Landscaping irrigation alone accounts for approximately 40% - 50% of residential water use.  There are many ways to conserve water outdoors, including xeriscaping, installing rain/moisture sensors on your irrigation system, fixing system leaks, and harvesting rainwater for use in your yard. For more ideas, see the outdoor water conservation tips and website/document links below.

Outdoor Water Conservation Tips:

• When using a hose, use a nozzle that stops the flow of water when the handle is released.
• Water early or late in the day, not midday when water evaporates more quickly.
• Replace some of your lawn with a deck, patio or low-water use plants.
• Sweep driveways and sidewalks with a broom instead of hosing them off.
• Apply a thick layer of mulch around your plants to reduce evaporation (this also helps to suppress weeds).
• Wash your car at a commercial car wash where they recycle the wash water.
  

Outdoor Water Conservation Websites/Documents:

• California Landscape Contractors Association
• CNPS Native Plant List (Sacramento Area) (PDF)
• DWR Water Efficient Landscapes (PDF)
• EcoLandscape California
• Gardening with California Native Plants (CNPS) (PDF)
• Green Gardeners Trained Professionals List (Regional WaterAuthority)
• Low Water Use Turf Choices (Yolo Gardener) (PDF)
• Irrigation Association
• Reading List for Designing a Woodland Landscape (WRAC)(PDF)
• RWA Rules of Thumb for Water-Wise Gardening 
• RWA Water Efficiency Brochure (PDF)
• Sacramento Master Gardeners 
• Six Simple Steps to a Water-Wise Garden (Save our Water)(PDF)
• Water Wise Gardens of CA 
• UC Davis Arboretum Valley-Wise Gardening 

City of Woodland Outdoor Water Conservation Guides

• Landscape to Save Water
• Use a Rain Barrel to Collect Water
• Lawn Watering Guide
• Water-Wise Landscaping