Save Water. Save California.

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How to Save Our Trees

Trees keep our neighborhoods cooler. Steps: Water early; use mulch to retain water; water 1-2 times per month.

Biggest Ways to Save

Water Smart Garden

Tip #1: Update with Water Smart Plants
Most California homeowners use half their water on their lawn. Water smart yards need no mowing, and much less weeding and pruning.
Sprinkler watering pavement

Tip #2: Water Just Where You Need It

Reposition sprinklers away from pavement. Use drip irrigation on plants to water where you need it.
Picture of broken sprinkler

Tip #3: Fix Leaks

An average US household's leaks account for about 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year. Identify and fix leaks inside and outside your home to save water and lower your monthly water bill.

Guides and How-to’s

All Guides »
California poppies grow at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Gardens in Fair Oaks, California, within Sacramento County.
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Photo Gallery

A Grover Beach home with a water-wise garden in San Luis Obispo County, California. Photo taken May 24, 2012. Dale Kolke / California Department of Water Resources, FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY
A Grover Beach home with a water-wise garden in San Luis Obispo County, California. Photo taken May 24, 2012. Dale Kolke / California Department of Water Resources, FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY
A Long Beach home with a water-wise garden in Los Angeles County, California. Photo taken May 23, 2012. Dale Kolke / California Department of Water Resources, FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY
A home garden in Cotati, California within Sonoma County. Photo taken June 29, 2011. Dale Kolke / California Department of Water Resources, FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY
A Long Beach home with a water-wise garden in Los Angeles County, California. Photo taken May 23, 2012. Dale Kolke / California Department of Water Resources, FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY
A drought tolerant landscape adorns the front yard of a Sacramento, Calif. home owned by Jorge Azevedo. Azevendo had his turf removed in 2014 and is still enjoying this new landscape in June of 2015. Kelly M. Grow/ California Department of Water Resources, FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY
A drought tolerant landscape adorns the front yard of a Sacramento, Calif. home owned by Jorge Azevedo. Azevendo had his turf removed in 2014 and is still enjoying this new landscape in June of 2015. Kelly M. Grow/ California Department of Water Resources, FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY
A drought tolerant landscape adorns the front yard of a Sacramento, Calif. home owned by Jorge Azevedo. Azevendo had his turf removed in 2014 and is still enjoying this new landscape in June of 2015. Kelly M. Grow/ California Department of Water Resources, FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY
Sunjoy Gold Pillar Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) is an ornamental shrub that is considered water-wise or drought tolerant and it is available at local nurseries in California. Photo taken May 12, 2016. Kelly M. Grow / California Department of Water Resources
Barberry Orange Rocket (Berberis thunbergii) is a fast-growing ornamental shrub that is considered water-wise or drought tolerant and it is available at local nurseries in California. Photo taken May 12, 2016. Kelly M. Grow / California Department of Water Resources
Trailing Lantana (Lantana sellowiana) is an evergreen shrub that is considered water-wise or drought tolerant and it is available at local nurseries in California. Photo taken May 12, 2016. Kelly M. Grow / California Department of Water Resources
Golden Spirit Smoke Tree (Cotinus coggygria) is a deciduous shrub that is considered water-wise or drought tolerant and it is available at local nurseries in California. Photo taken May 12, 2016. Kelly M. Grow / California Department of Water Resources
Golden Sphere (Coreopsis) is a flowering perennial that is considered water-wise or drought tolerant and it is available at local nurseries in California. Photo taken May 12, 2016. Kelly M. Grow / California Department of Water Resources
Angel Red Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is an edible fruit tree that is considered water-wise or drought tolerant and it is available at local nurseries in California. Photo taken May 12, 2016. Kelly M. Grow / California Department of Water Resources
Geranium (Pelargonium) is a flowering plant that is considered water-wise or drought tolerant and it is available at local nurseries in California. Photo taken May 12, 2016. Kelly M. Grow / California Department of Water Resources
Spotted White Rock Rose (Cistus x aguilarii) is a flowering plant that is considered a firescaping plant and it is available at local nurseries in California. Photo taken May 12, 2016. Kelly M. Grow / California Department of Water Resources
Creeping Myoporum (Myoporum parvifolium) is an evergreen ground-cover that is considered water-wise or drought tolerant and it is available at local nurseries in California. Photo taken May 12, 2016. Kelly M. Grow / California Department of Water Resources
Lo & Behold Blue Chip Dwarf Summer Lilac (Buddlejais) is a deciduous shrub that is considered water-wise or drought tolerant and it is available at local nurseries in California. Photo taken May 12, 2016. Kelly M. Grow / California Department of Water Resources
The California Department of Water Resources displays water efficient gardens and step-by-step examples of how to replace grass turf in the Kaiser Permanente Farm at the California State Fair in Sacramento, Calif. on July 8, 2016.
A gardener mulches the plants to help reduce watering in Smartsville, Calif. on June 26th, 2014. Kelly M. Grow/ California Department of Water Resources

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