Following a winter with generous rainfall, this spring is an ideal time for San Diego County residents to turn their water-thirsty landscaping into a beautiful, sustainable landscape ideal for the region’s Mediterranean climate.

The Water Authority’s WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Program’s classes are open for registration. The free WaterSmart landscaping classes offer several choices designed to give you the skills and knowledge to create a landscape that saves water and will thrive in our region.

“The workshops are designed to help residents create and maintain their own beautiful and water-efficient outdoor spaces,” said Debby Dunn, a senior water resources specialist for the Water Authority. “Most of our residential water use is outdoors in our landscapes. This is why learning how to create water-efficient spaces is a great way for San Diegans to continue doing their part to use water efficiently.”

Choose from in-person or virtual workshops scheduled from March through June. The in-person five-class series will run each Wednesday starting March 20 from 2-5pm at the Water Authority’s headquarters at 4677 Overland Avenue in Kearny Mesa.

Workshops taught by design professionals

Workshops are taught with a do-it-yourself approach by local landscape design professionals. They cover landscape design and maintenance, soil identification and health, turf types, and removal tips, plant selection, rainwater catchment, irrigation retrofits, and project installation. Topics include:

• Plan Ahead: Understanding Soil and Site Assessments
• Design: Shape Your Space
• Plants: Inspiring Choices for our Region
• Water & Irrigation: Utilizing a Precious Resource
• Installation and Maintenance: Protecting Your Investment

Participants can attend individual workshops or all five. Participants who attend all five workshops and meet other program criteria can sign up for the Designer At Your Door program.

For more information and to register, visit sdcwa.org/your-water/conservation/classes

Landscape makeover video series offers convenient tips

For a self-paced program or as a supplement to the workshops, the Water Authority offers short, educational on-demand videos with step-by-step advice. The topics mirror the workshops. To watch the videos go to sdcwa.org/your-water/conservation/classes and click on the videos link.

Watch one of the videos below.

Since 2014, the WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Program has helped the region’s homeowners replace 1.5 million square feet of turf with sustainable landscaping, saving more than 51 million gallons of water per year.

San Diego offers the ideal climate for indoor-outdoor living. The Water Authority and its sustainability partners are committed to helping you design a garden to live in and support a healthy environment.

For questions about the Water Authority’s free WaterSmart Landscape classes, email