Once again the word drought is coming to the forefront of the news. With potential water rationing on the horizon, gardeners with existing landscapes have a number of different ways to become waterwise without losing their landscape investment. It may seem like a daunting task, but it's not nearly as difficult to keep your plants looking lush and green during periods of water restrictions as one might think.

• First off, consider converting your overhead irrigation to drip irrigation for all non-lawn areas, if you haven't already done so. This concentrates the water where it needs to be (around the plant root ball) while eliminating excess runoff and evaporation.
• Water early in the morning when the temperatures are cooler and the sun isn't as intense. Thus, more water will penetrate your plants instead of evaporating into the air. The best time is between 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
• When hand watering, make sure to place your nozzle near the base of the plant instead of above the plant, where water is wasted wetting the foliage.
• Water lawns more deeply instead of more frequently when it gets hotter. You should have your timers set to water only until your lawn reaches the point of runoff. After that no additional water can be absorbed. Most lawns can get by on 20-30 minutes of water every three days. They may not look as good but they will survive. Deeper watering encourages the roots to go down further to chase the water, which results in less heat stress on the roots.
• Raise the mowing height on your mower. Taller grass cools and shelters the roots below, helping to reduce the need for more frequent watering.
• Add a granulated soil conditioner, such as Soil Buster, to the lawn to help break up compacted soil particles and aerate your soil, allowing roots to penetrate deeper into the soil. This also helps the lawn become more resistant to pests, disease and weeds.
• Cover open areas around plants and trees with a two-inch layer of mulch to help reduce evaporation, keep the soil moist and cool, and prevent weeds.
• Make sure to pull weeds as needed to reduce competition for water, and feed your garden at least quarterly to help your plants stay healthy and strong. Use a plant food with lower, slow-release nitrogen to prevent rampant, soft, fleshy new growth that uses lots of water.
• Add a granulated soil polymer to potting soil when planting in containers. It expands when watered, holding water in the soil longer.
• Leave a two-inch space between the top of the soil and the rim of your container so that there is enough room for holding water without it flowing down the sides of your pot. Place a layer of mulch or bark on top of the soil to help retain moisture.

If you follow these garden tips year-round, every year--not just in a drought year--your garden will not only survive a drought situation, but also use less water, which could help reduce future droughts.

You’d like to use it more than you do, but it just does function properly. You’d like some color, you’d like to take out all those huge old bushes, and it’s just too hot out there

But where do you start? You don’t really think you can tackle the whole thing on your own, but who can you call? Your budget isn’t unlimited, so let’s see, has anyone you know hired a good landscaper?

Designing a new yard can be scary business. You don’t necessarily know what you want. Do you need new irrigation? (Probably) Shade area? Water feature? What sort of plants do you like? And, what’s it gonna cost?

You will get ten different answers to ten different questions from ten different people.

You have a few of options.

You can hire a licensed landscape contractor who will have a crew and know how to do all of the work required; some will be good at design and know plants. Be prepared to pay for that license.

You can hire an unlicensed contractor who will have a crew and can handle the whole job, and some will have a feel for design and know some plants. But that’s risky. If you are planning on major structural changes such as patios, walkways, overhangs, water features, barbeques, decks, etc., you will want a licensed contractor.

You may just talk to your gardener who might be good at plants and design, and he may know a guy who does masonry, etc. But again, you’re on your own.

Or, you can hire a landscape designer who will design the project and usually has the names of contractors they work with. This person will sell you a detailed design on paper which you can bid out or do parts by yourself.

Here’s a tip. It’s a good idea to work with someone who will design the whole thing, even if you can’t afford to install it all at once. They will be able to help you decide which parts you should install now, and even which parts you will be able to do on your own, such as ordering plants from Green Thumb.

You may decide to “do it yourself.” At Green Thumb we can help you with your landscape design if you bring in a dimensional drawing and some photographs of the area you care to plant.

And by all means, always get three bids. Most designers and contractors will give you a complimentary consultation, or they may have a first time fee of around $50.00.

But don’t have someone come over if you have absolutely no idea of what you want.

That does not mean you have to know what you want.

It just means that if you get a consultation, remember it’s important to have ideas of what you like.

A good place to start is by researching plants, looking at magazines and walking the nursery at Green Thumb. (Also a good place to get referrals for landscapers.)

If you have admired a landscape in your neighborhood, take a photograph. (You may or may not choose to ask your neighbor first.)

Start to notice ‘hardscape’ features such as patios, walls, walkways, overhangs, water features, barbeques, decks, etc.

Walk around your yard and try to get a feel for what you might like with regards to style. Do you like a tropical garden? English garden? How about modern or Japanese?

So now you’ve got your ideas, and you’ve made your appointments. Take your time, see what each person has to offer.

Changing the face of your yard can open up your entire home in more ways than you imagined, while adding considerable value to it.