City of San Luis Obispo, CA

07/07/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 07/07/2022 09:57

Water-Wise Landscape of the Month Competition in SLO Begins Today

Do you have a beautiful, low-water-use landscape or do you know someone who does?

The City of San Luis Obispo wants to celebrate those who embrace water-wise landscaping and who put our natural resources to efficient use. Enter your property or nominate a property by the 25th of each month to receive a complimentary water-wise landscape sign and for the chance to win a 45-gallon rain barrel through the Water-Wise Landscape of the Month competition.

Once a month through the remainder of the summer, the community will have the opportunity to vote on the properties that enter to win the Water-Wise Landscape of the Month competition. Those who enter will be showcased on the City of San Luis Obispo's social media platforms for the community to vote. The property receiving the most votes will win that month's rain barrel! The Water-Wise Landscape competition will be held from July - October 2022. Winners will be contacted by the 10th of the following month to receive their prize.

"We all know California is experiencing serious drought conditions right now, and in an effort to encourage more residents and businesses to save water, we're launching the first-ever Water-Wise Landscape of the Month Competition in the City of San Luis Obispo," said Utilities Department Deputy Director Mychal Boerman. "Traditional landscapes account for most of the water used by a home or business each month and we're hoping to highlight landscapes around town that are both water efficient and beautiful. When people switch from traditional to water-wise landscaping on their property, they can save water and save money by lowering their water bill, reducing maintenance costs, and reducing energy costs."

In order to be eligible for a complimentary landscape sign and for the chance to win a rain barrel, properties must be located within the City of San Luis Obispo, receive City water service, and have all of the following:

  • A ring of mulch or woodchips surrounding all plants. Adding mulch helps reduce evaporation to retain soil moisture, protect roots from extreme temperatures, release nutrients to promote growth, prevent competition for water from grass and weeds, and reduce soil compaction to allow water to absorb into soil more easily. City of San Luis Obispo Parks Maintenance can provide woodchips on a self-serve basis at the Corporation Yard (25 Prado Road), Sinsheimer Park parking lot, and Laguna Lake Park parking lot. For questions about this service, please call (805) 781-7220.

  • A weather or soil moisture-based smart irrigation controller. Smart irrigation controllers tailor watering schedules and run times automatically to meet specific landscape needs and to improve outdoor water use efficiency. Don't have a smart irrigation controller? Check out the City's partnership with Rachio for discounted smart sprinkler controllers.

  • Water-efficient plants and less than 25% traditional lawn. In California, about 50% of residential water use goes to outdoor irrigation and lawns use up about 40% to 60% of the landscape irrigation. Limiting the amount of landscape area covered by lawn can drastically reduce your water use. A list of water-wise ground cover alternatives for the Central Coast can be found at California's Invasive Plant Council website. A list of plants native to San Luis Obispo can be found at www.calscape.org.

Properties that utilize xeriscaping may apply and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Xeriscaping is a style of landscape design typically used in arid regions that require little or no irrigation or other maintenance.

For any questions, please call the City of San Luis Obispo Utilities Department at (805) 781-7215.

Media Contact: Nick Teague, Water Resource Program Manager, (805) 781-7217, [email protected]