Water-Conscious Gardeners Can Do as Fullerton Arboretum Does

The staff of the Fullerton Arboretum offers these suggestions to ensure that you’re using water efficiently in your garden:

Water infrequently, but deeply and thoroughly.

Mulch the soil surface to cut down on water loss due to evaporation.

Move container plants to sheltered areas to keep them from drying quickly in hot or windy areas.

Plant drought-tolerant plants.

Consider installing a drip irrigation system.

Water early in the morning to reduce water loss from evaporation.

Spike or aerate lawns to ensure maximum water penetration and replace high-water-demand lawns with low-water-demand grasses.

Don’t be a gutter flooder. Turn off lawn sprinklers before water is wasted as runoff into gutters and streets.

Properly condition your soil.

Gradually let lawns reach a height of 1 1/2 inches for Bermuda grass and 3 to 4 inches for other grasses.

Discourage water competition from weeds by eliminating them early.

Group plants of similar water requirements.

For more information on water-efficient gardening, contact these local sources:

Fullerton Arboretum--On display are several gardens that show the ease and beauty of drought-tolerant landscaping. Brochures are available on climate-appropriate plants and how to design drip irrigation. For information, call (714) 773-3579 or (714) 773-2970.

Landscapes Southern California Style--Fifty education stations illustrate the value of landscaping Southern California-style, and brochures are available on water-efficient landscaping. For information, call (714) 780-4177.

The Irvine Ranch Water District--Free water-conservation kits are available, as are brochures on water-conservative gardening and a video on creating a drought-tolerant landscape. For information, call (714) 476-7504.