Time to cut back on water
Retrenchment can be gradual, thoughtful

by Fran Adams, APLD

Even a small, shallow birdbath can help keep the whole chain of life going during a dry year.

When I heard that Californians were being asked to cut back their water usage 10 percent due to low snow pack in the Sierras, the words "We must retrench!" floated into my mind.

I was remembering Jane Austen's "Persuasion," in which the Elliott family is forced to cut back expenditures because Sir Elliot is a spendthrift. They have to rent out their estate and move to a smaller residence. However, it's hard to feel too sorry for them when their new home is an elegant townhouse in Bath, where servants look after things while they spend their days at the spa and taking tea, and their evenings at concerts and parties.

The retrenchment asked of us is a more modest affair. If we're smart about it, we won't have to choose between keeping our gardens green, and our houses, cars and bodies clean. Here's how.

Native currant thrives with modest amount of drip irrigation.

Program. Adjust your irrigation controller monthly so you don't over-water in spring and fall. Or install one of the new controllers that automatically adjusts the amount of irrigation depending on the weather. Buy a moisture sensor and probe the soil to learn when irrigation is needed, and to find out if you have saturated the soil deeply enough. Program multiple start times for each irrigation zone to prevent wasteful runoff.

Observe. Watch your irrigation system in action, and adjust and repair it. Move or add heads or emitters as needed. Consider upgrading to new improved drip systems and more efficient spray heads.

Time. Don't water on a hot afternoon or when it's windy. Water when it's cool and still. Then the water will penetrate deeply and last a long time.

Mulch. A 2-inch layer of mulch helps soil absorb water and retain it. Pull it a few inches away from the base of plants to prevent fungal attack. If you have mow-and-blow gardeners, tell them very firmly that you do not want blowers used in mulched areas!

Cull. This is a good time to remove crowded and sulking plants. Has the shrub border turned into an overgrown thicket? Are weeds taking over? Do you have a rose with spotty leaves that never blooms well because it is in too much shade? With less desirable plants removed, the remaining ones will be healthier, and you'll use less water.

Fertilize. Avoid fertilizers containing more than 10 percent nitrogen because they stimulate lush new growth that will have to be watered. Instead, consider spreading a 1/4-inch layer of garden compost twice a year. This will provide nutrients without exciting your plants into unsustainable growth.

Postpone and plan. Wait until the fall rains to plant anything new, because transplants need lots of water. Consider changing your garden then so it will require less water in future years. This year's voluntary cutbacks are minor, but you can be sure that with California's rising population and irregular rainfall, the time will come when only cleverly planned drought-tolerant gardens will be green and attractive.

And just as for Ann Elliott in "Persuasion," retrenchment could bring you unanticipated opportunities and a chance to fall in love -- with new plants and landscaping ideas.

Fran Adams, APLD, is a local landscape designer interested in contemporary design using plants from Mediterranean climates. She can be reached at 650-328-7655, fran@senseofplace.us or visit www.senseofplace.us.