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Colorful rain barrels attached to downspouts harvest roof water for use in the garden. Credit: Wikimedia Commons Harvested rainwater is rainwater that is captured from the roofs of buildings on a residential property.
One type of graywater system recycles water from your washer for landscape use. Credit: Pasadena Water and Power Graywater is untreated wastewater from bathroom tubs, sinks, showers, and washing machines.
This striking drought tolerant design incorporates rocks, monkeyflower, toyons, and lavender. Credit: UC Regents Water is an essential resource for all aspects of life. Californias years of rain and snow shortage are reminders to conserve our limited water supply. Recognize the signs of drought.
Gravel paths allow rain to slow, spread, and sink. Photo: Niklas Fotografics, Unsplash Any surface that allows water to seep through it or around it is permeable. Some obvious examples are bare soil, mulched beds, and gravel.
Lake Lagunitas. Photo: Wikimedia Commons A watershed is all the land that drains to a particular stream, river, or bay. All land, from the wildest preserve to the most densely developed urban neighborhood, is part of a watershed.
If you must have a lawn, raise mower blade to 3 inches. Photo credit: Ulrike Mai from Pixabay If your power and water bills rise dramatically every summer, your garden might not be as green as it looks. Although a beautiful garden can bring joy, it can also waste energy.
Pallets are used to construct a native bee 'hotel'. Photo: Mika Baumeister, Unsplash Hardscape is an aspect of your garden that gives you the license to use your creativity and support sustainability at the same time. Search for nontoxic, sustainable products to build the backbone of your garden.
Sanni Sahil, Unsplash Use our monthly care checklists to make sure you keep on top of your plant and landscape care! Timed and designed with our wonderful Mediterranean climate in mind, stay organized, plan ahead, and learn the best times (and how!) to do all your gardening chores and tasks.
> 10 Earth-friendly moves > Care for specialized plants > Fall is a good time for garden clean-up Whether your garden is postage stamp or baseball field size, whether filled with succulents, roses, lawn or vegetables, routine maintenance is key to keeping plants healthy and productive.
A male Annas hummingbird can't resist Saliva clevelandii Pozo Blue, an easy CA native. This plant looks best with fall pruning. Photo: Bob Mauceli Native plants are easy to grow so long as you don't overdo it with soil amendments or other unnecessary additions.
