Tag Archive for: landscape makeover classes

Two landscape workshops by the Vista Irrigation District and Vallecitos Water District will help homeowners get started on their projects. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Vista Irrigation District and Vallecitos Water District Host Free Landscape Workshops

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In partnership with the San Diego County Water Authority, the Vista Irrigation District and Vallecitos Water District are teaming up to offer free landscape design workshops in November to help its customers redesign and install new water saving, sustainable landscapes at a convenient North County location.

Two classes take place on Saturday, November 2, at the Vista Irrigation District, 1391 Engineer Street in Vista. Residents can sign up for just one, or both classes. People attending both classes will be eligible for special giveaways. Prior registration is required.

This Vista Irrigation District award-winning landscape makeover demonstrate the options for beautiful yards without turf. Photo: Vista Irrigation District landscape workshops

This Vista Irrigation District award-winning landscape makeover demonstrates the options for beautiful yards without turf. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Two Landscape Workshops on November 2

10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.: “Goodbye Grass, Hello Garden: Qualify for Rebates” will instruct residents how to maximize rebates to help them with turf removal projects. Register here.

11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.: “Garden Design Class” takes students through the landscape makeover planning process, including:

  • Sizing and siting the rainwater capture area
  • Developing a palette of climate-appropriate plants
  • Applying key design principles
  • Laying out a successful planting plan

 Register here.

Donald De Tar's home after completing his winning landscape makeover. Photo: Vallecitos Water District landscape workshops

Donald De Tar’s home after completing his winning landscape makeover. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

“I’m thrilled to be working in partnership with the Vista Irrigation District to host these garden classes,” said Chris Robbins, Vallecitos Water District Public Information/Conservation Supervisor.

“As it turns out, Vista Irrigation District is my water service provider, and we both play a crucial role in our region’s sustainability and well-being. Together, we’re committed to ensuring that our water resources are managed wisely and responsibly, paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future for all residents.”

Plan Ahead for Cool Season Installation

Low-water plants, improved irrigation technologies, and WaterSmart classes reduce energy use, protect natural resources, and create beautiful outdoor living spaces. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Low-water plants, improved irrigation technologies, and WaterSmart classes reduce energy use, protect natural resources, and create beautiful outdoor living spaces. Photo: Vista Irrigation District

Fall is an ideal time to plan landscape work, taking advantage of cooler weather and seasonal rainfall to help establish the new plants.

Countywide, regional residents have converted more than 1.5 million square feet of turf into beautiful, sustainable landscapes. They use less water and provide a lifestyle-friendly yard ideal for San Diego’s climate. New landscapes installed through the program have been proven to reduce water use by up to 37 percent.

More than 8,000 San Diego County residents have taken these courses to date.

Low-water plants, improved irrigation technologies, and WaterSmart classes reduce energy use, protect natural resources, and create beautiful outdoor living spaces, as well as save water.

Conservation Gains Plus Rebates Help Offset Costs

WaterSmart landscape workshops help residents create a drought-tolerant, water-efficient landscape with a design that maximizes the enjoyment of the outdoor space, while saving the time and expense required for ongoing turf maintenance. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Landscape watering accounts for more than half of a typical household’s water use in California. WaterSmart workshops help residents create a drought-tolerant, water-efficient landscape with a design that maximizes the enjoyment of the outdoor space. In addition, homeowners can save the time and expense required for ongoing turf maintenance.

San Diego County homeowners may be eligible for between $2 and $4 per square foot to remove turf and replace it with low water-use plants better suited to our region’s hotter, drier weather. All customers are eligible for the base rebate of $2 per square foot.

Residents in unincorporated San Diego County may be eligible for additional incentives through the Waterscape Rebate Program. Learn more at socalwatersmart.com

 

The Water Authority’s WaterSmart spring Landscape Makeover Program classes are now open for registration. free landscape makeover classes

Register Now For Free Spring WaterSmart Landscape Classes

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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.

With help from design professionals, learn to transform your landscaping into a beautiful, colorful space and use less water. Photo: Helix Water District free landscape makeover classes

With help from design professionals, learn to transform your landscaping into a beautiful, colorful space and use less water. Photo: Helix Water District

“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

Sustainable Ramona: Are There Incentives, Rebates for Water Conservation?

/in , , /by /Ramona Sentinelby Beth Prinz Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Sustainable Ramona is a local group dedicated to the preservation of our surroundings. By responding to your questions each month, we intend to provide you with common-sense, affordable, short- and long-term ways to manage issues such as increasing water shortages, high heat, high electric bills and minimize waste going to landfills. The question this month is: Are there rebates and incentives to facilitate water conservation? Answer: There are many, both indoors and outdoors.

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Padre Dam Municipal Water District-Landscape Makeover Winner-WaterSmartSD-drought

Winter Weather Perfect Time for WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Series

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December rainfall and cooler temperatures in San Diego County make it the perfect time of year for homeowners to create low-water-use landscaping to fit their needs. The San Diego County Water Authority offers its first 2022 WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Series of free online classes starting Wednesday, February 2. The classes provide homeowners site-specific knowledge, skills, and confidence to transform their thirsty turf yard into a beautiful, climate-appropriate, water-efficient space.

Registration for the four-class series closes on Monday, January 17. Register at WaterSmartSD.org. There is no fee to participate, but course participation is limited.

Custom plans and one-on-one professional guidance

Landscape Makeover-Sweetwater Authority-Water Conservation-native plants

This landscape makeover winner shows how contouring your landscaping can help retain and conserve water. Photo: Sweetwater Authority

Water Authority Water Resources Specialist Joni German said the course will give participants a customized roadmap to follow.

“We have different templates and themes to design the garden you want,” said German. “Do you need turf for the kids or pets? A meditation space? Or do you want to screen out undesirable views? With our help, you design the landscape that fits your lifestyle.”

Ideal time for new plants

German said with soils now soft and spongy, it’s the ideal time of year to add new plants and creating a new water-wise landscape.

As part of the course, participants will receive a site visit prior to the class, a preliminary onsite CAD drawing of their property to work with during the class, and one-on-one coaching from landscaping professionals.

Turf rebate programs offer rebates of up to $3 per square foot toward project costs for upgrading existing turf. To date, several hundred homeowners have transformed their landscapes into beautiful, climate-appropriate mini-watersheds which yield benefits including stormwater runoff reduction and lessening green waste in addition to saving water.

Positive participant feedback for free program

Eileen Koonce says she was able to install her own landscaping with the help she received from instructors. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Eileen Koonce says she was able to install her own landscaping with the help she received from course instructors. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

German said the program has evolved through the years in part due to feedback from previous participants, including information about capturing rainwater and cutting back on irrigation.

“People frequently say to us, ‘I can’t believe this program is free!’ Recent participants tell us the time flies, and they go from feeling overwhelmed to confident about their landscape projects,” said German.

Vallecitos Water District Development Services Coordinator Eileen Koonce participated in the course as a new homeowner to reduce her water usage by removing her thirsty front lawn.

Koonce said she enjoyed working with the instructors.

“They bring the language down to the do-it-yourselfers,” said Koonce. “They walk you through every part of it and if you have questions, they can help you out. You feel empowered because you can understand the process.”

Landscaping design and planining

Landscaping designers can expedite your landscape makeover plans. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority

Koonce tackled most of the design work herself with the help of instructors, who are licensed landscape architects. Instructors helped Koonce pick out the plants and choose an irrigation system.

After participants sign up for the four-class course, a site visit will take place with a local, licensed landscape specialist who will create a professionally-drawn site plan of your specific project area. The plans becomes a personal road map to navigate through the classes. Before the class concludes, homeowners get one-on-one coaching to help select plants and finalize their plan.

Watch the preview video

Homeowners with questions about the course can email or call (858) 598-5085 for information. Space is limited so homeowners are encouraged to apply now at WaterSmartSD.org. 

(Editor’s note: The Sweetwater Authority, Vallecitos Water District, and the Padre Dam Municipal Water District are three of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the metropolitan San Diego region.)

Water-Use Efficiency Rebates for a WaterSmart Home

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Rebates are available for San Diego County residents seeking to reduce their water use and water bills, as drought persists across the Southwest U.S. The second year of drought, and a statewide call for water-use conservation, makes this an ideal time to be “WaterSmart.”

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Successful Sustainable Landscaping a Click Away for Helix, Padre Dam Customers

/in , , /by /East County Magazine Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

No matter whether their landscaping is just a few square feet alongside a front porch or estate acreage, thousands of San Diego County residents have learned to embrace sustainability as a central principle for creating and renovating their landscapes.

Thanks to financial incentives and educational resources offered by the San Diego County Water Authority to customers in La Mesa, Lemon Grove and El Cajon, a sustainable and beautiful yard is more attainable than ever before.

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Successful Sustainable Landscaping is a Click Away for Fallbrook, Rainbow Customers

/in , , /by /Fallbrook Village News Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

No matter whether their landscaping is just a few square feet alongside a front porch or estate acreage, thousands of San Diego County residents have learned to embrace sustainability as a central principle for creating and renovating their landscapes. The San Diego County Water Authority offers financial incentives and educational resources to customers in Fallbrook and Rainbow to improve their landscaping.

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