LANDSCAPE DESIGN AND PLANT SELECTION

Create a design and select plants that will save water and beautify your yard:

• Guidance Documents:
  • Waterscape Rebate Program Project Photo Guidance
  • Turf Replacement Plan
  • SoCal WaterSmart Turf Replacement Program Guide
  • Tree Planting & Staking

• WaterSmart Resources – Find even more resources, like landscape design templates you can adapt for your yard, advice on turf removal strategies, and educational guides to help you plan your project and get a Waterscape rebate.
• California Native Plant Society-San Diego Chapter – Find out where to buy native plants, and review the Native Planting Guides.
• Sustainable Landscape Guide- San Diego County Water Authority – A comprehensive guide to San Diego sustainable landscapes.

RAIN-SAVING OPPORTUNITIES

Get tips and resources to help you capture rain and use it in your yard:

Guidance Documents: These documents will help you navigate a rain-saving project. 

• Rain Water Harvesting Calculation Guide
• Soil Drainage Test Guide
• Waterscape Rebate Program Project Photo Guidance
• Mulch and Landscape Fabric Guide – Identify the most effective nonvegetative materials for your project 

Education and Assistance: Take advantage of these FREE classes and professional help with your project:

• Landscape Makeover Videos – This series of workshop recordings dives deep into specific topics, including site assessments, landscape design, plant selection, stormwater management, proper irrigation, landscape installation, and maintenance. 
• Classes – bewaterwise.com – Check out classes on turf removal, design, and more!

Rain Saving Containers: Check out these resources to learn more:

• Rain Barrel Basics – A simple overview install guide for most standard-sized barrels.
• Rain Barrel Information Page – Learn more about rain-saving containers.

Rain Saving Design Diagrams: Familiarize yourself with the components that make up your project and make every drop count.

• Rain Barrel Diagram
  • Downspout and First Flush Device Diagram – Optional for additional water filtration.
  • Rain Barrel with Flush Device Diagram – See the whole system as one.
• Rain Garden Diagram
  • Dry Creek Rain Garden Diagram
  • Tree in Rain Garden Diagram – Also see Tree Planting & Staking detail.
• Cistern to Rain Garden Diagram
• Rain-Saving Well Diagram
• Boulder in Landscape Diagram

IRRIGATION

Read about the basics of irrigation, and how you can use smarter techniques to reduce your water use. 

• Irrigation Runoff - County of San Diego – This page discusses why irrigation runoff is prohibited and ways to mitigate runoff from leaving your property. 
• Landscape Watering Calculator - bewaterwise.com – This tool helps you to estimate the right watering schedule for your garden.
• California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) — California Dept. of Water Resources – CIMIS is a network of over 140 automated active weather stations in California, who produce reports for irrigators to use for more efficient water management.
• Guidance Documents: Adding irrigation to your project? These San Diego Regional Details outline the basics:
  • Irrigation Bubbler – Provides standards and design for this common irrigation system.
  • Irrigation Deep Root Bubbler – Specifically for trees, this shows the basics for an irrigation layout. 

SEPTIC SYSTEMS

• Septic System Training Resources - County of San Diego - A comprehensive guide that discusses how your septic system functions, how your system relates to water quality, ways to prevent failures and how to address failures. 

Waterscape Rebate Program Home Page | Watershed Protection Program Home Page