SustainaBlue Landscapes eNewsletter
Edition 9
January/February 2018
◦ SAVE THE DATE  ◦
Saturday, April 28th
Join us on Saturday, April 28th for our
2018 SustainaBlue Landscapes Tour!
Visit featured homes with outstanding,
sustainable landscapes right here in our service area.

We'll provide additional details as the 2018 Tour takes shape.
Nominate a Landscape!

Do you have a landscape in mind that should be included on our 2018 SustainaBlue Landscapes tour?

CLICK HERE to let us know.
  ◦ Tip of the Month  ◦

Visit the Orange County Fire Authority website  www.ocfa.org/ReadySetGo
 or call (714) 573-6774 to schedule a
FREE Wildfire Home Assessment.

Did you know...
that in Santa Ana winds, plants 2' tall can produce flames 35' long, while 6' plants can produce 100' long flames?

Defensible Space
is an area between your house and an oncoming wildfire, where the vegetation has been controlled, trimmed, or removed to reduce wildfire threat from embers, flames, and intense heat.
Follow these guidelines for Vegetation Management within 100 feet of your home:
◦ Fire-Wise Plants ◦
You can make simple changes to the plant material in your landscape that will better defend your home from wildfires.

Your yard can be both beautiful and fire-resistive.
The fire-wise plants pictured above include:
View lists of fire-wise trees, shrubs, groundcovers & vines at
Take a class online!
Learn ways to reduce water use in your landscape.

These online tutorials range from 15 to 60 minutes, covering topics such as:
  • Landscape Design
  • Plant Selection & Maintenance
  • Efficient Irrigation
◦ January In the Natural Garden ◦
Toyon ( Heteromeles arbutifolia)
 Fun Fact: The city of Hollywood
was named for this plant.

 

 

CLICK HERE to read the full article

from Tree of Life Nursery.
  • With short days and cold temps, most plants are not growing vigorously yet and are not requiring much water. Natives are very efficient and they are able to tough it out through dry winters.
  • Use fallen leaves (from deciduous trees) as valuable mulch in garden beds. Apply water through the leaf mulch and it will start decomposing and providing nutrients, shade, and moisture retention to the soil surface.
  • The winter season is a great time to plant new plants in your garden.


For more details on how to use the Watering Index  and how to create a custom watering schedule using the online Watering Calculator, visit our website


◦ Upcoming Classes & Events by Others  ◦


Change Your Garden,
Change Your Neighborhood!

*FREE classes @  Tree of Life Nursery

Saturday, January 20 @ 9:30am
Plant Selection: Winter Bloomers

Saturday, January 27 @ 9:30am
Design Basics: My Avant Garden

Saturday, February 3 @ 9:30am
Winter Tour of Nursery Gardens
FREE Garden Workshops 
@ OC Great Park's
Farm + Food Lab

Saturday, January 20
10:00am - 11:00am
Pruning Fruit Trees

Saturday, February 17
10:00am - 11:00am
Follow us on Instagram
@smwd_sustainablue
Santa Margarita Water District
Water Use Efficiency
efficiency@smwd.com  |  949-459-6593  |   www.smwd.com
26111 Antonio Parkway
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
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