Gardening & Irrigation

Try the Cycle & Soak Method

The Tri-Valley's clay soils tend to be dense with poor drainage, making irrigation more likely to puddle and runoff. A "cycle and soak" method breaks watering time into three intervals. This allows water to soak into the soil before running off, promoting deeper root growth and healthier plants.

Four Ways to Save Water and Money

• Keep sprinklers off through the rainy season. Calculate an ideal watering schedule for your yard at TriValleyWaterWise.com.
• Get a $75 rebate on a 21st century irrigation controller. Qualifying controllers adjust automatically as the weather changes and many come with a smart phone app for easy programming. Learn more and apply at Zone 7 Weather-Based Irrigation Controller Rebate and watch the Tri-Valley water agencies webinar on smart controllers.
• Plan now to convert lawn to a water-efficient front yard next spring. You may qualify for a lawn conversion rebate of up to $2,000 per home and $6,000 per non-residential property. Learn more and apply at Zone 7 Water-Efficient Landscape Rebate.
• Freeze-proof your pipes. Prevent costly repairs by insulating hose bibs and other exposed outdoor pipes before winter arrives.

Best Practices for Water Efficiency Outdoors

View the YouTube recording of the Saving Your Trees During a Drought webinar by Zone 7 Water Agency, DSRSD, and the cities of Pleasanton and Livermore from September 2022

Tips for spring irrigation practices--save water and money! (PDF)

Don't over-water. Established plants need very little water through the winter unless the weather is very dry.

Keep mulch at least two inches deep in all non-lawn planting areas to reduce evaporation, keep soils moist, add nutrients, and discourage weeds.

Mow less frequently, set mower blades higher (3-3.5 inches), and mow during the cool parts of the day.

Aerate lawns annually and fill the plugs with compost so water can soak in deeply.

Fertilize and prune in cool seasons. New growth needs more water. To avoid stimulating new growth during hot months, do not use high-nitrogen fertilizers or prune after April.

Water between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. to minimize evaporation in warm or windy weather.

Sources and more information:  California Landscape Contractors Association

Irrigate Efficiently

Dry spots on your lawn mean the area is not getting water. Adjust or modify the irrigation system for better coverage instead of watering longer. If unable to adjust, we recommend hand watering the dry spots.

Ponding indicates over-watering or that foliage is blocking spray. Try decreasing the watering duration on your sprinkler system and trim any foliage blocking the sprinkler head.

Soil compaction can be seen in areas of high foot traffic and with clay soils. Aerate your lawn to increase air and water transfer to roots.

Thatch is the build-up of dead stems beneath the green surface of your lawn. De-thatching removes that build-up and lets water and fertilizers reach the soil efficiently.

Hydro-zoning is key to an efficient irrigation system. Set up your system so that each sprinkler valve serves plants that need the same amount of water. For example, shrubs and lawn should not be on the same valve because shrubs require less water than lawn. 

Sun vs. shade - Consider sun exposure when setting irrigation run times. Decrease run times in shady areas.

Sprinkler heads - If you have brown spots or ponding, check your sprinkler heads. All sprinkler heads connected to a single station (valve) should have the same application rate and cover the same distance to ensure proper distribution over your landscape. Heads should be straight up and down, not tilted. They should not leak around the head. An efficient system should have even head-to-head spacing, meaning that the water from one sprinkler head should reach the sprinkler heads around it for uniform coverage.

Soil type is an important factor in efficient irrigation. Much of the Tri-Valley's soil contains clay, which has a slow infiltration rate. Apply water slowly and in intervals to minimize runoff.

Check controller settings after a power outage - Some older controllers revert to a default setting, such as "water every day for 10 minutes," after a power outage. Regularly replace batteries that provide backup power.

Tune Up Drip Systems

Emitters should be checked for clogs to ensure even watering. Replace missing emitters immediately to save water and improve system efficiency.

Location is important. Place emitters at the edge of the root-ball on new plantings and at the edge of the foliage of established plants.

High pressure - If compression fittings and emitters are popping off, pressure may be too high. Install a pressure regulator on the valve for all drip stations.

Broken tubing needs to be fixed immediately to save water and to efficiently water your landscape.

Get Help from the Experts

Tri-Valley Water-Wise Gardening - Searchable plant database, advice on landscape and irrigation design, customized watering schedule calculator, a photo gallery of garden ideas, plants that thrive on recycled water, and more. Sponsored by Zone 7 Water Agency in partnership with DSRSD and other water utilities in the Tri-Valley.

LawnToGarden.org - Learn about the benefits of sheet mulching and how to do it, find discounts on materials, get inspired by examples of local lawn conversions, and use a searchable vendor list to find cardboard, compost, and mulch.

RescapeCalifornia.org - Get expert help in creating a renewable landscape.

SaveOurWater.com - On average, Californians use 30% to 60% of their water outdoors. Click this link for some easy outdoor tips to reduce water use.

DSRSD Demonstration Garden - On the east side of the District office, the demonstration garden provides some examples of efficient water in use for a variety of plant types, plus special sections dedicated to drought-tolerant plants.

StopWaste Design Resources - These booklets feature prototypes for low-water gardens that embrace strong design, beauty and function, and are very doable by homeowners.

UC Davis Arboretum All-Stars -  Learn about 100 tough, reliable plants that are easy to grow, don't need a lot of water, have few problems with pests or disease, and have outstanding qualities in the garden.

California Native Plant Society - Explore their plant directory, workshops and many other resources.

PlantRight - Avoid using invasive plants in your yard. PlantRight has a list of the worst offenders in our area and better alternatives. They also explain the impact of invasive plants.

Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden - Attend workshops and see hundreds of varieties of drought-tolerant plants at this huge garden in Livermore.

Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour - Get inside beautiful Bay Area gardens that feature native plants. Workshops and plant sales, too!

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