During the summer months water usage goes up dramatically as people water their yards and gardens. Rainfall is usually light. This is called the “Peak Use” period, when usage is highest while water supplies are at their lowest. You can conserve water and still have a beautiful and healthy yard. Following natural lawn and garden care practices including picking the right plant for the right location will save water, protect water quality and improve the environment for us all.

Y1) American Water and Energy Savers:
49 ways to save water indoors and out.

Y2) Center for Urban Horticulture:
Information about CUH’s educational programs for children & adults. CUH offers a wide variety of classes for everyone from beginning home gardeners to horticultural professionals.

Y3) EPA WaterSense Program:
WaterSense is a voluntary public-private partnership program sponsored by the EPA. By choosing produsts labeled through WaterSense, you know you'll be saving water for future generations.

There's also a quiz fun for both kids and adults....try it by clicking here.

Y4) Garden Hotline:

The Garden Hotline offers individualized natural solutions to your garden problems. The hotline is staffed by professional gardeners & horticulturalists from the NW. You can also call them at: (206) 633-0224.

Y5) Great Plant Picks:
A nonprofit educational program designed to help home gardeners identify unbeatable plants for their Pacific Northwest gardens. New plants are added yearly. The site contains over 300 Great Plant Picks with helpful information & pictures.

Y6) Irrigation Association:  
Information about irrigation design & equipment for your landscaping needs, plus the latest irrigation technology that can help you save water.

Y7) Irrigation Water Management Society:

Offers tools to help Puget Sound area professionals & homeowners irrigate their landscapes more efficiently, including access to local weather station information, and caluculators to create watering schedules.

Y8) King County Local Hazardous Waste Management Program and Natural Yard Care:
Information on a range of natural lawn and garden care practices, including smart watering, avoiding unnecessary pesticide use, & building healthy soil. The first link also links to a “good bug” identification guide, & information on selecting alternatives to hazardous household products.

Y9) Plant Answer Line at Center for Urban Horticulture's Elizabeth C. Miller Library:
Get answers to your gardening questions via an online form or by calling the library.

Y10) Saving Water Partnership:
Extensive information on saving water in your yard using natural gardening techniques. Includes a plant list plus details on gardening classes, rebates and other programs.

Y11) Seattle Tilth Association:
Seattle Tilth offers a variety of organic gardening classes & activities for children & adults. The site includes information on composting & raising chickens, as well as numerous links to other websites on gardening & agriculture.

Y12) Snohomish County PUD:
Tips on planning a garden that will save you water.

Y13) Tacoma Water:
Plenty of great tips for maintaining a water-smart garden & lawn.

Y14) Washington State University's Master Gardener Program:
Extensive & searchable database of lawn and garden care, plants & insect information, plus an “ask an expert” forum. The site also includes a section on stewardship gardening, with information on composting, native plants, protecting water quality, integrated pest management, & use of biosolids and cover crops.

Y15) Washington Native Plant Society:
Lists of native plants by Washington county. Links to information about landscaping with native plants & details on WNPS’s programs & services such as field trips & garden consultations.

Y16) Washington Organic Recycling Council:
Acquaints you with the basics of large scale composting & organic recycling activity & provides links to more detailed information.

Y17) Water Use it Wisely:
Lists more than 100 ways you can conserve water both indoors and out.