How to Get the Soil Saver Rebate

What you get

The Soil Saver Rebate pays 50% of the cost of service, equipment rental, or materials for core aeration of lawn areas, top-dressing lawns or beds with compost, and plant-based mulch on beds, gardens, and trees. Single-family residential caps: $50 for core aeration, $75 for compost, and $75 for mulch, so $200 combined. Commercial and institutional caps are $200 for each practice. Core or plug aeration only (not spike, liquid, or chemical); compost a quarter to half inch on lawns or one to two inches on beds, with blends at least 50% compost; plant-based mulch such as wood chips, not stone, fabric, or rubber. The rebate is issued as a credit on the utility bill (SMTX Utilities Soil Saver Rebate Program PDF, sanmarcostx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/15566, verified September 2026).

• Residential: 50% of cost: up to $50 for core aeration, $75 for compost, $75 for mulch ($200 combined)
• Commercial: 50% of cost: up to $200 each for core aeration, compost, and mulch

Are you eligible?

• Be a City of San Marcos Water/Energy Conservation Division customer
• Property located in: San Marcos
• City of San Marcos water utility customer with an account in good standing; single-family residential properties for the residential amounts
• Work must be performed within the San Marcos water utility service area
• Mark irrigation heads and valves, meter boxes, shallow wires, and exposed roots before aerating
• Submit the completed application with itemized invoices or receipts and photos of the completed work within 30 days after purchase or work completion
• Applicant is responsible for permits and for compliance with HOA, local, state, and federal regulations

What applying usually looks like

A general guide. Always confirm the exact steps on the official program page, since each provider runs its process a little differently.

1. 1

   Do the conversion

   Replace your lawn with the qualifying landscaping, following the eligibility requirements above.

2. 2

   Submit your claim

   After the work is done, submit your claim on the official program page. Confirm the exact forms, receipts, and any photos they require there, since those vary by program.