Landscape Water Conservation

Font Size: + -

Feedback Print

California Drought

With California facing one of the worst drought years in history, the Governor has asked residents to voluntarily reduce water consumption by 20 percent. In a dry climate, as much as 60 percent of a household's water is used for landscape irrigation. Xeriscaping, Drought Tolerant, Water Wise, Low Water Use, and Water Efficient Landscape are terms that refer to landscape water conservation.

This site contains several links and helpful tools for plant selection, design ideas and general landscape water conservation. When researching plants for our area, remember that San Joaquin County falls under the Sunset Zone 14 and USDA Zone 9.

Choosing the Right Plants

Visit these sites to learn about which plants are best for our climate zone:

Sunset Plant Finder
Discover the most ideal plants based on climate, water use and your gardening style.
UC Davis Arboretum Allstars
The horticultural staff of the Arboretum have identified 100 tough, reliable plants that have been tested in the arboretum, are easy to grow, don't require a lot of water, have few problems with pests or diseases, and have outstanding qualities in the garden.
Landscape Water Use Planning Tool
This program uses the Water Use Classifications of Landscape Species (WUCOLS), a guide to estimating irrigation water needs of landscape plantings in each of six distinct California climate regions.
Incentive Rebates