Landscape

With our hot-dry summers, more people in the North County and across the Central Coast are reducing high-water-use lawn areas in favor of California natives and plants from the world’s other “Mediterranean” climate regions. Using flowering, drought-tolerant shrubs, perennials, annuals and trees, you can create a vibrant landscape that provides color and interest year-round, with a fraction of the annual maintenance and water use of turf.

For more information on design and establishing drought-tolerant landscapes, please visit: SLO County Water Wise Landscaping

Use the following checklist to evaluate whether you’re doing everything you can to improve the efficiency of your landscape irrigation water:

• Do you maintain your irrigation system to ensure uniform water distribution? Check the system regularly and fix leaks, broken and clogged heads, overspray problems, and sunken or tilted heads.
• Do you water no more than 3 days per week in summer and 2 days per week in spring and fall, and reset your timer at least 4 times per year with the seasons?
• Do you water in the early morning before 9 am when winds and temperatures are lowest?
• Do you avoid runoff on sloping areas by using multiple, shorter run times?
• Do you maintain turf height at 3-4”? Longer turf uses significantly less water.
• Do you apply an appropriate fertilizer regularly? If the soil lacks nutrients, more water won’t help.
• Do you check drip systems regularly for leaks, clogged and missing drip emitters?

Need Help?

These agencies and organizations are available to provide you with educational and technical assistance:

Atascadero Mutual Water Company
805-466-2428

City of Paso Robles
805-227-7250