While rains in February and March have contributed to rising reservoirs and mountain snowpack, the fact remains that California is in a drought. The University of California and the UC Cooperative Extension and its Master Gardener program have created the following resources to help home gardeners deal with the drought by making their landscapes more water-efficient and their irrigation practices more effective.
Vegetable Gardens
10 Tips for Vegetable Gardening with Less Water, Placer County Master Gardeners
Ten tips for vegetable gardening during a drought, Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco counties
Saving Water in Vegetable Gardens, UC Vegetable Research and Information Center
Drought-resistant Crops and Varieties, Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Landscapes and Lawns
Drought: Gardening Tips, California Garden Web
Water-saving garden, lawn, plant, and tree care tips plus links to these resources:
- 33 Ways to Save Water in Your Home Garden
- California Institute for Water Resources
- Keeping Landscape Plantings Alive under Drought or Water Restrictions
- Gardening Basics: How do I practice sustainable gardening?
- Landscape Water Conservation Resources Map
- Lawn Watering Guide for California
- Managing Turfgrass During Drought
- Managing Water, Sustainably
- Questions & Answers About Water Conservation and Drought in the Landscape
- Water Conservation Tips for Home Lawn and Garden
- Water Conservation Suggestions for your Home Vegetable Garden
Drought: Irrigation Tips, California Garden Web
Irrigation adjustment and lawn watering tips, recycled water information, plus links to these resources:
- California Institute for Water Resources
- Drip Irrigation in the Home Landscape (UC ANR Publication)
- Easy Calculators for Estimating Landscape Water Needs
- Keeping Landscape Plantings Alive under Drought or Water Restrictions
- Graywater Use in Urban Landscapes
- Lawn Watering Guide for California
- Managing Turfgrass During Drought
- Managing Water, Sustainably
- Questions & Answers About Water Conservation and Drought in the Landscape
- UCCE Irrigation Scheduling Worksheet
Landscape Water Management, UC Center for Landscape and Urban Horticulture
7 Tips for Landscape Survival during Drought, UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden
Using Household Waste Water on Plants, UC Vegetable Research and Information Center
UC Guide to Healthy Lawns, UC IPM Online
Other Water Conservation Resources
Be Water Smart Residential Resources
Be Water Smart, Regional Water Authority, includes a list of Sacramento region water providers with recommendations or requirement for reduced water use.