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Quick Tips for a California Friendly® Garden THE METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REBATES The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California offers rebates to promote California Friendly® gardens and reduce outdoor water waste. Check with bewaterwise.com® and your local water agency for rebate amounts and availability. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California 700 N. Alameda St., Los Angeles, CA 90012 P.O. Box 54153, Los Angeles, CA 90054-0153 (213) 217-6000 / (800) call-mwd (225-5693) WATER SAVINGS Turf Removal About 42 gallons per square foot/year Smart Irrigation Controllers About 13,500 gallons/year Soil Moisture Sensor Systems About 4,200 gallons/station/year Rain Barrels About 600 gallons/year Rotating Nozzles for Pop-up Sprays Uses 20 percent less water than conventional sprinkler heads ---PAGE BREAK--- Landscape water use accounts for as much as 70 percent of total residential water use. Close to half of the water used outdoors is wasted through overwatering, runoff and evaporation. With smart choices about sprinklers, plants and maintenance, water bills can drop and landscape health increase. • Select plants with moderate to low water needs • Match your plants’ sun and water needs within shrub and fl ower beds to avoid overwatering plants with low water needs • Use your favorite high water need plants as accents in areas that are protected from heat and wind • Encourage healthy roots with soil preparation and deep, less frequent watering • Raise the lawnmower blade to mow higher and help the lawn grow deeper roots • Keep a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch in planting beds to limit evaporation and help control weeds • Direct rainwater from the roof into a rain barrel or shrub bed and away from the home’s foundation Choose plants that naturally thrive in Southern California’s climate Mow high and mulch deep • Create a custom watering schedule and regularly adjust your sprinkler timer • Install a smart sprinkler controller that will automatically adjust to changing conditions • Use rotating sprinkler nozzles for lawn and groundcovers • Convert from spray watering to drip, bubblers, and microsprays for shrubs and fl ower beds • Install a rain sensor to automatically shut off sprinklers • Change or cap sprinkler heads in areas converted from lawn to shrub and fl ower beds • Repair sprinkler leaks and adjust for blocked spray and runoff to avoid water waste Keep your sprinkler system up to date