Pasadena cuts outdoor watering to once a week

November 4, 11:22 AMBackyard Living ExaminerJane Gates

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Pasadena water restrictions increase. How can you keep your garden lovely with less water?

Photo by Jane Gates

As the restrictions on watering tighten, the city of Pasadena, California just announced the most stringent watering laws in Southern California to counter the high water demand and the effects of consecutive years of drought.  Residents are allowed to water with sprinkler systems only once per week. Drip systems and hand-watering are not included in the restrictions.

The question is whether or not a garden can survive and look good on only one day of watering per week in this dry, chaparral country. The answer is that it can. But there are some compromises.

Lawns are going to be badly affected in many areas, especially if they are accustomed to receiving lots of surface water and have grown substantial roots near the soil surface. The goal is to make roots reach deep down into the cooler levels of soil where wind and temperature change will create minimal evaporation. If you want to get the most out of a single day of watering, irrigate multiple times with a slow water delivery system that will allow water to penetrate deeply.

Lawns should be allowed to go into dormancy with reduced watering during the winter. And consider passing on over-planting with thirsty winter annual grass seed just to keep things looking rich and green. Cooler weather encourages grass to grow slowly so take advantage of the dormant period. This will use minimum water and still keep lawns alive, even if you do have to sacrifice a bright green winter lawn.

Another solution is to remove the lawn all together and re-plant with drought-tolerant, California natives or non-living decorative materials. There are a lot of different styles that can be planted with water-wise gardens that will look colorful, ornamental and still thrive on watering only once a week in the winter.

These are some suggestions that will help gardens thrive in Pasadena even with the new water restrictions. And they’ll help most California landscapes reduce water use and look great. If you live where lack of water is a concern, you might want to put some of these ideas to use now, before tighter water restrictions are mandated the way they have been in Pasadena. This way your garden will be thriving on low water no matter what restrictions go into effect in your area!