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~:;~_\. . . a . . '"tn. .:'~' ..,. 1 unlimited watering-schedule options are within the budgets of many homeowners. Two cost-effective ways to reduce landscape water use are to use mulches and water-conserving soil amendments that keep the soil moist and reduce the need for frequent watering. Chunks of bark, peat moss or compost spread on top of the soil around trees and plants help moderate shifts in soil temperature and hold in moisture. More ambitious homeowners can cut landscape water use by reduc- ing turt planting and replacing water-hungry plants with lower-water using varieties. Drip irrigation systems have become popular with homeowners because the fixtures are relatively inexpensive and almost infinitely adaptable, easy to install and readily available at hardware stores and lumber yards. Do-it-yourselfers should remember to install a pressure regulator where water enters the drip system to avoid damaging components later due to excessive water pressure. Some local agencies promote water saving by rewarding developers who instali water efficient landscapes or requiring model homes in subdivisions to include low-water use landscapes. tn 1993 DWR issued a model water efficient landscape ordinance that seeks to make the design of water efficient iandscapes an integrai part of local planning processes. ~ ~:jg.. " The biggest water user in a typical residential land- scape is the lawn. To save water in past droughts. some homeowners reduced the size of their lawns or replaced lawns with other plants or decks and patios. Although representatives of landscape architects, nurseries. and lawn maintenance businesses maintain that lawns are compatible with efficient water use, the landscape design should consider both the size and location of lawn for recreation and social activities - front yards VB. back yards - to determine its usefulness. Most water and iandscape experts agree it is not the choice of plants that reduces landscape water use, it is the efficient operation of the irrigation system that sustains the landscape. They say residential and commercial real estate owners need to be better educated to match their landscape and irrigation needs for maximum water efficiency. Some assert that the concept of "sustainable landscape" as developed by the green industry needs to be promoted, an approach that takes into account not only water use, but also energy and chemical usage and management of compost. Sustainable land- scape advocates promote tree planting to reduce energy consumption, use 01 landscape to shield structures against fire damage, and recycling of landscape waste such as lawn clippings. Using a low-tech water-audit approach, homeowners can determine water use by placing several empty, uniform-sized cans (such as tuna cans) at various places on the lawn and turning on the sprinklers for 15 minutes. If the water depths vary considerably between cans, it may be necessary to adjust or replace some sprinkler heads. Landscape experts recommend several steps to ensure that lawns get the most out of the water applied to them. Regular aeration will help prevent soil compaction that inhibits water and nutrients from reaching the grassroots. Removing dead grass, or thatch, improves lawn-watering efficiency, too. Watering in a series of short, on/off cycles early in the morning (for example, five minutes on/one hour off, repeated two or three times) can help water pene. trate compacted. clay soils and avoid water runoff. (Two brochures to help homeowners reduce outdoor water use and create water efficient landscaping plans are published by the Water Education Foundation. Landscape Design: Easy and Efficient. helps new homeowners plan a landscape. and Landscape Design 1/: Redo Your Landscape the Easy and Efficient Way, provides how-to information for renovating an existing yard to a functional and water efficient landscape.)