NEW!! Santa Clara Valley Sustainable Landscape Guidelines

Hot off the press, just in time for fall planting season, Valley Water is proud to publish its Sustainable Landscape Guidelines: A Watershed Approach to Landscaping. This free 47-page guide showcases water-wise plants, landscape design tips, garden how-tos, and other resources specific to our valley.

This book has so much great landscaping information for you, such as:

• How to design your sustainable landscape

• How to water wisely

• How to take care of your soil, including mulching and compost

• How to select the right plant for your garden

• How to maintain your beautiful landscape

• And so much more!

You can download it for free here to help you plan your next garden project, including lawn conversion and rainwater capture projects that may qualify for Valley Water’s Landscape Rebate Program!

August 9, 2022 update!

This publication is now available electronically in English, Spanish, and Chinese and the English version is available in print from Valley Water’s free online shopping cart!

An excerpt from the landscape design section of the Guide.

Fire Safe Landscaping

Because of the recent fires in our state, it’s more important than ever to make sure your landscaping is fire-safe. Here are some great tips from Cal Fire:

FIRE-RESISTANT LANDSCAPING

A fire-safe landscape isn’t necessarily the same thing as a well-maintained yard. A fire-safe landscape uses fire-resistant plants that are strategically planted to resist the spread of fire to your home. Fire resistant plants are great in California because they are often drought tolerant, too.

The good news is, you don’t need a lot of money to make your landscape fire safe. And you will find that a fire-safe landscape can increase your property value and conserve water while beautifying your home.

Choose Fire-Resistant Plants and Materials

• Create fire-safe zones with stone walls, patios, decks and roadways.

• Use rock, mulch, flower beds and gardens as ground cover for bare spaces and as effective firebreaks.

• There are no “fire-proof” plants. Select high-moisture plants that grow close to the ground and have a low sap or resin content.

• Choose fire-retardant plant species that resist ignition such as rockrose, ice plant and aloe.

• Select fire-resistant shrubs such as hedging roses, bush honeysuckles, currant, cotoneaster, sumac and shrub apples.

• Plant hardwood, maple, poplar and cherry trees that are less flammable than pine, fir and other conifers.

Check your local nursery, landscape contractor or county’s UC Cooperative Extension  service for advice on fire-resistant plants that are suited for your area.

Water-Wise Yards - Your Link to Rebates and Designs

Interested in replacing your lawn with something that's pretty and uses less water?  We have you covered!!

Rebates are available and you may qualify!  The Santa Clara Valley Water District now has rebates to take out your lawn and replace it with qualifying water-wise landscape.  Be sure to contact them before you start your project.

We have beautiful, ready-made landscape designs here!  Choose from a variety of designs, such as a Small, Sunny Yard, or a Children's Garden, or a Large Slightly Shady Yard.  There are so many choose from - pick one that's right for you!  Happy Gardening!

Friday, April 27th is Arbor Day - Let's Celebrate Trees!!

This Friday, April 27th is Arbor Day!  To celebrate Arbor Day, let's take a moment to recognize some of the wonderful things that trees provide:  

1) They conserve energy - ore shade on buildings in the summer equals cooler interiors

2) They sequester carbon dioxide and reduce air pollution

3) They improve property values

4) They provide wildlife habitat

5) They are beautiful!  

To find out more about trees, please visit these wonderful organizations:  Canopy.org   Our City Forest

Thank you, Trees!!  Happy Arbor Day!!

Take Your Yard from Grass to Gorgeous - and get a rebate! →

Are you interested in transforming your front or back lawn into something that uses less water?  How about something gorgeous and sustainable?  Would you like a rebate for that?  

If you answered "Yes!" to any of those questions, we have a program for you!  The Santa Clara Valley Water District's Landscape Rebate Program offers customers a rebate for taking out their high-water using landscape and putting in low-water using plants and hardscape.  It's easy too!  Just go to the website for more information about their Landscape Rebate Program.

Looking for landscape designs to get you started?  We have you covered!  Just click here.