How to Keep Your Yard Healthy and Attractive With Less Water
Landscape pros share 8 ways to conserve water and still have beautiful outdoor areas
Many homeowners are living in places experiencing drought conditions. The West and Southwest have been hit particularly hard. About 95% of California is in severe or extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. And as the summer months approach, some water-stressed communities have assigned watering days. In some Los Angeles-area counties, the Metropolitan Water District has mandated watering only one day a week; it’s considering eliminating outdoor watering entirely later this year and may limit indoor water use as well.
If you’re a home gardener looking to reduce outdoor water use while keeping your plantings healthy and attractive, here are eight water-saving measures landscape pros recommend.
If you’re a home gardener looking to reduce outdoor water use while keeping your plantings healthy and attractive, here are eight water-saving measures landscape pros recommend.
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Photo by Julie Sheer
With the exception of lawns, overhead spray sprinklers used for plants are less efficient and lose more water to evaporation than drip irrigation, which slowly delivers water to plants’ roots. Johnson says about 50% of water from overhead sprinklers evaporates before even hitting the ground. (Whatever system you use, this is the time to make sure it’s working efficiently and that there are no leaks or broken sprinkler heads.)
It’s important that your irrigation system targets plants based on their water needs. If not, there are techniques to help save important plants during drought. “Deep water spikes are a great investment if you do not have a hydro-zone in your drip irrigation that supports trees. They prevent evaporation and get the water where it is needed,” says Cassy Aoyagi, president of FormLA Landscaping in Los Angeles.
Hand watering, which is allowed during L.A.’s current restrictions, targets specific plants directly and helps young plants establish strong roots. It’s also a valuable watering method for keeping trees alive.
You can also bury earthenware pots called ollas alongside plants, Johnson says. They have removable lids; you fill them with water and as the soil dries around them, water leaches from the olla into the soil.
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With the exception of lawns, overhead spray sprinklers used for plants are less efficient and lose more water to evaporation than drip irrigation, which slowly delivers water to plants’ roots. Johnson says about 50% of water from overhead sprinklers evaporates before even hitting the ground. (Whatever system you use, this is the time to make sure it’s working efficiently and that there are no leaks or broken sprinkler heads.)
It’s important that your irrigation system targets plants based on their water needs. If not, there are techniques to help save important plants during drought. “Deep water spikes are a great investment if you do not have a hydro-zone in your drip irrigation that supports trees. They prevent evaporation and get the water where it is needed,” says Cassy Aoyagi, president of FormLA Landscaping in Los Angeles.
Hand watering, which is allowed during L.A.’s current restrictions, targets specific plants directly and helps young plants establish strong roots. It’s also a valuable watering method for keeping trees alive.
You can also bury earthenware pots called ollas alongside plants, Johnson says. They have removable lids; you fill them with water and as the soil dries around them, water leaches from the olla into the soil.
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2. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch
Applying a layer of mulch to the soil’s surface helps retain water and deter moisture-stealing weeds, which is especially important during times when water is scarce. Plants and trees thrive when a layer of mulch is applied to the soil’s surface, Aoyagi says.
“Mulch is such a hard worker!” she says. “An organic mulch will hold the hydration and cooler temperatures in the soil, which supports plant roots. As it decays, it enriches the soil, negating any need for chemical fertilizer.” Aoyagi also recommends leaving leaf litter and mulching grasses to supplement any mulch you’ve spread.
Applying a layer of mulch to the soil’s surface helps retain water and deter moisture-stealing weeds, which is especially important during times when water is scarce. Plants and trees thrive when a layer of mulch is applied to the soil’s surface, Aoyagi says.
“Mulch is such a hard worker!” she says. “An organic mulch will hold the hydration and cooler temperatures in the soil, which supports plant roots. As it decays, it enriches the soil, negating any need for chemical fertilizer.” Aoyagi also recommends leaving leaf litter and mulching grasses to supplement any mulch you’ve spread.
The University of California’s Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources recommends applying a 3-to-4-inch layer of mulch in edible plant gardens. The California Native Plant Society advises 2 to 3 inches of mulch on native plants and trees, being careful not to pile mulch against stems or trunks to avoid rot. Aoyagi advises against using mulches made of dyed wood and those made of petroleum products such as tires, which can burn and add toxins to the soil.
3. Prioritize Your Plants
Aoyagi suggests concentrating on trees first when it comes to deciding which plants to focus on when watering is restricted. “Trees have an outsized impact on home values, the costs of cooling our homes, the joy we take in our interior and exterior spaces and the wildlife supported by our gardens,” she says. Next, she recommends providing water to established shrubs and perennials. “If you have to forget something, forget the lawn,” she says.
Aoyagi suggests concentrating on trees first when it comes to deciding which plants to focus on when watering is restricted. “Trees have an outsized impact on home values, the costs of cooling our homes, the joy we take in our interior and exterior spaces and the wildlife supported by our gardens,” she says. Next, she recommends providing water to established shrubs and perennials. “If you have to forget something, forget the lawn,” she says.
Johnson says the smaller the plant, the more frequently it needs to be watered because its roots aren’t deep, so focus on those if you want to save them. “Ground covers will need more water than shrubs and trees; their roots go down a foot and will show drought stress first,” she says.
Amy Whitworth of Plan-It-Earth Design in Portland, Oregon, recommends watering “treasured” plants and those in pots, which tend to dry out faster when water is restricted. So far, it’s status quo for watering in her region. “We currently don’t have any restrictions here in Portland and are looking pretty good for the time being, but if we get more 100-degree days, all bets are off,” Whitworth says.
Amy Whitworth of Plan-It-Earth Design in Portland, Oregon, recommends watering “treasured” plants and those in pots, which tend to dry out faster when water is restricted. So far, it’s status quo for watering in her region. “We currently don’t have any restrictions here in Portland and are looking pretty good for the time being, but if we get more 100-degree days, all bets are off,” Whitworth says.
4. Rethink Your Plant Palette
It’s tempting to snatch up all those colorful annuals at the local nursery, but this is the time to think about using plants, grasses and shrubs that are native to your area. Natives are adapted to the local climate, soil and pollinators and tend to need less water.
California native gardens, once established, use on average 80% less water than conventional gardens, according to the Theodore Payne Foundation, a nonprofit in Southern California that provides education, promotes wildflowers and native plants and has a nursery of California natives.
Learn more about growing native plants
It’s tempting to snatch up all those colorful annuals at the local nursery, but this is the time to think about using plants, grasses and shrubs that are native to your area. Natives are adapted to the local climate, soil and pollinators and tend to need less water.
California native gardens, once established, use on average 80% less water than conventional gardens, according to the Theodore Payne Foundation, a nonprofit in Southern California that provides education, promotes wildflowers and native plants and has a nursery of California natives.
Learn more about growing native plants
The succulent shown in this pot is midstripe rainbow elephant bush (Portulacaria afra ‘Medio-picta’, USDA zones 9 to 11; find your zone), also known as variegated elephant’s food.
“There are so many beautiful low-water plants,” Johnson says. “We need to look at our plant palette, what we’ve planted in the past and look at alternatives.
“Flowering annuals are fine when we’re not in a drought,” she says. “Consider adding succulents, which make wonderful container plants. If you’re looking for the splash of annuals, get a container or pot in a beautiful shade of blue or other bright color and that’s your color element.”
Herbs and woody edible plants like berries require less water than tomatoes or lettuce, says Emma Smith, a landscape designer with Environmental Designs in Colorado, where there are currently no water restrictions. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we do [have restrictions] by the end of summer,” she says. She says that some herbs that do well in drought include thyme, sage and lavender, and generally any plants that have small hairs or more of a blue-gray coating on the leaves are more drought-tolerant than plants that have deep green leaves.
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“There are so many beautiful low-water plants,” Johnson says. “We need to look at our plant palette, what we’ve planted in the past and look at alternatives.
“Flowering annuals are fine when we’re not in a drought,” she says. “Consider adding succulents, which make wonderful container plants. If you’re looking for the splash of annuals, get a container or pot in a beautiful shade of blue or other bright color and that’s your color element.”
Herbs and woody edible plants like berries require less water than tomatoes or lettuce, says Emma Smith, a landscape designer with Environmental Designs in Colorado, where there are currently no water restrictions. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we do [have restrictions] by the end of summer,” she says. She says that some herbs that do well in drought include thyme, sage and lavender, and generally any plants that have small hairs or more of a blue-gray coating on the leaves are more drought-tolerant than plants that have deep green leaves.
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Shown here are California natives white sage (Salvia apiana, Zone 9) and red buckwheat (Eriogonum grande var. rubescens, zones 8 to 10).
Summer may not be the optimal time to plant natives in the Southwest, as they benefit most when planted ahead of the rainy season, but with pinpointed watering during drought, they can still thrive. “The best time to plant California native foliage is in the fall, once temperatures have cooled and rain is more likely,” Aoyagi says. “In the meantime, prepare your canvas: Remove the lawn, have a design plan, mulch and install smart irrigation.”
In the Pacific Northwest, Whitworth says the loss of water-sensitive plants like annuals is the perfect time for the switch to native flora. “When plants die after water restrictions are in place, it’s an opportunity to introduce more water-appropriate plants for your area — especially native plants,” she says.
Summer may not be the optimal time to plant natives in the Southwest, as they benefit most when planted ahead of the rainy season, but with pinpointed watering during drought, they can still thrive. “The best time to plant California native foliage is in the fall, once temperatures have cooled and rain is more likely,” Aoyagi says. “In the meantime, prepare your canvas: Remove the lawn, have a design plan, mulch and install smart irrigation.”
In the Pacific Northwest, Whitworth says the loss of water-sensitive plants like annuals is the perfect time for the switch to native flora. “When plants die after water restrictions are in place, it’s an opportunity to introduce more water-appropriate plants for your area — especially native plants,” she says.
Shown here is Cleveland sage (Salvia Clevelandii, zones 8 to 11), a fragrant California native.
Here are resources for learning about native plants throughout the West:
Here are resources for learning about native plants throughout the West:
- In California, the California Native Plant Society has a directory that shows native plants that will grow in your region.
- The University of California has a drought and water-wise gardening page focusing on Northern California.
- The Washington Native Plant Society has a similar directory.
- The University of Wyoming Extension has a directory of native plants for the Intermountain West.
- In Oregon, the Native Plant Society of Oregon has resources and information about landscaping with native plants; the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District has a database of native plants.
- The Colorado Native Plant Society has lots of information on gardening with natives.
- The Arizona Municipal Water Users Association has a good resource for desert gardening.
5. Reconsider Your Lawn
If you have a lawn, it’s likely your landscaping’s biggest water guzzler and will show signs of stress with a severe decrease in watering, such as the one-day-a-week mandate in parts of Southern California. But it doesn’t have to mean its demise. “Most people water too much anyway, and some may find their lawn does better with less,” Aoyagi says. “That said, these restrictions are extreme, and we may also have extreme heat. Cope by raising mower heights, mow less frequently, mulching cut grass back into the lawn and aerate.”
Smith, in Colorado, says lawns should be watered deeply but less often to build drought tolerance. She recommends the cycle and soak method, watering early in the morning and then again an hour or so later to give water time to soak into the soil. “Deep watering encourages deep roots, which gives the grass access to groundwater in times of drought,” she says. “Slowly increasing the days between watering will protect the grass from stress when water restrictions are in effect.”
If you have a lawn, it’s likely your landscaping’s biggest water guzzler and will show signs of stress with a severe decrease in watering, such as the one-day-a-week mandate in parts of Southern California. But it doesn’t have to mean its demise. “Most people water too much anyway, and some may find their lawn does better with less,” Aoyagi says. “That said, these restrictions are extreme, and we may also have extreme heat. Cope by raising mower heights, mow less frequently, mulching cut grass back into the lawn and aerate.”
Smith, in Colorado, says lawns should be watered deeply but less often to build drought tolerance. She recommends the cycle and soak method, watering early in the morning and then again an hour or so later to give water time to soak into the soil. “Deep watering encourages deep roots, which gives the grass access to groundwater in times of drought,” she says. “Slowly increasing the days between watering will protect the grass from stress when water restrictions are in effect.”
The current long-running drought may be the deciding factor for some homeowners to finally say goodbye to their turf. Johnson works with clients in Arizona, where replacing lawns with drought-tolerant plantings was the norm even before the current drought.
“You should think about what function your lawn serves,” Johnson says. “If you have one, it should be a functional space. If it’s just on display in a front yard, those are things we have to look at. There are so many lush, green, low-water ground covers we can plant in their place. We need to separate people from their love affair with lawns.”
“You should think about what function your lawn serves,” Johnson says. “If you have one, it should be a functional space. If it’s just on display in a front yard, those are things we have to look at. There are so many lush, green, low-water ground covers we can plant in their place. We need to separate people from their love affair with lawns.”
Instead of a big square of lawn, Johnson says, homeowners can achieve a lush green space with a mass of low-water ground cover such as Outback Sunrise emu (Eremophila glabra ‘Mingenew Gold’, Zone 8), an Australian native shown here that’s easy to care for and sprouts yellow flowers in the spring.
Johnson recommends another lawn alternative called Kurapia, a quick-growing, low-water perennial ground cover developed in Japan. “Once established, it needs a lot less water and you don’t even have to mow it. It’s beautiful and lush if you like that idea of a lawn,” she says.
So Long, Lawn: 6 Walkable Ground Covers to Consider
Johnson recommends another lawn alternative called Kurapia, a quick-growing, low-water perennial ground cover developed in Japan. “Once established, it needs a lot less water and you don’t even have to mow it. It’s beautiful and lush if you like that idea of a lawn,” she says.
So Long, Lawn: 6 Walkable Ground Covers to Consider
“In most areas, the best time of year for removing lawn is as soon as possible, as long as you do not leave the area barren for weeds to take over,” Los Angeles’ Aoyagi says.
“We recommend placing 3 inches of organic wood-based mulch over the area the instant the lawn is removed to prevent weed growth, and begin preparing the soil for something smarter,” she says. “Unless it is dry or presents extensive flat, hardened areas where embers can bounce or roll toward the home, it may be wise to keep the lawn in place until you are ready to fully replace it in fire-prone areas.”
“We recommend placing 3 inches of organic wood-based mulch over the area the instant the lawn is removed to prevent weed growth, and begin preparing the soil for something smarter,” she says. “Unless it is dry or presents extensive flat, hardened areas where embers can bounce or roll toward the home, it may be wise to keep the lawn in place until you are ready to fully replace it in fire-prone areas.”
6. Stop Fertilizing, Keep Weeding and Stop Pruning
Since fertilizing plants encourages new growth, a plant may not be getting enough water during a drought to support that growth; therefore, it’s probably best to forgo the fertilizer. “I’d hold off on fertilizing lawns and other plants, with the exception of those in containers. I wouldn’t fertilize plants unless they show signs of nutrient deficiency,” Johnson says.
Since fertilizing plants encourages new growth, a plant may not be getting enough water during a drought to support that growth; therefore, it’s probably best to forgo the fertilizer. “I’d hold off on fertilizing lawns and other plants, with the exception of those in containers. I wouldn’t fertilize plants unless they show signs of nutrient deficiency,” Johnson says.
Keeping weeds under control is a good idea during low-water restrictions, as weeds will steal what little water is available.
If you or your gardener do a lot of pruning of shrubs and woody plants, this is the time to hold off. “Pruning makes plants use more water and they’ll grow leaves to make energy for themselves,” Johnson says, adding that most plants don’t need much pruning. She says that if a shrub needs a lot of pruning for maintenance, it might be time to rethink it and put in something smaller. Or, if there’s a grouping of five plants, cut back to maybe two.
If you or your gardener do a lot of pruning of shrubs and woody plants, this is the time to hold off. “Pruning makes plants use more water and they’ll grow leaves to make energy for themselves,” Johnson says, adding that most plants don’t need much pruning. She says that if a shrub needs a lot of pruning for maintenance, it might be time to rethink it and put in something smaller. Or, if there’s a grouping of five plants, cut back to maybe two.
7. Utilize Indoor Water
There are simple ways to get indoor water to your thirsty plants — tossing them a bucket of excess water from the shower or a pot of cooking water, for example. “If you’re restricted to once-a-week watering and have ground cover that looks stressed, have a bucket in the shower and take the bucket out and water your smaller plants,” Johnson says. This is especially useful in edible gardens that need regular irrigation and those grown in pots that dry out faster than those grown in the ground, she says.
If you’re looking to tackle a bigger project, consider adding greywater irrigation, where household wastewater (except from toilets) is piped directly to your garden.
There are simple ways to get indoor water to your thirsty plants — tossing them a bucket of excess water from the shower or a pot of cooking water, for example. “If you’re restricted to once-a-week watering and have ground cover that looks stressed, have a bucket in the shower and take the bucket out and water your smaller plants,” Johnson says. This is especially useful in edible gardens that need regular irrigation and those grown in pots that dry out faster than those grown in the ground, she says.
If you’re looking to tackle a bigger project, consider adding greywater irrigation, where household wastewater (except from toilets) is piped directly to your garden.
8. Consider Hardscaping to Harness Water
When water is in short supply, you want to make sure that what there is gets to where you want it to go. Hardscaping, such as permeable gravel paths, pavers and bioswales, can channel water to landscaping.
When water is in short supply, you want to make sure that what there is gets to where you want it to go. Hardscaping, such as permeable gravel paths, pavers and bioswales, can channel water to landscaping.
This garden in the San Francisco Bay Area by Golden State Gardens uses California native plants to create a low-water-use pollinator garden and a bioswale to divert rainwater away from the house and toward the plants.
The pros at FormLA carefully installed the architectural rock bands in this driveway, which were meant to be attractive as well as to direct water into planted spaces and avoid runoff. “Dry rivers” of rock can offer the same benefit, Aoyagi says.
In Colorado, Smith recommends using your home’s features, as well as sustainable natural elements, to take advantage of water from rain and irrigation. “Redirecting downspouts into planting beds is a good way to collect any additional water running off the house that would otherwise go into the street,” she says.
Additionally, “using permaculture practices, where you plant more drought-tolerant plants at the top of the slope and more water-loving plants at the bottom of a slope, is a good way to use the natural grade change to passively water plants. ‘Right plant, right place’ is a good motto when selecting plant placement,” Smith says.
In the photo here from Plan-It-Earth Design in Portland, small bioswales manage stormwater from the property located higher on the hill, as well as from the slope of the homeowner’s backyard. Native plants reduce erosion and slow the movement of water, also providing wildlife habitat.
In the photo here from Plan-It-Earth Design in Portland, small bioswales manage stormwater from the property located higher on the hill, as well as from the slope of the homeowner’s backyard. Native plants reduce erosion and slow the movement of water, also providing wildlife habitat.
Thoughtful hardscaping is only one tool and not a permanent solution when it comes to saving water, especially if the water it’s channeling is from irrigation.
“We need to move from thinking about saving applied water to refueling our groundwater tables if we want to thrive in drought long-term,” Aoyagi says. “This means removing as much hardscape as we can and making what must exist permeable. This isn’t just do-goodery. It can seriously improve home value and a garden’s beauty,” she says.
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“We need to move from thinking about saving applied water to refueling our groundwater tables if we want to thrive in drought long-term,” Aoyagi says. “This means removing as much hardscape as we can and making what must exist permeable. This isn’t just do-goodery. It can seriously improve home value and a garden’s beauty,” she says.
More on Houzz
12 Sustainable Gardening Ideas From Landscape Design Pros
Read more landscape design guides
Work with a drought-tolerant landscape pro near you
Shop for gardening tools
Experts say the key to efficient watering is to douse plants less frequently but more deeply into the ground, which helps water reach roots more effectively. “Watering deeply encourages deep root growth, and the soil stays moist and cooler longer,” says Noelle Johnson, a horticulturist and landscape consultant in Arizona. “Plants can better withstand the stresses of low water, humidity and wind. You’re going to have a more resilient plant.”