Successful sustainable landscaping is a click away for Fallbrook, Rainbow customers

SAN DIEGO – No matter whether their landscaping is just a few square feet alongside a front porch or estate acreage, thousands of San Diego County residents have learned to embrace sustainability as a central principle for creating and renovating their landscapes. The San Diego County Water Authority offers financial incentives and educational resources to customers in Fallbrook and Rainbow to improve their landscaping.

In fact, since 2010, the Water Authority has secured more than $8 million in grants to deliver services at no cost to San Diego County residents, including those in the Fallbrook and Rainbow service areas, providing WaterSmart landscape makeover classes and incentivizing the purchase and installation of drought-tolerant plants that help beautify and sustain communities.

"After living for a while in Fallbrook, I realized the green grassy landscape would have to be replaced to conserve water," Fallbrook resident Adriana Monteiro said. "But after getting an irrigation checkup and participating in the landscape makeover classes, I would never have imagined the joy I get looking out over our front garden or when we drive up to the house. The energy and water savings, along with the Water Authority's classes and resources, are the gifts that keep on giving."

Landscape irrigation is among the highest uses of water for most homeowners and improvements can help them save money on their water bill in the long term.

Treating every garden, no matter its size, as its own mini-watershed allows it to capture and retain water to nurture a diverse habitat of plants and helpful insects.

Watersmart living saves money, but it also creates vibrant yards, reduces energy use, protects natural resources and reduces landscape maintenance. It may improve property values. It also creates a shared sense of purpose about how water supplies are used.

What elements should be considered when taking a watershed approach to one's landscape?

Healthy, living soils rich in organic content feed a complex soil food web. The soil holds water like a sponge and has nutrients for optimal plant health.

Many choices of beautiful groundcovers, shrubs and trees are compatible with San Diego's mild Mediterranean climate. These plants use less water and display diverse colors, textures and shaped with endless design options.

Sustainable landscapes make the most of rainfall. Slowing the flow of water off rooftops and hard surfaces allow it to be captured and sink into the soil or be stored for later use.

Your irrigation can maximize water-use efficiency through smart controllers to adjust water automatically to changing weather conditions, and high-performance distribution components to regulate pressure and tailor water delivery to the exact needs of your landscape plants.

The four principles of successful sustainable landscaping are on display at the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas. The garden is open to the public and includes informational signage introducing visitors to key sustainable landscaping principles and specific plant types that grow successfully in the region's climate. Many are Southern California natives. Be sure to visit the garden's website at http://www.sdbgarden.org for the latest on hours of operation and safety measures before you plan your trip to the garden.

For additional resources, such as the Sustainable Landscapes Program guidebook, visit http://www.SustainableLandscapesSD.org. Information and resources for landscaping upgrades, including WaterSmart landscape makeover classes, can be found by visiting http://www.WaterSmartSD.org.

Submitted by San Diego County Water Authority.