California American Water’s
                                                                                                            Reduce Water Use with Water Wise Gardening
GUIDE TO WATER WISE GARDENING
                                                                                 Brought to you by:         California gardeners know that our state’s dry,
                                                                                                            hot summers and limited water resources can
                                                                                                            create special gardening challenges. Selecting
                                                                                                            the right plants, especially those that are
                                                                                                            drought-resistant, or have low water needs, has
                                                                                                            become increasingly important.
                                                                                  640 Larkfield Center      Drought-tolerant or “xeriscape” landscaping is a
                                                                                 Santa Rosa, CA 95403       practical and easy way to enjoy plants that will
                                                                                    (707) 542-8329          thrive in your garden with less maintenance,
                                                                                                            chemical use and watering. A naturally-maintained
                                                                              To request more information
                                                                                                            garden using native and drought-tolerant plants
                                                                              about our conservation and
                                                                              rebate programs, please
                                                                                                            with low water needs is healthier for people, pets
                                                                              email us at:
                                                                                                            and the environment.
                                                                              caw.conserve@amwater.com      California American Water’s recently complete
                                                                              or visit us online at:        Larkfield garden at 4790 Londonberry Drive,
Larkfield Water Wise Community Demonstration Garden, 4790 Londonberry Drive   www.californiaamwater.com.    includes a number of low water-use plants,
                                                                                                            shrubs and trees. In addition to being an inviting
                                                                                                            benefit to the neighborhood, the new garden
                                                                                                            requires less irrigation and showcases the wide
                                                                                                            variety of plant colors and textures available for
                                                                                                            low water-use gardening.

                                                                                                                                                                            TIP: Drought-tolerant and/or native plants,
                                                                                                                                                                            often used in xeriscape gardening, remain
                                                                                                                                                                            attractive throughout the year and require
                                                                                                                                                                            less fertilizer and no pesticides, thereby
                                                                                                                                                                            improving water quality.




                       SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO:
                       •	 Gwen Kilchherr, Landscape Consultant & Arborist, (707) 527-6177                   Water wise gardens can be beautiful and low maintenance.
                       •	 Sonoma County Water Agency, www.scwa.ca.gov or (707) 526-5370                     Visit California American Water’s newly planted demonstration
                       •	 Bryan Healey, Landscape Contractor, Healey Inc., (707) 541-0777                   garden shown here at 4790 Londonberry Drive.
How to Create Your Water Wise Garden
                                                    matter prior to planting. This improves root               Water Smart                                            the soil is nearly dry. Adjust them seasonally and
                                                    development and improves water penetration                 Even low-water and                                     as plants become more established. Consider
                                                    and retention. Now is also the time to create              drought-tolerant plants                                installing a weather-based timer that automatically
                                                    raised beds, remove invasive weeds and add                 need irrigation their                                  adjusts to the changing
                                                    rock or water features.                                    first two or three                                     climate and conditions
                                                                                                               seasons. Group plants                                  to save you time while
                                                                                  Pick the                     by water requirements                                  giving your plants just
                                                                                  Right Plants                 so each area receives                                  the right amount of
                                                                               Whenever possible,              just the right amount.                                 watering.
                                                                               choose native plants,           Drip irrigation and      Helianthemum
                                                                                                                                        nummularium                   Proper pruning, weeding,
                                                                               plants that thrive              soaker hoses decrease ‘Wisely Pink’ (Sunrose)          and annual additions of
                                                                               without irrigation, or          waste and save you                                     mulch will help control    Teucrium fruticans
                                                                               plants with needs that          money by applying water directly to the soil.                                     ‘Azureum’ (Germander)
                                                                                                                                                                      weeds save water,
                                                                               match the climate 	
                                                                                                               Identify the natural soil type in your garden          enhance the beauty of your landscape and give
                                                       Verbena bonariensis     and conditions in your
                                                                                                               (clay, loam, sandy, etc.) and be sure to set your      your new garden a chance to grow.
                                                                                garden. Most are
                                                    easy to grow and have adapted to the local                 irrigation system to match. For example, tight
                                                    climate and pests. Selecting a wide variety of             clay soil absorbs water slowly. Reduce irrigation 	
                                                    disease-resistant plants will attract wildlife and         	                            or water in shorter
Plan and Design                                                                                                                             intervals to prevent
                                                    insects that eat pests and enhance the beauty of
Plan before you plant. Assess site conditions,                                                                                              standing water and
                                                    your landscape as well.
including light, soil, drainage and moisture to                                                                                             run-off.
determine what plants will survive. Determine       Plant Properly
how you want to use your garden and how much                                                                                               Hard-to-reach areas
                                                    Help your plants get off to a good start. Fall or winter
time you want to spend maintaining it. Plan                                                                                                such as slopes can
                                                    is the best time to plant, or early in the spring
to situate higher water-use plants nearest the                                                                                             be planted with
                                                    after the last frost. Dig
house and/or where natural water drainage                                                                                                  ground covers that
                                                    a hole large enough
flows, while adding a wildlife garden in a less-                                                               	 Grevillea                 crowd out weeds,
                                                    to accommodate the                                            (Coastal Gem)
traveled area. Consider plant variety, size,                                                                   			                          require little watering
                                                    plant’s roots. Prepare
texture, color, and bloom time to ensure year-                                                                 and are easy to maintain. Keep watering
                                                    the soil by loosening
round interest.                                                                                                intervals on sloped terrain short (2 to 3 minutes)
                                                    and amending with
                                                                                                               to prevent water waste from runoff.
                                                    compost and use mulch
Prepare the Site
                                                    to keep roots moist for                                    Maintain the Momentum
Good soil is the most important ingredient for a
                                                    a more “finished” look. Euphorbia characias                A well-maintained garden conserves water, time
healthy garden. Test your soil and work with your
local nursery or County Extension Office to add                                  (Wulfenii)                    and resources. Check irrigation systems regularly
the proper amount of amendments and organic                                                                    to ensure they are providing deep soakings when               Drought-tolerant plant photos by Martin Fletcher
                                                                                                                                                                                                 www.californiagardens.com

California Guide to Water Wise Gardening - California American Water’s

  • 1.
    California American Water’s Reduce Water Use with Water Wise Gardening GUIDE TO WATER WISE GARDENING Brought to you by: California gardeners know that our state’s dry, hot summers and limited water resources can create special gardening challenges. Selecting the right plants, especially those that are drought-resistant, or have low water needs, has become increasingly important. 640 Larkfield Center Drought-tolerant or “xeriscape” landscaping is a Santa Rosa, CA 95403 practical and easy way to enjoy plants that will (707) 542-8329 thrive in your garden with less maintenance, chemical use and watering. A naturally-maintained To request more information garden using native and drought-tolerant plants about our conservation and rebate programs, please with low water needs is healthier for people, pets email us at: and the environment. caw.conserve@amwater.com California American Water’s recently complete or visit us online at: Larkfield garden at 4790 Londonberry Drive, Larkfield Water Wise Community Demonstration Garden, 4790 Londonberry Drive www.californiaamwater.com. includes a number of low water-use plants, shrubs and trees. In addition to being an inviting benefit to the neighborhood, the new garden requires less irrigation and showcases the wide variety of plant colors and textures available for low water-use gardening. TIP: Drought-tolerant and/or native plants, often used in xeriscape gardening, remain attractive throughout the year and require less fertilizer and no pesticides, thereby improving water quality. SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO: • Gwen Kilchherr, Landscape Consultant & Arborist, (707) 527-6177 Water wise gardens can be beautiful and low maintenance. • Sonoma County Water Agency, www.scwa.ca.gov or (707) 526-5370 Visit California American Water’s newly planted demonstration • Bryan Healey, Landscape Contractor, Healey Inc., (707) 541-0777 garden shown here at 4790 Londonberry Drive.
  • 2.
    How to CreateYour Water Wise Garden matter prior to planting. This improves root Water Smart the soil is nearly dry. Adjust them seasonally and development and improves water penetration Even low-water and as plants become more established. Consider and retention. Now is also the time to create drought-tolerant plants installing a weather-based timer that automatically raised beds, remove invasive weeds and add need irrigation their adjusts to the changing rock or water features. first two or three climate and conditions seasons. Group plants to save you time while Pick the by water requirements giving your plants just Right Plants so each area receives the right amount of Whenever possible, just the right amount. watering. choose native plants, Drip irrigation and Helianthemum nummularium Proper pruning, weeding, plants that thrive soaker hoses decrease ‘Wisely Pink’ (Sunrose) and annual additions of without irrigation, or waste and save you mulch will help control Teucrium fruticans plants with needs that money by applying water directly to the soil. ‘Azureum’ (Germander) weeds save water, match the climate Identify the natural soil type in your garden enhance the beauty of your landscape and give Verbena bonariensis and conditions in your (clay, loam, sandy, etc.) and be sure to set your your new garden a chance to grow. garden. Most are easy to grow and have adapted to the local irrigation system to match. For example, tight climate and pests. Selecting a wide variety of clay soil absorbs water slowly. Reduce irrigation disease-resistant plants will attract wildlife and or water in shorter Plan and Design intervals to prevent insects that eat pests and enhance the beauty of Plan before you plant. Assess site conditions, standing water and your landscape as well. including light, soil, drainage and moisture to run-off. determine what plants will survive. Determine Plant Properly how you want to use your garden and how much Hard-to-reach areas Help your plants get off to a good start. Fall or winter time you want to spend maintaining it. Plan such as slopes can is the best time to plant, or early in the spring to situate higher water-use plants nearest the be planted with after the last frost. Dig house and/or where natural water drainage ground covers that a hole large enough flows, while adding a wildlife garden in a less- Grevillea crowd out weeds, to accommodate the (Coastal Gem) traveled area. Consider plant variety, size, require little watering plant’s roots. Prepare texture, color, and bloom time to ensure year- and are easy to maintain. Keep watering the soil by loosening round interest. intervals on sloped terrain short (2 to 3 minutes) and amending with to prevent water waste from runoff. compost and use mulch Prepare the Site to keep roots moist for Maintain the Momentum Good soil is the most important ingredient for a a more “finished” look. Euphorbia characias A well-maintained garden conserves water, time healthy garden. Test your soil and work with your local nursery or County Extension Office to add (Wulfenii) and resources. Check irrigation systems regularly the proper amount of amendments and organic to ensure they are providing deep soakings when Drought-tolerant plant photos by Martin Fletcher www.californiagardens.com