WaterWise Landscaping Rebate Guide

A WaterWise landscape uses techniques to reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental watering. This includes adding compost and mulch to retain soil moisture, converting spray irrigation to drip or low-flow nozzles and planting native or adaptive plants with lower water needs.

Water savings: Savings depend on your watering habits, existing turf and site conditions. Turf typically needs 1 inch of water weekly in summer, while mature native beds may need only ½ to ¾ inch every other week. Converting a 500-square-foot turf area, which requires about 1,240 gallons monthly, could save up to 930 gallons per month.

Apply for a rebate
 

Eligibility

To qualify, at least 75% of the conversion area must have healthy turf grass. This requirement ensures the rebate helps conserve water that is currently being used. If you are not regularly watering your yard, this program may not generate meaningful water savings. Austin Water may evaluate thinning or dormant grass during seasonal changes and may require a site visit for verification. Dead lawns do not qualify.

Any work started before receiving approval from Austin Water will not qualify.

 

Rebate Timing

You should receive your rebate within six to eight weeks of project completion. Rebates for fall installations are not issued before Oct. 1, regardless of completion date.

Removing Turf Grass

To prevent grass from regrowing, use one of these methods before installing your new landscape:

• Sod cutter — removes grass below the root zone
• Tiller — breaks turf into clumps for removal
• Newspaper or cardboard smothering — layers of paper block light and kill grass over time
• Solarization — uses heat to kill grass and weeds (see below)

After removing turf, till the planting bed area to a depth of six inches and add compost-amended soil to improve nutrients and water retention. For gravel or plain mulch beds, residential customers must apply weed barrier fabric over the soil before adding hardscape.

Solarization

Solarization uses trapped heat to kill grass and weeds. Water the area thoroughly, cover it with clear, thick plastic and weigh down the edges. The grass underneath will die from the heat buildup.

Dealing with Bermuda Grass

Bermuda grass is difficult to remove because it regrows from small root fragments. Kill it using one of the methods above, then dig it out and till the area to remove as much blade and root material as possible. Wait a few weeks to identify any regrowth and repeat as needed. After two or three treatments, most Bermuda grass should be eliminated. A layer of mulch over the area helps prevent it from returning.

Planting

• Plants can only be installed during the spring and fall installation windows, not during summer. Intense summer heat and dry conditions create stress that makes it difficult to establish new plants. Spring and fall bring lower evaporation rates and more rainfall, giving plants a better chance to root.
• Fall is ideal for trees, shrubs, cacti, succulents and many perennials. Root growth over winter gives plants a head start in spring.
• Spring is ideal for flowering perennials that have gone through one winter dormancy at the nursery, enabling faster establishment.
• Complete your landscape by the deadline in each season to allow plants to establish before winter freezes or summer heat.
• You may begin installing mulch and hardscape portions of your project after Austin Water approves your conversion. Plant installation must wait for the appropriate seasonal window.

Plant Selection

For plant recommendations, visit the Grow Green Plant Guide. Other native or adaptive plants beyond those listed may also qualify. If you have specific plants in mind, include a list with your application or contact Austin Water to confirm eligibility.

"Over 50% plant cover" means that once plants reach mature size, they will cover more than half of the conversion area. This reduces erosion and the urban heat island effect. To calculate plant cover, use the mature spread listed on the plant's tag and convert it to square feet when drawing your landscaping plan.

Irrigation 

Spray heads designed for turf are inefficient for watering native plants. If you do not plan to cap off irrigation in the converted area, convert it to drip irrigation. See the watering restrictions page for current irrigation guidelines.

Tilling your planting beds and adding one inch of compost improves the soil's ability to retain water near plant roots — important during Austin's dry summers. For every 1% of organic matter content, each cubic foot of soil can hold an additional 1.5 quarts of plant-available water.

What Is and Is Not Allowed

• Gravel paths and patios — Residential customers may incorporate a gravel path up to three feet wide with weed barrier fabric underneath. A gravel or stone patio of up to 200 square feet is also allowed. Irrigation heads must be adjusted to avoid spraying these areas. Multi-family and homeowners association applicants may not use gravel or stone in the conversion area.
• Edging — Not required, but effective for weed control and defining planter beds. A shallow six-inch trench or border stones are low-cost options.
• Water features — Not allowed within the conversion area.
• Artificial turf and permeable concrete — Not eligible for the rebate.
• Converting the area between sidewalk and street — Residential customers may convert this area, but note it is often a public right-of-way or utility easement. If utility work occurs in this area, any landscaping repairs are at the homeowner's expense. Use plants without thorns or spikes for pedestrian safety. Multi-family and homeowners association applicants may not convert right-of-way areas.
• Converting turf to drought-tolerant grass — Buffalo, Bermuda and Zoysia grasses are more drought-tolerant than most St. Augustine varieties, but water savings from converting between grass types are inconsistent. People tend to overwater these grasses during dormancy to keep them green. Austin Water will monitor new turf varieties and pilot study results to evaluate whether drought-tolerant turf conversions may qualify in the future.