If your community is experiencing drought, you can use the information below in blogs, articles, or websites to educate your customers and provide tips for using less water. Include any additional facts, tips, restrictions, and resources your organization has available to help consumers curb their water use. You can also refer them to the WaterSense website or the U.S. Drought Monitor (www.drought.gov).

When in Drought, Use WaterSense

With the current drought conditions in our community, we need everyone to help conserve water where possible. In the midst of this serious water shortage, there are a number of things you can do to reduce stress on our local water supply without sacrificing your comfort, convenience, or curb appeal:
 • Follow the rules. Our community has put temporary water restrictions in place to save limited supplies for those who need it most, including firefighters, health care facilities, and electrical utilities. Please respect our request to use less water on your lawns, cars, and other outdoor uses during this water shortage [insert specific local watering times or requirements here as appropriate].
 • Consider an upgrade. If you're thinking about a bathroom update, now is the time to replace old plumbing fixtures with more efficient, high-performing models. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® program labels toilets, faucets, and showerheads that have been independently certified to perform well and use less water than standard models. You could even save a little green on utilities!
• Take a sprinkler break. Grass doesn’t have to be bright green year-round. It's natural for your landscape to turn a little brown at the tips during summer’s hottest months. You can cut back on watering without compromising the health of your lawn. And if you have an irrigation system with a clock timer, consider upgrading to a WaterSense labeled controller, which tells your system when and how much to water based on local weather and landscape conditions.

For more information about how to save water during the drought, visit [insert url for your water conservation page]. Visit www.epa.gov/watersense to learn more about finding WaterSense labeled products and promoting water-smart landscapes.

An expected high of 87 degrees today... It's only March!!!

http://www.sanjoseca.gov/index.aspx?NID=4375

Photo: California DWR

Despite a good amount of rainfall the last few days, we're still in a significant drought, with our drought rating listed as EXCEPTIONAL on the USDA Drought Index (http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/). That's like a DEFCON 1 rating, the highest possible- the maximum level on the scale !!!

Landscapes make up an estimated 70% of a homes water using during the summer months, and summer is just around the corner. So we'll soon be entering the summer months, and we're already facing maximum drought conditions. Aren't you alarmed yet?!

As drought becomes increasingly more common throughout the world, the investment in smart water systems is on the rise. Does your landscape irrigation system respond to daily weather factors in order to fine-tune water use and minimize the need for supplemental irrigation? If not, it's time to invest in some SMART IRRIGATION. Ask me how.

Landscapes Require Less Water Than You May Think

The Importance of an Urabn Forest.. Arbor Day is now a full WEEK!

It's Groundwater Awareness Week, March 11-17

Benefits of an Urban Forest

Urban Forests = Cleaner, Cooler Air from ASLA on Vimeo.

July 1st marks Smart Irrigation Month - Water Wisely

Today’s irrigation systems include sophisticated controllers that allow you to easily adjust
watering schedules to fit different needs.
• Get in the zone. Schedule each individual zone in your irrigation system to account for type
of sprinkler, sun or shade exposure, and soil in that section. Different zones will almost
always need different watering schedules.
• Consider soil type. Type of soil determines how quickly water can be absorbed without
runoff. Watering more than soil can absorb causes runoff and waste.
• Don’t send water down the drain. Set sprinklers to water plants, not your driveway,
sidewalk, patio or buildings.
• Water only when needed. Saturate root zones and let the soil dry. Watering too much and
too frequently results in shallow roots, weed growth, disease and fungus.
• Water at the best time. Watering during the heat of the day may cause losses of up to 30
percent due to evaporation. Prevent water loss by watering when the sun is low or down,
winds are calm and temperatures are cool — typically between the evening and early
morning.
• Water more often for shorter periods. For example, setting your system to run for three,
5-minute intervals lets soil absorb more water than watering for 15 minutes at one time,
reducing runoff.
• Adapt watering to the season. Familiarize yourself with the settings on your irrigation
controller and adjust the watering schedule regularly based on seasonal weather conditions.
Or invest in a smart controller so your system can make these changes automatically.

Smart Irrigation Month is an initiative of the Irrigation Association, a non-profit industry
organization dedicated to promoting efficient irrigation. Learn more at
www.smartirrigationmonth.org.

Trees Can Positively Impact Your Home's Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficient Home Landscapes from ASLA on Vimeo.