When we purchased a home in the west side of Fairfield recently, I was hoping to have the opportunity to take the plunge and put in to practice my MG training….a drought resistant yard is my dream! Here are a couple of helpful resources that I found through some research that will hopefully help you as well as you consider the future of your lawns and gardens. Made me think twice and remember our training - it's not about just going and buying drought resistant plants and putting them in the yard….

In reading through the publications at our disposal as a MG there is a particularly helpful publication - #8036. The easiest way to access it is by using the ANR catalog resources at the following: http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/Items.aspx?hierId=15150. This publication was adapted from the Landscaping for the Future: A Guide to Central Valley Gardening by P.D. Elam, D.F. Zoldoske, G Jorgensen, J.Vanentino and V. Nolleti.

This report basically gives tips to reducing water use as you create a beautiful and enjoyable garden:

1) Analyze your design and available space – become familiar with your gardens microclimates and consider how your garden will be used.

2) Prepare your soil – Determine your soil mixture, organic matter can neutralize soil pH, remove excess weeds, and improve soil drainage.

3) Limit turf areas – use turf only where it serves a purpose and replace nonessential turf with ground covers.

4) Irrigate Efficiently – Water only as much as necessary, use efficient watering systems such as drip or soaker hoses to minimize water loss (turf is best irrigated with sprinklers), consider the differences in microclimates when irrigating, operate your irrigation system during the cooler hours of the early morning, deep, infrequent watering encourages deeper root growth, check your irrigation systems regularly for leaks, broken heads, etc.

5) Mulch, Mulch, Mulch – a 3 inch or more layer of coarse mulch acts as an insulation for your soil and significantly reduces evaporation of soil moisture, remember to keep mulch several inches away from trunks of trees or shrubs, organic mulches break down over time resulting in improved soil structure, check soil under mulch periodically to be sure that irrigation water is reaching the soil as needed.

6) Appropriate Maintenance – prune lightly during the winter dormant season or very early spring as not to cause excessive plant growth and increased demand for water, same goes for fertilizer – only use when plants need them, and mow lawns somewhat higher during very warm weather to reduce the growth rate, shade the roots of the grass, and the demand for water.

The second resource I found helpful was the spring 2015 publication called Consumer Connection put out by the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. The article entitled ‘Landscaping for a Drier Future' discusses how one can replace or downsize a thirsty lawn with landscaping that will need less water and less maintenance as a California's drought concerns persist. It speaks to many of the same elements as the publication noted above. Some interesting facts they provide to help you make the transition: “The Department of Water Resources (DWR) office of Water Use Efficiency estimates a typical 1,600 square foot garden, with a large lawn, concrete patio, and mixture of plants needing high amounts of water, requires about 8,400 gallons of water to irrigate the for month of July in the Central Valley. A garden of the same size with a smaller lawn, water-efficient plants and shrubs (including many native), and permeable patio, would require more than 2,500 gallons of water less than the previous example, according to DWR. Please find their list of a sample of water-wise plants that can thrive in California's mostly moderate climate.