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Water Smarts 101
Western Water presents Water Smarts 101, a free quarterly workshop series designed to help homeowners and businesses create water-efficient landscapes that thrive in Southern California’s climate.
Each in-person workshop gives you practical tools you can use to:
- Reduce outdoor water use
- Improve irrigation efficiency
- Identify and fix common leaks
- Replace turf with climate-appropriate landscaping
Workshops are held quarterly and are open to all customers. Space is limited, and advance registration is encouraged.
Landscape Transformation
Learn how native and climate-appropriate plants can replace turfgrass to create low-water, low-maintenance landscapes.
Saturday, March 14 | 10 a.m.
Location: Western Water, 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside, CA 92518
Irrigation Maintenance
Learn how to identify common irrigation issues, adjust irrigation controllers for seasonal efficiency, explore upgrade options, and discover available rebates.
Saturday, May 23 | 10 a.m.
Location: Western Water, 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside, CA 92518
Find and Fix Household Leaks
Learn how to detect and fix common indoor and outdoor leaks, perform basic system checks, and get introduced to smart-flow water-saving device rebates.
Saturday, July 25 | 10 a.m.
Location: Western Water, 14205 Meridian Parkway, Riverside, CA 92518
Autumn is Landscape Heaven
This workshop covers basic design principles, plant selection, and essential fall maintenance practices, including pruning, turf care, fertilizing, planting, and irrigation system adjustments.
Saturday, Sept. 19 | 10 a.m.
Location: TBD
Drought Tolerant Landscape Design Part II - Irrigation
Discover the nuances of installing or upgrading an efficient irrigation system tailored to the unique needs of your plants. Gain valuable insights on selecting the most suitable irrigation systems based on your plant varieties, ensuring optimal water conservation and fostering the growth of thriving and contented plants. Elevate your understanding of irrigation practices and equip yourself with the knowledge to establish and sustain a water-efficient landscape.
Saturday, January 11, 2025 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Lynn Coffman
Drought Tolerant Landscape Design Part I - Turf Removal
Removing turf grass is one of the most water-conscious adjustments a homeowner can make to reduce their water usage and associated costs.
Turf grass is commonly used in landscaping, but it also requires a large amount of water, time, and money to maintain in our Southern California climate. Converting to a water wise landscape significantly reduces both water and maintenance expenses.
Discover everything you need to know about removing your lawn and incorporating the design elements needed to meet turf replacement rebate requirements.
Saturday, November 09, 2024 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Lynn Coffman
Drought Tolerant California Native Plants
This session offers an introduction to using unique and diverse native plants, focusing on their benefits, essential pre-planting considerations, design tips, and maintenance requirements.
For more than 15 years, UC Master Gardener George Spiliotis has immersed himself in California native plants, which now dominate 70% of his personal landscape. Produced by Landscape Integrity Films and Education (LIFE), George and Elaine's yard stars in a series of 23 short videos featuring native plants.
George's expertise extends to presentations on pollinator gardening and enhancing garden enjoyment. As a docent at UC Riverside Botanic Gardens since 2014, he leads tours for both youth and adult groups. George's dedication to sustainable gardening led him to become a UC Master Gardener in 2020. George has also served as a board member of the Rivers and Lands Conservancy since 2022.
Saturday, October 12, 2024 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: George Spiliotis
Growing food with hydroponics
Hydroponics is a type of gardening that requires only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which are accessible through air and water exchange. During this workshop, you’ll learn how to start your own hydroponic garden and discover the advantages it offers, from selecting the right system to managing nutrients, all while enjoying the ability to grow fresh food.
Kelli Hague-Shaw, a UC Master Gardener and elementary school teacher, is certified in hydroponics from the University of Arizona. With a United States Department of Agriculture Farm to School Grant, and in partnership with her elementary school staff, students, and the City of Perris, she has provided fresh food for her school's lunch program. Presently, she is involved in the management of nine aeroponic towers—a type of hydroponics —and a commercial farm system.
Saturday, September 14, 2024 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Kelli Hague-Shaw
Citrus and Beyond
Lisa Wright, UCCE Master Gardener, will discuss citrus tree care, and the alternatives to citrus such as stone fruit trees in Inland gardens. Lisa will share a wealth of knowledge covering the essentials such as choosing your plants, caring of plants prior to planting, how to plant, water, fertilize, and mulch. This workshop will be followed by a Q&A session.
Saturday, May 11, 2024 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Lisa Wright
What Can You Grow in the Hot Summers of the Inland Empire?
Get pointers on growing specific spring and summer veggies. When and how to plant tomatoes and their cousins peppers and eggplants. Cool cucumbers and melons. Sweet potatoes. The three sisters—corns, beans, and squash. Halloween pumpkins and other winter squashes. Okra and peanuts. Also get tips on making your plants more drought-resistant while using less water.
Saturday, April 13, 2024 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Christine Markel Lampe
Trees for Tomorrow
Environmental Horticulturist, Janet Hartin, will discuss how urban trees cool urban heat islands, promote pollination and biodiversity, purify air and water, beautify neighborhoods, conserve water, and reduce energy usage and costs. Trees that will be discussed are resilient to drought, heat, and pests, and require little to no supplemental irrigation once in the landscape for a few years. She will also discuss the “Trees for Tomorrow” program, in which Master Gardeners provide free tree care tips and free trees to residents in low-shade neighborhoods through numerous local partnerships.
Saturday, March 9, 2024 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Janet Hartin
Irrigation – Drought Tolerant Landscape Design Part II
Join us for an exclusive workshop on Irrigation Design, where we delve into the essential skill set required by Southern California homeowners to enhance the vitality of their landscapes. Discover the nuances of installing or upgrading an efficient irrigation system tailored to the unique needs of your plants. Gain valuable insights on selecting the most suitable irrigation systems based on your plant varieties, ensuring optimal water conservation and fostering the growth of thriving and contented plants. Elevate your understanding of irrigation practices and equip yourself with the knowledge to establish and sustain a water-efficient landscape.
Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Lynn Coffman
Lawn Removal – Drought Tolerant Landscape Design Part I
Removing turf grass is one of the most water-conscious adjustments a homeowner can make to reduce their water usage and associated costs. Turf grass is commonly used in landscaping. Unfortunately, it also requires a large amount of water, time, and money to maintain in our Southern California climate. Conversion to a native landscape may dramatically reduce both water and maintenance expenses. Learn about what you need to know when removing your lawn and the design elements needed to meet the turf replacement requirements.
Saturday, Jan. 13, 2023 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Lynn Coffman
Succulents
Succulents are among the easiest plants to grow in our challenging Inland Empire. Their needs are undemanding and once met will reward you with exciting colors, shapes and textures not found in other plant species. In our Saturday workshop, we will explore these tough and tolerant survivors. You will learn what succulents are and how and why you should plant them. In addition, ideas to grow succulents in your landscape as well as using the plants in decorative container gardens will be covered. Many popular succulents that grow well in Riverside County will be discussed.
Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Linda Powell
Incorporating California Natives into Your Landscape
Join us for a practical introduction to using our unique and diverse native plants in our landscapes. Topics will include: reasons for planting native species, things to know and do before you plant, basic planning and design considerations, planting and maintenance requirements and a review of some native plants that can be grown successfully in our area.
For the past 15 years, George's primary area of gardening interest has been California native plants, which now comprise approximately 70 percent of his own landscape. Landscape Integrity Films and Education (LIFE) produced a series of 23 short videos featuring native plants in George and his wife Elaine's yard. In addition to providing information on native plants, George has given presentations on Pollinator Gardening and Maximizing Enjoyment in Your Garden. George has been a docent at the UC Riverside Botanic Gardens since 2014, providing tours to youth and adult groups. He also hosted a series of short videos on California native plants at the Botanic Gardens. In 2020, George became a UCCE Master Gardener to expand his knowledge of sustainable gardening practices and provide information to the public. In 2022, he joined the Board of the Rivers and Lands Conservancy to support the conservation of our natural landscapes and habitats.
Oct. 14, 2023 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: George Spiliotis
Creating Fire-Resilient and Beautiful Landscapes
California's landscapes will always be characterized by wildfires, making homes and properties vulnerable to their impacts. A key component of wildfire preparedness involves proper placement and maintenance of the vegetation surrounding the home. Understanding how fires approach a house and potential vulnerabilities is critical for designing fire-resilient landscapes. In this presentation, we will discuss the key concepts of defensible space and home hardening strategies necessary to create a fire- resilient but aesthetically pleasing landscape.
Luca is a UC ANR fire advisor based at the South Coast Research and Extension Center in Irvine. He collaborates with universities, agencies, and organizations to provide science-based solutions for wildfire preparedness and create fire-resilient communities across Southern California. His research focuses on the fire risks associated with Wildland-Urban Interface vegetation and structures. Previously, he was a postdoctoral researcher at the Berkeley Fire Research lab at the University of California, Berkeley. He graduated from the Joint Doctoral Program between the University of California, San Diego, and San Diego State University in Engineering Sciences, after obtaining his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Pisa (Italy).
Sept. 9, 2023 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Luca Carmignani, Ph.D.
Native Landscapes of Color, Safety, & Water Efficiency
Come explore the wonders of our exclusive California native plants that have evolved with our local climate, soil types, and animals over thousands of years. Becky Levers will cover how you can add beauty to your yard by proper plant placement. California natives are, by necessity, efficient water users. They provide color and habitat for pollinators, butterflies, and birds throughout the year. And for those of us who must add defensible space techniques to our home landscaping, natives can be excellent choices.
May 13, 2023 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Becky Leavers
Soil Health and Happy Tomatoes
Thurman will take us through the steps of soil preparation, proper irrigation, and sanitation which all play a part of your successful planting. Learn to choose and plant the right seedlings for you, whether you want hybrids, heirlooms, indeterminate or determinate. After discussing the structure and planting, we will look at the plant and the fruit to see how we should adjust to produce a great harvest.
April 8, 2023 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Thurmand Howard
Home Composting — Build a five-star hotel for your worms!
Vermicompost has a number of benefits. Learn the ins and outs of home composting and what an enormous difference it can make in your own home garden. Healthy soil holds more water than a nutrient deficient soil. This is an easy money and water-saving practice available to all. Learn how to create and maintain your own five-star hotel for worms and many other beneficial bugs.
March 10, 2023 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Kathy Steckman
Greywater 101: Your garden can flourish with greywater as a resource
Greywater can help you grow an abundant landscape, even in the face of drought. Brook Sarson will introduce you to greywater including policies and benefits. We will discuss what is greywater and what isn’t greywater, how to access your greywater, what is legal and what requires a permit, how to estimate your greywater volume, how to use greywater in your garden, and what loves greywater and what might not like greywater. You will leave with a better understanding of what is possible at your home, and how to engage a professional to help you install your greywater system or where to find the tools and resources to install your own greywater system.
February 11, 2023 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Brook Sarson, Catching H2O
Permaculture in Your Own Garden
What if you could have the garden of your dreams using limited water, low maintenance, and no manufactured fertilizers, insecticides or herbicides? What if you could have this garden at low cost using natural materials that you may already have? This dream is very possible and easy to achieve through permaculture. Come meet Diane Kennedy of Finch Frolic. Her Permaculture Garden in Fallbrook is a food forest planted in poor soil and minimally watered with salty well water. However, it delivers fruit, nuts, herbs, medicine, building materials, flowers, and critical habitat without a drop of fertilizer. Food production is a large aspect of permaculture, yet the techniques can be used for agricultural properties, postage-stamp backyards or balconies, and ornamental landscapes of any design, be they informal or heavily manicured.
January 14, 2023 | 10 a.m.
Speaker: Diane Kennedy
Questions? Contact us at 951.571.7104 or via email.