Drought Advice

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.

PCWA Water Saving Tips

Folsom Lake Water Conservation

Water Efficiency, San Juan Water District

Save Water in Your Landscape, Save Our Water and Sunset magazine