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Water, water…anywhere???

  • Jane Scurich

  • Our daylight hours are slowly declining and a faint hint of fall brings hope for rain – lots of rain! But meanwhile, our limited water resources continue to dwindle.

    What to do? Invite a Master Gardener to your garden! In partnership with Marin Water, UC Marin Master Gardeners (MMG) offer complimentary consultations in your home garden. Our “Garden Walkers” have extensive training in many topics including what grows well in our local microclimates, garden design, soil composition, and pest problems. Water conservation experts at Marin Water provide them with additional training in efficient water delivery systems, leak detection, soil health, and more.  

    MMG Garden Walkers Roger Pancoska and Nancy Gibbs are ready and prepared to visit your home and answer your garden questions. Photo: Nancy Gibbs
    MMG Garden Walkers Roger Pancoska and Nancy Gibbs are ready and prepared to visit your home and answer your garden questions. Photo: Nancy Gibbs
    I recently had an opportunity to visit with MMG Nancy Gibbs who has been providing Garden Walks for six years now. She meets with 30 or more homeowners each year to help incorporate “Earth-Friendly Gardening” techniques including careful plant selection and irrigation practices.

    Currently she is finding a greatly increased interest in Fire-smart garden practices and lots of questions about lawn replacement. Fortunately, your Garden Walk will also include valuable handouts to help you address these specific issues. Your walker will also have some handy tools to demonstrate how to measure water pressure, open a meter box to look for leaks, and some sample drip emitters, among other things.

    Nancy finds that some homeowners feel overwhelmed with the concept of redoing their entire landscape to address the water shortage and prepare for fire. She encourages clients to start small. Take on a little bit at a time. Identify an area that needs attention and work to resolve the problems there before tackling another area. Reward yourself when you complete a project using improved water conserving irrigation methods, or plant material within the first five feet of the house or overhanging limbs that reach your roof and other structures on your property.

    Marin Master Gardener Garden Walker Pam Polite Fisco works with homeowners to measure moisture in their garden. Photo: Dennis Fisco
    Marin Master Gardener Garden Walker Pam Polite Fisco works with homeowners to measure moisture in their garden. Photo: Dennis Fisco
    Suggestions for small area renovation include focusing on hydrozoning: a practice of grouping plants with similar water needs in an effort to conserve water. Survey your current garden and relocate plants that have similar water, soil, and sun needs. Cluster them together with drip irrigation programmed for their specific needs. Finish off the area with attractive mulch, making sure to keep the mulch 2 – 3 inches from the stem. Avoid what is commonly known as “gorilla hair” which is highly combustible. Enjoy this water saving arrangement before you move on to your next project.

    To help you determine the environmental needs of your plants, the UC Marin Master Gardener website offers extensive lists of plants defined by their cultural needs. A great place to start is “How to Choose Plants” marinmg.ucanr.edu/PLANTS/HOW_TO_CHOOSE/#lists. Easy to search and learn with stunning photographs, these lists will help you define water, sun, and soil needs and group your plants accordingly. Right plant, right place, is a valuable MMG mantra.

    For help with selecting appropriate mulch, review the information available at marinmg.ucanr.edu/BASICS/MULCH/.

    MMG volunteer Roger Pancoska demonstrates how to be a leak detector by reading your water meter. Photo: Nancy Gibbs
    MMG volunteer Roger Pancoska demonstrates how to be a leak detector by reading your water meter. Photo: Nancy Gibbs
    Nancy also encourages clients to pay particular attention to large established trees. Years of drought has left many of them in need of a deep watering which is best accomplished using a soaker hose. Focus on protecting your most valuable and difficult to replace plants and less on smaller annuals that are easy to replace.

    Nancy and her fellow Garden Walkers are looking forward to visiting your home and helping you with your water questions as well as providing researched-based information about plants, pests, soil, and other horticultural concerns. Marin Water and North Marin Water customers are all eligible for this complimentary service. In addition to doing your part to help save our precious water resources, you may also qualify for a rebate from Marin Water. Check out their programs including “Cash for Grass” and “Graywater: Laundry to Landscape.”

    To make an appointment for an hour-long Garden Walk consultation: