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Say So Long To the Lawn

Considering all the maintenance and watering a lawn requires, it’s a wonder why anyone would even want one. The alternative: pretty perennials and a permeable patioscape.

When it comes to your lawn, how much is too much? Prior to World War II, lawns were not a major component of the American landscape. But with the explosion of post-war suburbia, large expanses of grass became commonplace.

Considering all the maintenance and watering, it’s a wonder why anyone would even desire a big yard. The best solution: minimize the amount of grass in your landscape.

Reducing a typical landscape of 75 percent turf to less than 50 percent can shrink your outdoor watering bill significantly. Why? Flowering perennials like Salvia and mistflower or shrubs like dwarf yaupon and cenizo use 50 percent to 60 percent less water. Expanding beds with mulch alone or combining them with a pervious hardscape can reduce your outdoor water bill even more. An ideal landscape is 1/3 lawn, 1/3 beds and 1/3 pervious hardscape or decks.

SAWS happens to have two coupon programs just for this purpose. Our WaterSaver Landscape and WaterSaver Patioscape coupons make replacing water-guzzling grass with dazzling drought-tolerant plants or patioscape easy and affordable.

You can apply for up to four WaterSaver Coupons through Oct. 15. That adds up to $400 in landscape savings — or even more if you have an in-ground sprinkler system.

Mix and match the coupons any way you like to build an inviting outdoor oasis. With more than 100 drought-hardy plants and dozens of patio materials to choose from, what’s not to love?

Now’s the time to say so long to the lawn!

Picture of Mark Peterson
Mark Peterson
Mark A. Peterson was a conservation project coordinator for San Antonio Water System before retiring. With over 30 years of experience as an urban forester and arborist, Mark is probably the only person you know who actually prunes trees for fun. When not expounding on the benefits of trees and limited lawns, you're likely to find him hiking San Antonio's wilderness parks or expounding on the virtues of geography and history to his friends.
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