21/08/2024 | Press release | Archived content
Want to maintain and beautify your yard while saving water and money? Join us for the Fall 2024 Water-Wise Landscaping Workshop Series starting September 11th. In this first in-person series since the pandemic, City of Napa Water is teaming up with Napa County Resource Conservation District and UC Master Gardeners to share resources for smarter lawn watering, drip irrigation, soil improvement, climate-appropriate plants, garden design, rainwater harvesting, and greywater. On four Wednesday evenings at the Pelusi Building in Napa's Kennedy Park (September 11, 18, October 9, 16), hear from regional experts, ask questions, get helpful literature and water-saving tools, and perhaps come away with a valuable door prize! All workshops are free. Attend as many as you like, but please register in advance at cityofnapa.org/workshops. Workshop details:
Smart Watering Strategies
Wednesday, September 11, 6:30-8:30 pm
After reviewing basic irrigation system design, local landscape pro Ben Penning will show how to spruce up your sprinklers to avoid waste, schedule efficiently for each season, and upgrade to a weather-based smart controller. Patty Hamilton of Harmony Farm Supply will help solve the mysteries of drip irrigation, the most efficient water delivery system for most plants. Real-life drip applications will be discussed and system components will be displayed and assembled.
Rainwater & Greywater
Wednesday, September 18, 6:30-8:30 pm
Jesse Savou, founder/owner of BlueBarrel Rainwater Catchment Systems, will show how to actively collect and store rainwater for later irrigation use. Two Napa homeowners will provide local rainwater harvesting case studies. The City's Water Conservation Specialist, Josh Stokes, will explore how used water from your indoor appliances and fixtures can be directed to the plants in your yard, with special focus on the basic laundry-to-landscape greywater system that uses clothes washer outflow and does not require a permit.
Soils, Compost, and Mulch
Wednesday, October 9, 6:30-8:30 pm
The City's Water Resources Analyst, Pat Costello, will summarize the eight principles of water-wise landscaping. UC Master Gardeners will examine local soil types and the critical importance of soil in establishing a water-wise landscape, then will demonstrate how to improve your soil with aeration, amendments, and mulch. The "sheet mulching" technique for lawn removal will be highlighted.
Water-Wise Plant Show!
Wednesday, October 16, 6:30-8:30 pm
Local landscape designers will demonstrate that drought-tolerant is anything but boring. Cathy Baskin will review a colorful and beautiful selection of tree, shrub, perennial, grass, vine, and groundcover species. Maureen Clark of Bright Garden Designs will show off recent yard transformation projects. Dozens of plants will be on hand for viewing and the California Native Plant Society Napa Valley Chapter will be spotlighted. Local "Cash For Grass" rebates will be publicized.