Fresno businesses can cash in by replacing thirsty lawns with water-wise landscaping.

Through the city’s Lawn to Garden Rebate program, eligible businesses can receive $2 per square foot for swapping grass for low-water-use plants.

The rebate is just one advantage to replacing your lawn. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “In addition to requiring less water, fertilizer, pesticides, and usually less maintenance, water smart landscapes offer many other benefits.”

These include:

— Lower water bills
— Less yard waste
— Decreased landscaping labor and maintenance costs
— Reduced runoff of irrigation water that carries topsoil, fertilizers, and pesticides into lakes, rivers, and streams

To qualify, businesses must receive metered water service from the city and have an account in good standing. The project area must be a front yard or another space visible to the public, and it must be between 200 and 4,000 square feet.

The new landscape must contain only low-water-use, drought-tolerant, and/or certain California native plants, and must have at least one tree that reaches 15 feet at maturity. An existing tree within the converted area can meet the requirement.

Mulch and rock materials such as pavers, decomposed granite, boulders, and river rock can add variety to the landscape. The EPA advises against using rock mulches in sunny areas or near plants not adapted to arid climates, as rock mulches can radiate heat and increase water loss, potentially scorching plants.

Apply for your rebate by logging into the WaterWeb Customer Portal. Projects started before receiving city approval do not qualify.

Once the project is complete and approved, incentive checks typically arrive within six to nine weeks.

Homeowners can apply too. For details on eligibility for residential or business customers, visit the city of Fresno’s website.