a design for the whole space and add the plants as budget allows. Many nurseries will have a landscape designer who will create a plan. Some will charge for the plan and others will offer it for free if you buy a bunch of plants at the same time.

You also need to have some irrigation planned ... they are low water, but not "no" water!

debora carl landscape design · More Info

debora carl landscape design · More Info

debora carl landscape design · More Info

Desert Landscaping · More Info

debora carl landscape design · More Info

There are many drought hardy creeping groundcovers that flower or provide color, Creeping Thyme, Creeping Rosemary, Creeping Ceanothus, Sedums, Chamomile. "Ice plants" Delosperma, Malephora. Snow-in-Summer.

Google xeriscape lawn substitute and native landscape plants like Sticky Monkey Flower and native Bunch Grass. Palo Verde Tree.

Thats great that you are going low water use! We haven't had a lawn in the last two houses and don't miss it. It doesn't need to cost a lot if you buy plants small and propagate.

The Yucca rostrata in this photo we grew from a four inch sprig, the cactus from a single pad and the penstemon was a volunteer from a single plant that we now have several.

A lot of water districts offer to pay to convert so that could be a big help. We use rock mulch but you could use bark. Drip irrigation is easy to hook and plant layout

can be adjusted by transplanting.

I know you didn't ask but you could paint the door a focal color and move larger house numbers on the wall to the left of the porch....maybe get a solar downlight for them.

Rough sketch- colors TBD:

I found this article online:

https://www.realsimple.com/low-maintenance-landscaping-ideas-11917335