Waterwise gardening and landscaping are key components in the goal of greater water conservation. At Sierra Azul Nursery & Gardens, we have been growing and selling native and Mediterranean climate plants, as well as designing and consulting on water-wise gardens and lawn-to-plants conversions for the last 20 years. Owner Jeff Rosendale started with this effort 40 years ago during the historic drought of 1975-76.

Significant water savings can be realized by converting a 30’x30′ sprinkler irrigated lawn/turf area to an attractive xeriscape planting on drip irrigation. A normal twice-weekly watering of this size lawn would use approximately 800 gallons/ week. Converting this total lawn area to a native/ mediterranean and succulent plant garden and planting approximately 60 plants irrigated by 1 gallon per hour drip emitters would result in the new water use of approximately 100 gallons/ week. This is a significant 700 gallons  per week savings or a  reduction in water usage of up to 90%.