How much mulch does your landscaping plan need? To develop your mulch master plan and answer this question, you first need to understand the job it will perform in different areas of your watersmart landscaping plan. If you want to hold in moisture and keep down weeds: Use three to six inches of mulch on […]
You may not know the difference between compost and mulch, but your landscape soil does. Compost and mulch represent two different soil treatments with different advantages when used in a watersmart landscape plan. Compost is made of organic matter such as food scraps, landscape debris, or livestock manure that have already been partially consumed and […]
Knowing how to use a soil probe as an important soil management tool will support your effort to create a healthy, thriving landscape full of beautiful plants. You need to first know as much as possible about your soil to understand your irrigation needs. Irrigation is critical to keep your landscaping green and growing. But […]
Your landscaping soil needs three things to feed the billions of microbes within it to transform brick-hard, lifeless dirt into healthy, living soil sponges: oxygen, water, and life. Think OWL to remember these important, interconnected factors. Oxygen lets microbes breathe free Oxygen is needed by healthy plant roots and soil organisms. Healthy soil has lots […]
One of the first steps in your landscape makeover project involves preparing the soil to allow efficient use of irrigation. San Diego County soil quality needs a lot of help. The area is defined by impermeable soils with poor infiltration areas. Water doesn’t flow through the soil to replenish the groundwater, because it is made […]
Making smart decisions about your landscape design and your plant choices relies in large part on your climate zone. San Diego County’s six different climate zones vary in their average conditions. By choosing wisely, you can minimize the need for artificial irrigation and still create a beautiful, sustainable landscape. The California Irrigation Management Information System […]
People around the world know San Diego for its beautiful, sunny, and mild weather. San Diego residents know our daily weather has more variety than visitors might imagine. Climate is defined as the average weather conditions in an area over a long period, generally 30 years or more. German climate scientist Wladimir Koppen first divided […]
Efficient water use is an important responsibility that comes along with the benefits of living in San Diego County’s beautiful Mediterranean climate. No matter whether your landscaping is just a few square feet alongside a small front porch, or covers many acres on a luxury estate, San Diego County residents have learned to embrace sustainability […]
Fall planting season is underway and a great time to take advantage of rebates for replacing your lawn. “Fall is like a second spring for planting in our region and it’s also a great opportunity for residents to take advantage of some outdoor incentives as they replace grass with climate appropriate plants,” said Joni German, […]
A major landscape makeover is helping a San Diego County neighborhood save money during these uncertain economic times. The WaterSmart Contractor Incentive Program helps qualified landscape contractors as well as large homeowners associations, save money and improve water-use efficiency in large landscapes by retrofitting irrigation devices. The San Diego County Water Authority and the Vallecitos […]
National Recycling Day on November 15 celebrates and promotes recycling practices to reduce waste and decrease energy demands, ultimately preventing pollution and fighting climate change. This year, the Water Authority partnered with the Southern California Water Coalition to promote water recycling. National Recycling Day brings new video series The Water Authority and other SCWC members, […]
San Diego County agriculture is well-known for citrus and avocados. Kyle Rosa is counting on coffee joining this list. Rosa, owner of Bluetail Coffee Grove, started growing coffee on a 2.5-acre farm in San Marcos last year. After 15 years in the finance industry, Rosa and his wife moved from San Francisco to start their […]
The Olivenhain Municipal Water District project to replace aging water infrastructure along El Camino Real in Encinitas has now reached the halfway point. After getting underway in March 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the project is making steady progress. District officials expect the entire project to be completed in Spring 2021.
It’s that time of the year in California, when water managers, climatologists and meteorologists look at the factors that determine what the winter will bring during Water Year 2020-21 (October 1, 2020 – September 30, 2021). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently said that La Niña conditions are present in the tropical Pacific, “with […]
The winner of the Olivenhain Municipal Water District 2020 WaterSmart Landscape Contest created a wildlife habitat by removing grass and replacing it with climate-appropriate plants. The District’s Board of Directors honored Laura Lisauskas as the winner of the contest during its September 9 meeting. Lisauskas purchased her home in 2018 and decided to remove the […]
Develop a Mulch Master Plan
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalHow much mulch does your landscaping plan need? To develop your mulch master plan and answer this question, you first need to understand the job it will perform in different areas of your watersmart landscaping plan. If you want to hold in moisture and keep down weeds: Use three to six inches of mulch on […]
Let Nature Be Your Guide: Compost vs. Mulch
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalYou may not know the difference between compost and mulch, but your landscape soil does. Compost and mulch represent two different soil treatments with different advantages when used in a watersmart landscape plan. Compost is made of organic matter such as food scraps, landscape debris, or livestock manure that have already been partially consumed and […]
Soil Probe Tips for Success
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalKnowing how to use a soil probe as an important soil management tool will support your effort to create a healthy, thriving landscape full of beautiful plants. You need to first know as much as possible about your soil to understand your irrigation needs. Irrigation is critical to keep your landscaping green and growing. But […]
Oxygen, Water, and Life Create Healthy Landscape Soil
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalYour landscaping soil needs three things to feed the billions of microbes within it to transform brick-hard, lifeless dirt into healthy, living soil sponges: oxygen, water, and life. Think OWL to remember these important, interconnected factors. Oxygen lets microbes breathe free Oxygen is needed by healthy plant roots and soil organisms. Healthy soil has lots […]
Improve Your Landscaping Soil With a Soil Test
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalOne of the first steps in your landscape makeover project involves preparing the soil to allow efficient use of irrigation. San Diego County soil quality needs a lot of help. The area is defined by impermeable soils with poor infiltration areas. Water doesn’t flow through the soil to replenish the groundwater, because it is made […]
Match Your Climate Zone to Your Landscaping Plan
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalMaking smart decisions about your landscape design and your plant choices relies in large part on your climate zone. San Diego County’s six different climate zones vary in their average conditions. By choosing wisely, you can minimize the need for artificial irrigation and still create a beautiful, sustainable landscape. The California Irrigation Management Information System […]
Sustainable Gardeners, Get Into Your Climate Zone
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalPeople around the world know San Diego for its beautiful, sunny, and mild weather. San Diego residents know our daily weather has more variety than visitors might imagine. Climate is defined as the average weather conditions in an area over a long period, generally 30 years or more. German climate scientist Wladimir Koppen first divided […]
Follow Four Key Principles for Successful Sustainable Landscaping
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalEfficient water use is an important responsibility that comes along with the benefits of living in San Diego County’s beautiful Mediterranean climate. No matter whether your landscaping is just a few square feet alongside a small front porch, or covers many acres on a luxury estate, San Diego County residents have learned to embrace sustainability […]
Lawn Rebates for Fall Planting Season
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Mike LeeFall planting season is underway and a great time to take advantage of rebates for replacing your lawn. “Fall is like a second spring for planting in our region and it’s also a great opportunity for residents to take advantage of some outdoor incentives as they replace grass with climate appropriate plants,” said Joni German, […]
WaterSmart Contractor Incentive Program Benefits San Elijo HOA
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalA major landscape makeover is helping a San Diego County neighborhood save money during these uncertain economic times. The WaterSmart Contractor Incentive Program helps qualified landscape contractors as well as large homeowners associations, save money and improve water-use efficiency in large landscapes by retrofitting irrigation devices. The San Diego County Water Authority and the Vallecitos […]
New Water Recycling Videos on National Recycling Day
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Kimberlyn VelasquezNational Recycling Day on November 15 celebrates and promotes recycling practices to reduce waste and decrease energy demands, ultimately preventing pollution and fighting climate change. This year, the Water Authority partnered with the Southern California Water Coalition to promote water recycling. National Recycling Day brings new video series The Water Authority and other SCWC members, […]
Vallecitos Water District Helps San Marcos Coffee Farmer Brew Success
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalSan Diego County agriculture is well-known for citrus and avocados. Kyle Rosa is counting on coffee joining this list. Rosa, owner of Bluetail Coffee Grove, started growing coffee on a 2.5-acre farm in San Marcos last year. After 15 years in the finance industry, Rosa and his wife moved from San Francisco to start their […]
El Camino Real Infrastructure Project Reaches Milestone
/in Conservation Corner, Home Headline, Media Coverage, San Diego County /by Mike Lee /Water News Network Mentioned: San Diego County Water AuthorityThe Olivenhain Municipal Water District project to replace aging water infrastructure along El Camino Real in Encinitas has now reached the halfway point. After getting underway in March 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the project is making steady progress. District officials expect the entire project to be completed in Spring 2021.
La Niña and California’s New Water Year
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Mike LeeIt’s that time of the year in California, when water managers, climatologists and meteorologists look at the factors that determine what the winter will bring during Water Year 2020-21 (October 1, 2020 – September 30, 2021). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently said that La Niña conditions are present in the tropical Pacific, “with […]
WaterSmart Landscape Contest Winner Creates Wildlife Habitat
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Mike LeeThe winner of the Olivenhain Municipal Water District 2020 WaterSmart Landscape Contest created a wildlife habitat by removing grass and replacing it with climate-appropriate plants. The District’s Board of Directors honored Laura Lisauskas as the winner of the contest during its September 9 meeting. Lisauskas purchased her home in 2018 and decided to remove the […]