[Baz]

Ferrino,

Just so I understand - you want to replace both existing turf and plants?

Your plants are probably established and if your goal is to reduce irrigation needs, you might be better off leaving the existing plants, remove existing turf area, and replace with drought resistant ground cover.

Design-wise - this looks like it's at the very front of your property so you don't want anything tall - so a low growing (ground cover) would be the ticket. And I would plant just one species/variety in the entire area to provide uniformity and simplicity, which is always more visually pleasing.

To remove the existing turf, spray it with Roundup, wait a week, re-spray a second time, then rent a sod cutter and remove the top layer so you're down to bare ground. Grade it by hand and then you can re-plant as desired.

Do you have any type of irrigation right now? If so you can convert it to micro-irrigation aka low volume irrigation...which uses drippers, drip tubing, and/or emitters.

Plant selection could include a number of different choices.

Let me know if any of this makes sense to you and we'll go from there.

PS - If you can find a local landscape contractor, that might be the way to go. Go only by referrals and without question visit the work they have done in the area before committing. Just because someone is a landscaper doesn't mean they are good at it.