LAWN BUSTERS Program

 

Our City Forest has joined hands with the Santa Clara Valley Water District to help Santa Clara County property owners convert their LAWNS into DROUGHT-TOLERANT LANDSCAPES. Our Lawn Busters program provides on-site assessments and planning, planting, and quality assurance follow-up.

"I just want to let you know how efficient, kind and very knowledgeable your team is. I was very impressed. Also the community service team was fun to be with. They really enjoyed working with plants and building a future for themselves. My questions were always answered and suggestions given. I very much like the way the yard looks. Looking forward to seeing the beauty of flowers. I have never seen a young group of men and women so eager to please a customer. Thank you."

-Joyce (Lawn Busters Customer)

We serve both residential and non-residential properties. If you are a business, school, church, community center you might qualify, too: Learn More for Non-residential properties. Residents please see below to find out if you qualify.

 

 
 

To qualify, eligible applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Is a Santa Clara County homeowner with an existing turf lawn that is at least 500 contiguous square feet*

AND is either

  • low-income**, OR

  • a US Veteran, OR

  • a person with a disability, OR

  • a senior citizen (60+).

*Due to the drought, it's okay if you have stopped watering, as long as the turf is still present. This area cannot include part of the yard that is not grass (i.e. shrubs, other ground cover, etc.)

**Please refer to the chart below to see if you meet the low-income eligibility.

 
(Source: www.scchousingauthority.org)

(Source: www.scchousingauthority.org)

Thank you for your interest in our Lawn Busters program.

The waitlist is currently closed as of April 2023.

For questions regarding the waitlist, please call Valley Water's Water Conservation Hotline at (408) 630-2554, or email them at conservation@valleywater.org


Contact our Lawn Busters team at lawnbusters@ourcityforest.org.

See what your lawn conversion options are:


View some of our past projects in the gallery below!


Thank you to our partners:

Special thanks to Zanker Recycled Landscaping for providing discounted compost and mulch, and to Fast Bicycle for the abundant in-kind donation of cardboard!


Lawn Busters Resources

After your application is accepted, we will provide you with a watering guide and plant fact sheets, like the ones below:


Learn how to convert your own lawn into a drought-tolerant dreamscape

 
 

Whether you're motivated by the REBATE PROGRAM, or you're simply a GOOD STEWARD of our earth, there are many resources available to start your lawn conversion today. Here are a few:

GET THE GOODS.

Our COMMUNITY NURSERY is fully stocked with hundreds of rebate-friendly, native and drought-tolerant  plant, grass, shrub and tree species. Visit during open hours. We'll point you in the right direction.

REBATE SPECIES.

Be sure to use these approved plants when applying for the Lawn Conversion Rebate. Most are available at our nursery.

ASK A PRO.

These Landscape Professionals are already familiar with the ins and outs of the Rebate Lawn Conversion Program.