Use less water across your landscape.

Step 01

Start with the site you have

Notice where water collects, where soil dries quickly, and which parts of the yard need regular watering. A simple property sketch can help you avoid watering pavement or treating every bed the same.

• Walk the property after rain and during a normal irrigation cycle; note runoff, puddles, leaks, and overspray.
• Record sunny and shaded areas, slope, soil that drains quickly or slowly, and plants that already thrive with little supplemental water.
• Choose one small area to improve first, then observe how it responds through a season.

Sources: U.S. EPA WaterSense: Water-Smart Landscape Design; U.S. EPA WaterSense: Sprinkler Spruce-Up

Step 02

Choose plants for local conditions

Native or regionally adapted plants can be a good starting point, but “drought tolerant” does not mean suited to every site. Match each plant to local climate, soil drainage, sun, mature size, and its water needs while it establishes.

• Look for locally native or adapted options from a county Extension office, land-grant university, or USDA NRCS resource for your area.
• Check plant guides for soil, moisture, sun, and geographic limits; confirm that a cultivar is appropriate for your region and intended use.
• Plan for establishment watering and follow local guidance rather than assuming a new planting needs no water.

Sources: U.S. EPA WaterSense: Water-Smart Landscape Design; USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) Plant Guide; USDA Forest Service: Desert willow

Step 03

Group similar needs and cover bare soil

Place plants with similar watering needs together so one irrigation schedule does not overwater some plants and underwater others. Mulch around appropriate plantings to help limit surface evaporation and weeds.

• Group plants by water needs, sun exposure, and irrigation method; this is often called hydrozoning.
• Keep mulch clear of plant stems and trunks, and follow local recommendations for material and depth.
• Reduce irrigated turf where it is not needed, in manageable stages, while keeping areas that serve a real use.

Sources: U.S. EPA WaterSense: Water-Smart Landscape Design; U.S. EPA WaterSense: Watering Tips

Step 04

Tune the irrigation you already have

A short inspection can reveal water landing on sidewalks, broken heads, clogged emitters, or schedules that no longer fit the weather. Adjust irrigation to the plants and conditions in each zone.

• Inspect each zone for leaks, pooling, tilted or broken heads, clogged emitters, and overspray onto hard surfaces.
• Water when plants need it and avoid the heat of the day; adjust schedules for rainfall, seasonal changes, and local watering restrictions.
• On slopes or soils where water runs off before soaking in, consider shorter cycles with breaks between them.
• If replacing a controller, compare WaterSense-labeled weather-based or soil-moisture options and follow the product’s installation and programming guidance.

Sources: U.S. EPA WaterSense: Watering Tips; U.S. EPA WaterSense: Sprinkler Spruce-Up

Regional context

Plant lists are local, not universal.

These federal plant guides illustrate why location matters; they are not a nationwide planting list or a promise that a species, cultivar, or planting plan is available or appropriate at a particular property.