Creating a Beautiful Landscape and Garden in Roseville

Create a landscape that inspire life — from beautifully appointed outdoor rooms for dining and entertaining to exquisite gardens that provide habitat for birds, bees and butterflies. With Roseville's fantastic climate, you can have a yard that celebrates Placer County. While rains in February and March have contributed to rising reservoirs and mountain snowpack, the fact remains that California is in a drought. The University of California and the UC Cooperative Extension and its Master Gardener program have created the following resources to help home gardeners deal with the drought by making their landscapes more water-efficient and their irrigation practices more effective.

TIPS FOR VEGETABLE GARDENING WITH LESS WATER in PLACER COUNTY

Compost, compost, compost. Adding organic matter to the soil increases its water holding capacity.

Mulch, mulch, mulch. Covering the surface of the soil decreases the rate of evaporation up to 50% and cuts down on thirsty weeds.

Choose crops you like to eat. Limit your vegetables to the ones your family likes and will eat.

Plant only as much as you can eat, Limit the number of plants to a reasonable amount for your uses.

Plant closer to shade between plants. Sun on soil increases evaporation. Shade your beds with your veggies. Plant in blocks, instead of rows and reduce spacing between plants.

Inspect irrigation often. Look for leaks and wasted water. Be sure water is getting to the roots of your plants.

Apply water slowly to the base of plants. Be sure your water only goes to the vegetable plants’ roots. Water deeply and less often to encourage roots to go deep into the soil.

Water early or late There is less water loss in the cooler times of day.

Check soil moisture. Before you water, look at and feel the soil to check dryness, not just at the surface, but 4-6 inches down.

Plant in containers. Less soil needs less water. Water is directed right to plant roots. Put a bucket in your shower and use shower “warm up water” to capture and use water that otherwise would go down the drain. Mix 30% compost into container soil.

Placer Nature Garden