Master Gardener Water-wise Demonstration Garden

Summer Dry Climate

In Sonoma Valley, summers are always dry. Using natives and other low-water use plants offers beauty while conserving water.

Ways to Conserve

Choose natives & low water-use plants
Use drip irrigation
Apply mulch to retain moisture
Use permeable materials for pathways
Transform high water use planting to water-wise plantings

Conceptual Landscape Design

The site was cleared and the new beds, known as Pods, were built using hugekulter principles.

Hugekulter is a horticultural technique where decaying wood debris and other compostable biomass plant materials is mounded and covered with soil to create a raised bed. It is said that the technique helps to improve soil fertility and water retention.

The garden was developed in stages covering planting; installation of irrigation; sheet mulching the paths; edging the pods with stone from a member’s property; Plus Weeding!!