Reduce Garden Watering Needs

Put plants with similar water needs together so that you don't waste water on plants that don't need it. Place mulch around plants to reduce water loss.

Invest in a Rain Barrel

Purchase or build a rain barrel to capture water. The greywater can be used to water plants during the summer instead of an irrigation system.

Schedule Watering

Put all irrigation systems, including sprinklers, on an automatic timer so that it only waters in the early morning in order to avoid evaporation. Limit watering lawns to only 2-3 days per week for around 10 minutes each time.

Clean With a Broom

Using a broom to clean outdoor areas can save 8–18 gallons every minute. Visit Save Our Water to learn more outdoor water savings tips.

Use Plants to Deter Pests

Plant marigolds, nasturtiums, chrysanthemums, and mint in or near your vegetable garden to ward off aphids, whiteflies, and beetles.

Plant basil, lemongrass, and lavender near your doors or patio to repel house flies and mosquitos.

If you have a pet cat, plant catnip for your pet to enjoy and to repel cockroaches, mosquitos, and flies.

Mix Up Non-Toxic Slug Bait

Are snails and slugs eating your plants and produce? Make your own non-toxic slug bait!

Ingredients are 2 cups water, 2 tsp. sugar, 2 tsp. flour, and 1 tsp. yeast.

Mix all the ingredients together and pour into containers that are planted at soil-level in the garden. Check often and replenish as needed.

Whip Up a Safe Insecticide

When a strong blast of water or a treatment of neem oil doesn't work, try this DIY insecticide that is non-toxic to humans and pets.

1) In a spray bottle, mix 1 tbs. oil and a few drops of detergent-strength dish soap with 1 quart of water. Spray directly onto insects and undersides of leaves.

Deal with Rodents Humanely

Have a rodent problem but want a no-kill solution?

Be sure that your compost and trash containers are well sealed. Keep up with yard maintenance and pull produce as soon as it's ripe.

Still have a problem? Try placing old shirts soaked in diluted peppermint oil. Rodents do not like peppermint.

Attract Pollinators All Year Long

Attract pollinators to your garden all year by planting native perennials that bloom in different seasons. By having flowers blooming all year-round, pollinators will always have something to enjoy! This can be especially helpful if you have a vegetable garden or fruit trees.

fall bloomers: California aster, California fuschia, coyotebrush, monkeyflower, coyote mint, and California goldenrod, narrowleaf milkweed

winter bloomers: California pipevine, manzanita, and California buckwheat

spring bloomers: California lilac (ceanothus), common yarrow, western redbud, lupine, penstemon

summer bloomers: golden yarrow, gum plant, columbine varieties, California aster, seaside daisy, narrowleaf milkweed

Hydrate Thirsty Insects

Give your bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects a refreshing drink without inviting mosquitoes into your yard by making a simple waterer. Add food scraps for a bonus butterfly treat!

Read how by clicking here.

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Build a Bee Box

Not all bees are honeybees. In fact, honeybees are not native to California. Learn about the many different types of California native bees by clicking here.

Unlike honeybees, which build hives, native bees either nest in tree or wood holes or in the ground. Check out this great DIY way to build a mason bee house using recyclable materials.

PS: If you don't have bamboo, you can also repurpose plastic straws or simply drill holes into blocks of wood!

Make Upcycled Bird Feeders

Feed the birds... by upcycling your recyclables to make a bird feeder!

Now is a great time to learn about birds. The National Audubon Society has a great bird guide app or you can download the free iNaturalist app and post pictures of your feathered friends to get help with identification.

Photo Source Click Here