Water Wise Gardening Jennifer Dornbush Sonoma County Master Gardener
Why be Water Wise? Drought Sonoma County is in the third year of less than average rainfall. Mediterranean Climate Characterized by short, mild, rainy winters and long warm to hot, dry summers.
Mediterranean Climate Areas Map of the world with Mediterranean climate areas shown in red; all Mediterranean climate areas lie between about 30 o and 45 o of latitude and they are all near the coast on the western edge of continents.
How Plants Adapt to the Climate Leaves Thick, leathery leaves resist dehydration; shiny, waxy coating reflects heat and light; grayish or whitish leaves with hairy surfaces reflect sunlight; leaves turned sideways. Drought-deciduous plants drop their leaves during drought conditions. Roots many Mediterranean plants have both deep tap roots and wide spreading surface roots.
Leaf Adaptations Salvia silvery, hairy leaf Agave thick, leathery leaf California Lilac small, waxy leaf
Drought-deciduous plant The California Buckeye loses its leaves during drought conditions In late summer
Ways to Save Water in the Garden Water Smartly - mostly with drip irrigation. Mulch keep gardens properly mulched. Remove Lawn - as much as possible. Plant Selection - Water-wise plants, such as natives and Mediterranean plants
Water Smartly Use drip irrigation (instead of sprinklers) Water during the early morning Use several shorter watering cycles per zone Design watering zones based on plants water requirements Monitor and maintain your irrigation system regularly.
Drip Irrigation When done correctly, drip irrigation exceeds 90% efficiency, whereas sprinkler systems and hand watering are only 50 to 70% efficient.
When & How to Water Water in the early morning: Minimizes evaporation through plant leaves Watering at night - especially sprinklers - encourages fungal infections. Use shorter watering times, with a break in between those times: Prevents run-off and pooling Allows water to be absorbed in the soil more evenly Water plants only at mid-day if they are water stressed, since evaporation increases with warmer temperatures.
Group Plants by Water Needs Zone 1 - Containers and raised beds need frequent watering, daily in hottest weather.
Group Plants by Water Needs Zone 2 - Flower beds need less water. A deep watering twice a week should be plenty.
Group Plants by Water Needs Zone 3 Foundation planting such as shrubs and ornamental trees, once established, can be watered once a week.
Group Plants by Water Needs Zone 4 - Trees need less frequent, but longer watering. After they are established, once a month is enough. It usually takes 3 years for a tree or shrub to become established.
Monitor Your Irrigation System Check each watering zone monthly. Don t wait for your plants to start dying or become water stressed. Lines break, drip emitters get plugged and goof-proof plugs pop out often. Monitor the health of your plants for signs of too little or too much water. After any landscaping or digging in your yard, check your system for damaged lines.
Mulch, Mulch, Mulch Reduces water loss Controls weeds Moderates soil temperature Enhances water absorption and prevents erosion Improves soil quality
Plant Based Mulches Straw - commonly used in the vegetable garden. Alfalfa Hay - all the advantages of straw plus the added boost of being rich in nitrogen. Barks & Hulls - are long lasting, attractive and allow water to pass. They protect soil, but they do not enrich it as much as other mulches. Yard Waste - grass clippings, garden clippings and dried leaves. Municipal garden waste - Sonoma Compost at the Sonoma County Landfill.
Application of Mulch First to prevent weeds, cover the area with layers of newspaper of cardboard. Place drip irrigation over the newspaper or cardboard for ease of maintenance. Course textured mulch up to 4 inches deep. Fine textured mulch up to 2 inches deep. Leave several of inches of bare earth around the tree trunks and woody stems.
Limit Your Lawn Area Use the lawn as an extension of your entertainment area, for sports, or children's play areas. Limit size and avoid oddshaped lawns, as they're difficult to water efficiently. Replace lawn with a patio, drought-tolerant ground cover or native plants. Thyme between stones Blue fescue grass
Water Wise Lawns Don t use fertilizer that is high in Nitrogen, equal numbers are best, i.e. 10-10-10. Fertilize the lawn in the fall when it is cool and rainy. Cut the grass between 2 & 3 inches long and leave the clippings. Adjust your sprinkler heads, don t water the sidewalk or street. Water less often; this encourages better root systems.
Select Drought-tolerant Plants
Know What Your Plants Need You may love hydrangeas and peonies but they need lots of water to be happy.
California Natives California natives are well suited for Sonoma County because they: Are water thrifty and drought tolerant Are suited to the climate and soil types of the area Look right with the natural landscape Wild lilac (Ceanothus ) Flannel Bush (Fremontodendron) Sea Pink or Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima)
Mediterranean Climate Plants Mediterranean gardening is a three-way win in Sonoma County: First - they look right in the landscape. Second - plants for a Mediterranean garden are mostly very water thrifty. Third - many of these plants are relatively deerproof. Lavender Rosemary Rockrose (Cistus) Red-hot Poker (Kniphofia)
Try Succulents
Resources Sonoma County Master Gardeners - http://groups.ucanr.org/sonomamg/ Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates of the San Francisco Bay Region, by East Bay MUD Sunset Western Garden Book California Native Plants for the Garden, by Carol Bornstein, David Fross, & Bart O Brien