Sasha Kodet

A teaching garden designed with you in mind

Need a spark of creativity for your next backyard endeavor? WaterSaver Community opens Dec. 9 with five stunning, sustainable landscapes to stir and inspire you. With its charming tiny houses and inviting landscapes, WaterSaver Lane was long a guest favorite at the San Antonio Botanical Garden, inspiring countless visitors with examples of drought-tolerant landscapes in […]

A thriller garden or garden thriller?

Don’t let drought be a plot twist. Discover the secrets to a yard that thrills despite drought — and provides a wild escape for pollinators. Thrilling, spine-chilling and full of mystery — yes, that’s gardening in South Texas. Come closer and listen to my tales of the garden, full of a summer’s suspense and a […]

Chill your garden

Landscapes are still simmering under the Texas sun, but you can dial down your yard’s temperature with these tips and tricks. Summer, you have officially overstayed your welcome! With scorching 100-plus-degree days lingering past the usual dog days of summer, I find myself appreciating even the slightest drop in temperature. Somehow, even 97 degrees in […]

Create an explosion of flora in your summer landscape

Here’s a dozen drought-hardy denizens that’ll dazzle long after summer fireworks have fizzled out. Fireworks season is almost upon us! Brightly colored shooting lights at night, colorful blooms blazing across our landscape by day — the summer heat won’t stop me from heading out to enjoy the show! After spring flowers fade, you can elicit […]

Sprinkler smarts

Whether you’re a newbie or old pro at in-ground irrigation, these sprinkler system basics will help you avoid getting soaked with a high water bill. Mysterious green lids in the lawn, a confusing box in the garage or side of your new house, and news of continuing Stage 2 watering rules? Have no fear. This […]

A bird’s eye view of your garden

Think of your garden as a welcome mat for migrating birds. Plant natives, turn out the lights and embrace our feathered travelers. Springtime in Texas can be simply sublime with its eye-widening wildflower displays, buzzing bees and the delightful parade of migratory birds. Did you know almost two billion birds wing their way through Texas […]

The Bloom returns March 11

Get the secrets for stunning gardens that can withstand a sizzling San Antonio summer at SAWS Spring Bloom. With all the wildflowers throwing open their petals, you know Spring Bloom is almost here — our perennially popular spring gardening event returns to SAWS Headquarters, Saturday, March 11! The free event is your prime opportunity to […]

What’s your garden style?

Spring Bloom returns March 11! Come learn how your garden style can express your personality — and save water. Quietly poring over gardening websites while tucked cozily inside this winter? Me, too! Chilly days are perfect for daydreaming and delving into garden designs. Whether you prefer an exuberant profusion of blooms or clean architectural lines, […]

Holiday help from your garden

Let your landscape lighten up the season with helpful last-minute gifts, delightful drinks and much-needed peace. With holiday shopping, baking cookies and a whole-house deep cleaning still on my to-do list, I just might need to excuse myself and step out into the garden for a breath of fresh air and a little help. A […]

Garden tasks to tackle before tailgating

Whether you support your squad from the sidelines or the sofa, think of these five simple chores as your pregame warm-up. Autumn feels like even more of a relief than usual this year! Luckily, a little late summer rain has prompted my landscape to burst forth with blossoms just as slightly cooler weather arrives to […]

Beautiful Border Plants

Tame wild garden bed borders with these tidy, water-efficient plant selections. Falling in love with a plant and neglecting to check its full size at maturity is an all-too-common gardening mistake. Often, the wrong placement can become an everyday annoyance when you tuck an expansive plant into a walkway border and then must trim it […]

Earth Day Landscape Dreams

An eco-friendly landscape is more than just a tidy yard with minimal bare spots. It’s enticing to wildlife and thrifty with water. Picturesque and inviting, I can’t help but stop by a landscape proclaimed “Yard of the Month” to admire its beautiful details, can you? As Earth Day approaches, I’m reflecting on the positive impact […]

Inspired Design

From design styles to individual plant selection, it’s reassuring to see what survives Texas’ scorching summers right in your own neighborhood. Neighborhood strolls inspire many a gardener as we admire everything from design styles to individual plant selection. And in our challenging climate, it’s reassuring to see what successfully survives Texas’ scorching summers right there […]

Don’t Be Swayed By Looks Alone

Think you picked the perfect plants? Think again. Know when to swipe right or left on seemingly dreamy plant selections. I have a not-so-secret confession: I love advice columns! I’m no Garden Geek or agony aunt, but I have learned a few gardening lessons over the years that might help your relationship with the plant […]

Here’s Your Short, Sweet Guide to San Antonio Gardening

It can be hard to remember what landscaping tasks to tackle when. Lucky for you, there’s a quick reference guide to San Antonio gardening to-dos. Think fast – when is the best time to prune roses or plant trees in San Antonio? Sometimes it’s hard to remember the ideal months for all those gardening tasks, […]

Your Gardening Playlist

Grab a cuppa and a cozy spot and spend the winter lull binge-watching our gardening webinars. Winter weekends are the perfect time to wrap yourself in a fuzzy blanket and settle in to catch up on your favorite shows — or better still, Garden Style San Antonio webinars you missed! It might inspire a New […]

Dress Your Landscape in Layers

Protect your garden from a cold snap and keep backyard wildlife cozy with careful landscape design. Sweater weather is in sight! Wrapped in layers and with a warm mug of apple cider in hand, we’ll soon be surveying our backyards and pondering plans for our landscapes. To help you create a more resilient, wildlife friendly […]

Landscaping with a Light Touch

Psst … wanna know the secret to a successful sustainable garden? It all comes down to plant selection. Garden centers are tempting oases of colorful blooms, graceful grasses and chic succulents. I’m dreaming of the days when I have more free time to garden. But for now, choosing low-maintenance plants to make up the backbone […]

Autumn Aspirations for Your Landscape

Follow these quick tips to make your garden glow and give your water bill a break. New Year’s may get all the glory, but to me fall always feels like another fresh start as kids head back to school and shorter days promise cooler weather ahead. And in San Antonio, autumn is the perfect time […]

Rewards and Rebates — All in One Place!

— Keep track of your WaterSaver Rewards points, WaterSaver Coupons and conservation rebates all in one convenient location. Wondering how many WaterSaver Rewards points you have earned or accidentally deleted the email with your Landscape Coupon? No worries, your coupons, rebate offers and more are now available on our mobile friendly My Account website. Just […]

Five Frosty Favorites For Your Winter Garden

Cool and refreshing, these silvery selections create winter interest and stay strong all summer long.  Jack Frost may not be nipping at your plants much this year, but evergreen plant selections with silvery or blue-gray foliage do create a cool effect in your winter garden. Best of all, these five beauties stay gorgeous in a […]

Spice Up Your Gift-Wrapping Game

Explore these fresh-from-the-garden ideas to sow a more home-style holiday mood. Creative expression is one of the delights of gardening — and sharing it with others is even better! A gorgeous landscape design, plating culinary garden treats, and crafty endeavors like wreath decorating and natural gift accents are all part of the fun. Add some […]

Feel Those Fall Garden Vibes

Spice up your autumn garden with warm hues, berry-bursting blooms and fragrant foliage. It’s the coziest backdrop for enjoying your preferred pumpkin-spiced beverage outdoors. Fall in South Texas always warms my heart with its beautiful weather and exhilarating snout butterfly explosions — it’s the perfect backdrop for enjoying the outdoors with a pumpkin-spiced drink in […]

2020 WaterSaver Landscape Virtual Tour

Draw inspiration for your yard with these lovely landscape designs and outdoor living spaces that are drought-hardy, heat-tolerant and pollinator-friendly! The best inspiration comes from real-life examples, especially if you want to create a landscape that’s your home-outside-of-home. Get a behind-the-scenes look at 10 gorgeous gardens with outstanding water-saving landscapes. This year’s WaterSaver Landscape Tour […]

How Do You Slice a Water Pie?

Sure, pie charts can be boring. But when they’re part of your free WaterSmart home report? That’s a yummy slice of water savings! I’ve spent a lot of time looking at pie slices lately. More specifically, slices of a WaterSmart pie chart. And when it comes to these slices, the smaller the better because that […]

Entice Nature’s Nighttime Nectar Seekers

Explore the dark world of covert pollinators, where moonlit moths eclipse butterflies to rule the night. Make a shadow-savvy garden to attract these nocturnal nectar sippers! Catch a glimpse of a small shape darting in to sip on your flowers at dusk? You might be surprised to discover a hovering pollinator that’s not a hummingbird, […]

Plan Your Coupon Project

Light Up Your Landscape

Give your garden a glow of tiny twilights twinkling. These firefly-friendly garden practices will spark many magical summer evenings. Did you see it — that fast flicker? Fireflies have been lighting up the landscape at night lately. It’s always a treat to see them and many of us caught fireflies in fields or at the […]

Back to Basics: Planting Perennials

New to gardening? Follow these easy steps to a garden full of perfectly planted perennials that will continue to delight year after year. So you bought a few containers of your very first WaterSaver plants and now you’re wondering where to start. No worries, you’ll be sporting a green thumb in no time with this […]

How Hygge Is Your Garden?

Comfy, cozy surroundings aren’t just reserved for the inside of your home. Your landscape can become a Danish-inspired hygge haven for your wildlife friends with a few simple tweaks. Snuggling into comfortable surroundings and relaxing with family is just what Scandinavians mean by hygge (pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah) or the “art of coziness.” But comfortable, […]

Immerse Yourself in the New GardenStyleSA.com

Whether you’re a longtime landscaper or green to gardening, the new and improved, mobile-friendly Garden Style San Antonio website has everything you need to create your own outdoor oasis. The Garden Style San Antonio website has been the go-to site for green gardeners and longtime landscapers alike for several years. Now it has been completely […]

Catch the ‘Green Friday’ Savings with a Water Flow Sensor

Using the power of your smartphone, water flow sensors let you see your water use in real time — and they can alert you to possible leaks. And right now, you can get a $150 rebate on a SAWS-approved flow sensor. Here’s a pop quiz for you. What uses more water at your home: a […]

Nectar Trails: The Garden Path To More Pollinators

Hummingbirds and monarch butterflies rely on a sequence of blooms as they migrate across the continent. Plant early, middle and late season bloomers in your garden to help them stay on course. Every fall there’s excitement in the air as ardent admirers await the wave headed their way. As temperatures cool farther north, migratory pollinators […]

Dreary to Dream Garden in 6 Easy Steps

Creating your ultimate landscape oasis isn’t as complicated as it sounds — if you follow these simple steps. Ready… set… dig into your little corner of Texas! Your dream garden can be a relaxing escape, add value to your home and create habitat for wildlife — not to mention keep you healthy and fit! 1. […]

A Wildly Lovely Spring

Thanks to perfectly timed fall rains, Texas is experiencing a wildflower season for the ages. Look for these bold blossoms drawing selfie seekers and pollinators alike. Wildflowers are turning heads after last fall’s heavy rains set the stage for a wildly lovely spring display. To me, part of the allure of wildflowers is knowing how […]

Just Add Texture: Winter Garden Standouts

Does your garden stand out or melt away in winter? Striking forms and contrasting textures can make all the difference this season. It’s easy to create a gorgeous summer garden by including lots of colorful blooms. But winter often reveals the truly outstanding landscapes as blossoms and leaves fall away, uncloaking the garden itself. When […]

5 Fall Plants to Delight the Senses

You can create your own sensory garden and fall bounty next year by including these autumn standouts in your landscape now. Eye-catching and exuberant, San Antonio’s gardens are on full display this fall after September’s historic rains. Take some time out of your busy schedule to wind down on a neighborhood walk and enjoy the […]

Gardening Trials and Errors

Planning is key to a successful landscape. That said, adjusting your expectations — especially if you’re new to gardening — will make it more rewarding. It’s easy to get excited about gardening, but remember: planning is key to a successful landscape. With fall gardening just around the corner, I’m reflecting on some gardening lessons I’ve […]

Go With the Slope

Bring your hillside landscape alive with the sound of birdsong and other wildlife — plant a profusion of perennials and grasses that’ll entice birds, butterflies and the occasional envious neighbor to your yard. Creating a gorgeous hillside garden can be a challenge, but ultimately you’ll appreciate the view. Climbing hills may be sweaty and exhausting […]

Steer Deer Clear of Your Landscape

You can make your landscape look a little less inviting to deer with plants that offend their sensibilities. Deer sneer at plants that are aromatic, prickly or hairy, and plants with milky sap. Grab a giant glass of iced tea before you head outside — San Antonio’s blazing hot summer is here! With the recent […]

Bonkers for Basil? Make a Beeline for Basil Fest!

Tomato and basil will always be BFFs, but you’ll discover new wondrous ways to experience this versatile herb during the free event! Quick — name five herbs you couldn’t live without in your kitchen! Does basil come to mind? If your mouth waters at the thought of this flavorful herb, then mark your calendar for Basil […]

It’s a Match! 10 Perfect Plant Pairs You’ll Adore

Give your garden the look of love! These cozy couples will add a little romance to your landscape – and make planning easier, too. If you can’t decide which plants to commit to this spring, consider those that’ll look great while surviving San Antonio’s hot summers and droughts. Beauty is in the eye of the […]

Landscape Design Center 2.0 in the Works

We’re building an online tool so you can design your idyllic landscape — and we want to hear your suggestions! Dreaming of a colorful landscape with lots of curb appeal, but not sure how to get there? We’re building an online tool so you can go from ideal plans to an idyllic landscape. The Garden […]