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Interested in learning more? Check out our relevant webinar recordings below.

“Gardening in a Changing Climate” – get your garden ready for any weather event—sunshine, drought, heat wave, rainfall, or flood.
“Drought-Proof Your Garden Now for Spring and Summer” – covers steps we can take to bolster the health of our gardens to be able to withstand long dry periods.
“Water Wise Gardening & Landscaping” – discusses the basics of irrigation, soil health, irrigation practices, and rain harvesting techniques.

Irrigation

If you’re still hand-watering or turning on sprinklers, you might want to switch to drip irrigation or use rotating sprinkler heads to reduce your water use. You can even install a smart sprinkler controller – it will adjust how much water and when to water based on weather conditions, what type of soil you have, and how much shade your plants receive.

Lawn Replacement

Your lawn is one of the most water-intensive plant features in your yard. And, as you know, it requires year-round maintenance. Consider replacing your grass with drought tolerant landscaping. You’ll have all the green you want – without the hassle. You may be eligible to receive a rebate for your lawn replacement. Click here to learn more.

Mulching

If you haven’t replaced the mulch in your backyard lately, do it now. It reduces water loss, keeps nutrients in the soil, and—bonus points!—prevents weeds from taking over. Click here for more information.

Pervious Pavement

Pervious pavement systems allow infiltration of stormwater into soils, thereby reducing runoff and the amount of pollutants that enter our water bodies. This improves water quality, helps reduce creek erosion, and can facilitate groundwater recharge. Pervious pavement is available in many different types that offer environmentally-friendly and aesthetically pleasing options for driveways, walkways, parking areas, and patios. Click here for more information.

Rain Barrels

Rain barrels and cisterns can be installed to capture stormwater runoff from rooftops and store it for later use. They are low-cost systems that will allow you to supplement your water supply with a sustainable source and help preserve local watersheds by detaining rainfall while helping to lower water bills. Click here for more information on rain barrels and the countywide rain barrel program. Check our community calendar for upcoming rain barrel workshops.

Rain Gardens

Rain gardens are a relatively low-cost, effective, and aesthetically pleasing way to reduce the amount of stormwater that runs off your property then washes pollutants into storm drains, local streams, the San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. While protecting water quality, rain gardens also provide attractive landscaping and habitat for birds, butterflies, and other animals, especially when planted with native plants. Click here to learn more and check out our community calendar for upcoming rain garden workshops.

Share Your Project With Us!

If you have one of the water-wise outdoor projects described on this page, let us know. Share your story and pictures with us by filling out the form below. We’d love to feature your project and share it with San Mateo County residents.

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