The WaterWise Garden Recognition Contest is being launched to promote attractive and water-efficient gardens in the county. The Santa Barbara County Water Agency and participating local water providers encourage residents to apply for the contest online to compete for an agency award and the countywide grand prize.
Winners will have their landscapes featured online and receive a yard award. Eligible residents may view contest rules and apply online at http://www.WaterWiseSB.org/GardenContest/. All applications are due April 1.
Residents of single-family homes are eligible to apply if they live in areas served by the water districts of Goleta, Carpinteria Valley, Montecito and Vandenberg Village, and the city of Santa Barbara.
“Despite receiving above-average rainfall last winter and significant increases in surface reservoir storage, continued vigilance of our water supplies remains a priority following the driest consecutive seven years on record in Santa Barbara County,” said Water Agency manager Fray Crease.
From 50-70 percent of water use in an average Santa Barbara County home goes toward landscape irrigation. Water-wise gardens can greatly reduce landscape water use, save money, and be beautiful and easy to maintain as well.
There are dozens of easy ways to make a garden more water efficient, such as choosing water wise plants, installing a smart irrigation controller, or simply using the online Weekly Watering Index to adjust your existing sprinkler timer based on the weather.
Visit WaterWiseSB.org to learn about more ways to save water in landscaping and to apply for the WaterWise Garden Recognition Contest.