Water-Wise Gardening in Southern California

Over the past 100 years, Southern California has been transformed from an arid, desert environment into a lush oasis. This transformation has been enabled by an abundant supply of water, fed by snowmelt from the Sierras and water brought in from the Owens Valley and the Colorado River. That supply is now severely threatened by two years of extreme drought conditions. This situation has led the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to begin voluntary conservation programs, with mandatory regulations likely to follow soon.

According to the L.A. County Department of Public Works, the average family in Southern California uses about 500 gallons of water per day, with at least 30% of that being used to water lawns and gardens. One of the most significant ways that families and individuals can conserve water is by investing in drought resistant landscaping, and by following the practices of water-wise gardening.

Xeriscaping is a term which has been coined to describe a method of gardening that includes choosing plants which are most appropriate for your site and that can be maintained with little supplemental watering. The principles of water-wise gardening and xeriscaping listed here can help you reduce your water consumption without sacrificing the pleasures of a beautiful landscape.

1) Improve your Soil

Add organic material in the form of compost or fertilizer to soil before planting. This will improve water penetration and retention and increase fertility. A 3-inch layer of mulch applied to topsoil after planting can drastically reduce water needs by helping retain moisture and discouraging the growth of weeds, which compete with garden plants for water.

2) Plan before Planting