HOA's do not allow brown grass. Reality is with proper plant choices, mainly plants for the proper zone, that can naturalize to the habitat. Xeriscaping. Part II of what they didn't explain is that watering guidelines are given by growers for established plants. Established plants are ones which are 3 years old. Until then you have to wean the plants from grower conditions to naturalize. The smaller the plant the less time to adapt. So initially you won't save money, over time you will. Most landscape writing is just a bunch of hooey from people who don't know squat, or is ruined by editors whose knowledge of the plants is limited to herbal spa treatments. Cheers