The lay of the land has a large impact on water usage. A slope will receive more water at its base than on the sides, for example. Making adjustments as you garden can help you shift the site from wasting water to being water-smart. 

Many regions of California now limit outdoor water usage during dry seasons, and the same is true for a handful of other states. By working with the land rather than against it, you can bolster your yard now so it’ll survive harsh weather and limited water laws. 

The type of garden may be different from what is popular, but you’ll be a trendsetter on the block! Water-smart landscaping in fall considers the local ecosystem, natural landscapes, and the surrounding wildlife. They’re an integral part of the community, as they preserve water for other important areas like agriculture, home use, and food service. 

Organic Garden Straw

Epic Organic Garden Straw

Worm Coco Coir

Promo Watering Can

What is a Water-Smart Landscape?

Landscaping success depends on respecting temperature and rainfall.

A water-smart landscape takes your local rainfall into account, alongside the local flora and fauna that thrive in your region. It looks different for everyone. A water-smart garden in the Willamette Valley of Oregon is a lot different than one on the dry plains of Texas! 

First, consider how wet your year is. Is there rain year-round, or is it seasonal, and how much rainfall is there? These are all good questions to answer and make note of. Alongside rainfall, think of the warm season and how hot your summer is. 

Arid weather and intense heat shock most plant species, and clever landscaping is required to make sure they survive. Winter cold is the final factor. Many cacti and succulents survive intense summers, but they’re not frost-tolerant, or they dislike wet soil. Consider temperature, humidity, and moisture levels when taking notes.

5 Water-Smart Landscaping Adjustments for Fall

Once you have your notes together, you’ll know exactly what your garden needs to thrive. We’ll use organic amendments, native plants, and clever irrigation to make the most of little water. Take advantage of these five water-smart landscaping adjustments in fall for a thriving yard next spring. 

Add New Mulch

Carbon-rich bark chunks boost woody plant growth naturally.

Mulching is a good place to start water-smart landscaping in fall. Garden beds love mulch, and bare soil kills many species. It exposes the roots to extreme temperature swings, pests, and diseases. Rather than leaving it bare, cover it up with a good helping of mulch.

Organic mulches like compost are the best ones to use. They decompose into humus, a valuable soil particle. Humus is porous and absorbent, and it soaks up extra water and stores it for plant roots. Without compost, there are other mulches that work well, like leaf mold, coco coir, and straw. 

Mulch doesn’t just feed the soil. It covers the roots and protects them from water loss, heat, and freezing. It’s essential in vegetable gardens, and it’s crucial in keeping an ornamental bed healthy throughout the year. 

Woody shrubs and trees need more carbon than fleshy annuals and perennials. Instead of the previously mentioned mulches, try using wood chips, bark chunks, or fallen leaves. These decompose into carbon-rich soil that boosts woody specimens. 

Plant More Plants

Trees planted in autumn grow stronger and faster.

Alongside mulching, make sure you cover the soil with live plants when doing water-smart landscaping. Fall is the best season for planting, as it gives perennials more time to grow roots and anchor themselves for the growing season. Fall-planted trees and shrubs will be more vigorous and productive than spring-planted ones. 

The type of plants you plant is just as important as the act of planting itself. Native plants are ideal. What’s native in your region is different from mine, and it’s important to research what grows locally. Local plants are ideal because they evolved to grow in our regions, and they need less care and maintenance than their non-native counterparts.

You don’t have to exclude yourself from your favorite garden specimens just because they’re not native to your region, though. Simply choose plants that will do well in your yard, and make sure they’re not invasive or unruly before planting.

Create Natural Scenes

Planning plant placement prevents overwatering or underwatering mistakes.

When choosing your plants and planning a new design, it’s a good idea to get the ideas down on paper first before shopping and planting. You want to group plants with similar water needs near each other. This water-smart landscaping adjustment in fall ensures that you don’t over- or underwater any areas. 

A dry front yard without irrigation may be suitable for cacti in warm, desert climates. In others, like the Pacific Northwest, a dry area is perfect for manzanita, sage, and a summer-dormant lawn. It helps to see what types of ecosystems are abundant in your state when doing the planning. 

In this way, you may match non-native and native plants together so long as they have similar water needs. In some cases, there are better native plant options that exceed the others! Think of hydrangeas, for example. The oakleaf hydrangea exceeds all others with all-season interest, and it’s native to the eastern U.S.

Water isn’t the only consideration. Look to the sun exposures of each area of the yard, and ensure you plant sun-loving plants in full sun and shade-loving ones under the trees. 

Replace the Lawn (or Part of It)

Converting lawn areas allows more flowers to thrive.

Lawns need a lot of moisture to stay green. Seasonal lawns are a better landscaping adjustment than evergreen ones. However, they still need plenty of moisture to thrive. Consider replacing a part of the lawn or tearing it up entirely.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a good lawn. I like walking on one and having cut grass between my garden beds. It’s okay to have a lawn, but it is more water-smart to convert parts of it into new garden beds.

Think of how many more flowers, vegetables, and fruit trees your yard could support without a lawn. Put the land to work, and it’ll thank you by conserving moisture in the soil. The more plants and the less lawn you have, the more water-smart your landscape will be.

Start Harvesting Rainwater

Collecting rain keeps soil moist during hot spells.

Collecting rainwater is the best way to use it! Instead of letting it wet the soil and evaporate from the concrete, you can divert your gutter system on the house into a barrel for rainwater harvesting. This water-smart landscaping adjustment in fall seems intense, but it’s incredibly straightforward. 

A simple barrel with a spout on the bottom is great, though it’s good to have drainage in case the barrel overflows. You may connect many barrels or have a single, large one. The possibilities are endless!

Some states have laws regarding rainwater harvesting. I, too, think these are dumb, but it’s good to look up your local laws to ensure you don’t get in trouble with the city. Some are there to make sure you don’t use non-treated rainwater for drinking, as it’s best to use it for gardening and other non-potable uses.