Applications for the 2023 WaterWise Garden Recognition Contest are now available, the Santa Barbara County Water Agency and participating local water providers have announced.

The annual competition recognizes Santa Barbara County residents who have eye-catching, water-efficient landscapes.

Residents can apply for the contest online to compete for an agency award and the countywide grand prize. Winners will have their gardens featured online and receive an engraved stone boulder. 

More than 50% of water use in an average home in Santa Barbara County goes toward outdoor irrigation. Both beautiful and practical, water-efficient gardens save water, lower water bills, and are lush yet easy to maintain.

With native plants, a water-efficient garden can become a thriving verdant habitat for local wildlife by fostering healthier soils and plants that support biodiversity and natural pollinators. 

“Water-wise landscaping is one of the most effective ways residents can conserve water without sacrificing the splendor of home gardens,” said Kalani Durham, county Water Agency Project lead.

“This contest showcases living demonstrations of sustainable gardens in our community while recognizing residents who have moved away from thirsty lawns,” Durham said. 

Residents of single-family homes can apply if they live in areas served by the Carpinteria Valley Water District, Vandenberg Village Community Services District, Montecito Water District, and the cities of Santa Barbara and Solvang. 

View contest rules and apply online at WaterWiseSB.org/GardenContest. All applications are due by April 30.

There are a number of easy ways to make a garden more water-efficient, such as choosing native or water-wise plants, installing a smart irrigation controller, or using the online Weekly Watering Percent to adjust your existing sprinkler timer based on the weather, the county Water Agency reports.

Visit WaterWiseSB.org to how to use water more efficiently in landscaping, and to see previous contest winners.