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Find a Pro · San Antonio, TX

Xeriscape Landscapers in San Antonio

4 companies in the San Antonio area advertise xeriscape, native-plant, or water-wise landscaping. Before you call one, here is what the local climate asks of a low-water yard, which rebates are open, and the questions that separate a real xeriscape contractor from a rock-and-weed-fabric crew.

Growing conditions in San Antonio

  • USDA zone (2023)9a[2]78205: 20 to 25°F extreme min.
  • Annual precipitation32 inches[1]San Antonio Intl Airport
  • Median last frostFeb 26[1]32°F, 1991–2020
  • Median first frostNov 28[1]32°F, 1991–2020
  • Frost-free season277 days[1]
  • Station elevation790 ft[1]

South-central Texas: about 32 in. of rain, wettest in May, with August highs around 96°F. The median last freeze is February 26 and the first is November 28.

On the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the ZIP codes we sampled in San Antonio fall in zone 9a; 78205 (zone 9a) has an average annual extreme minimum of 20 to 25°F. Choose perennials, shrubs, and trees rated at least to zone 9. The median last spring frost (32°F) at San Antonio Intl Airport is Feb 26 and the median first fall frost is Nov 28, a typical frost-free season of about 277 days.

Average annual precipitation is 32 inches (San Antonio Intl Airport, 1991–2020), spread across the year with May the wettest month and February the driest. The average high in August is about 96°F and the average low in January is about 41°F, measured at about 790 ft.

San Antonio xeriscape pros

Sorted by tier, then alphabetically. Tiers explained below the list.

  • Listed

    A public listing we compiled from the company's own website because it advertises xeriscape or water-wise work. Listed is not an endorsement and we have not reviewed the company's work.

  • Claimed

    The business owner has claimed the profile and manages its details, photos, and service areas.

  • Certified

    The company completed the Xeriscaping.com certification course and agreed to our Code of Conduct.

Before you hire: 8 questions to ask a San Antonio xeriscape contractor

  1. Will you wait for rebate pre-approval before touching the lawn?

    WaterSaver Landscape Coupon (San Antonio Water System (SAWS)) requires approval before any grass is removed. A contractor who starts early can cost you $150 per Fall coupon toward 15 approved plants (Spring 2027 coupons: $125). Ask them to build the approval date into the schedule.

  2. Can I see a written plant list with hardiness zones?

    Every plant should be rated to at least zone 9 here. Ask for botanical names, mature size, and water use, and for plant coverage at maturity. Many rebates require 50% or more.

  3. How will you convert the sprinklers?

    Spray heads in a xeriscape waste water and feed weeds. Ask whether planted areas get drip on a separate zone with a filter and pressure regulator, how unused spray heads will be capped, and whether the controller will be reprogrammed or replaced with a smart controller.

  4. What happens to the sod, and how will you prep the soil?

    Ask whether they will cut and haul the sod, smother it, or use herbicide, and what they will add to the soil. Many xeric plants prefer lean soil, so heavy compost everywhere can backfire. Loosening compacted ground after sod removal matters more.

  5. What mulch, how deep, and is there plastic underneath?

    Rock and wood mulch both work, but depth matters: rebate rules in the West commonly call for about 3 inches. Several programs prohibit plastic sheeting, and it starves soil of air and water anyway.

  6. Will I get a first-year watering schedule?

    New xeriscapes are not no-water in year one. Ask for a written establishment schedule by season. Plant container perennials and shrubs after the median last frost (Feb 26), or in early fall at least six weeks before the median first frost (Nov 28) so roots can settle in before the ground freezes.

  7. Is there a plant warranty, and what voids it?

    Get the length (often one season or one year) and the conditions in writing, including whether it covers winter kill and what watering records you need to keep.

  8. Are you licensed and insured for this work?

    Ask for any city or county license your project needs, a current certificate of insurance, and references from xeriscape jobs at least two years old.

Rebates for San Antonio homeowners

Get pre-approval before you remove any grass. Almost every lawn-replacement program requires photos or an inspection of the living lawn first.

Rebate programs serving San Antonio, verified September 2026
ProgramAmountStatus
WaterSaver Landscape Coupon
San Antonio Water System (SAWS)
$150 per Fall coupon toward 15 approved plants (Spring 2027 coupons: $125)
Cap: Up to four coupons per application window (i.e., up to $600 in Fall 2026)
Open
Fall 2026 applications close Oct 15, 2026. Spring 2027 window: Mar 1 – Apr 30, 2027.
Outdoor Living Rebate
San Antonio Water System (SAWS)
$300 to $1,000
Cap: $1,000
Open
Residential Irrigation Design Rebate
San Antonio Water System (SAWS)
Full system removal: $500 (non-functional) or $1,650-$4,150 by zone count (functional); zone removal $350/zone; pressure-regulated heads $100/zone; master valve $200
Cap: Up to $5,000
Open
Large Cistern Rebate
San Antonio Water System (SAWS)
$1.00 per gallon of storage (minimum 500 gallons; minimum rebate $500)
Cap: $2,000
Open

Verified Sep 2026 from each agency's program page.

All Texas rebatesEstimate your water savings

Low-water plants that suit San Antonio

From our plant database: hardy to zone 9 and at home in zone 9, driest first. Ask your contractor whether these are in their plan.

See every plant for zone 9

Already listed? Claim your listing.

Sources

  1. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, San Antonio Intl Airport (USW00012921). ncei.noaa.gov
  2. USDA ARS 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map, by ZIP (78205: 9a, 78209: 9a, 78245: 9a, 78258: 9a). planthardiness.ars.usda.gov