The large median along Old Davis Road near the Mondavi Center for Performing Arts is in the process of being converted to a low-water, region-appropriate landscape.

Taylor Lewis, nursery manager for the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, suggests that it is possible to train your roses to be more drought tolerant. His experience with roses and similar types of perennials and shrubs is that taking the time to keep them pruned back during their first summer pays dividends in water savings in the long term.

Ellen Zagory, director of public horticulture for the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, is featured in Davis Enterprise article dated May 13, 2015, Drought underscores the importance of native plants.

Plants are curious creatures. Unlike us, they cannot get up and get a drink of water when they are parched. By nature, they are rooted to the spot and rely on Mother Nature or a nearby gardener to supply water. Here are five tips for establishing new plants to make your garden truly drought tolerant:

On September 18, 2014 we hosted a 1-day “Convert Your Water-Hungry Lawn to a Drought-tolerant Landscape” workshop sponsored by the California Native Grassland Association. Participants received in-depth information for converting high-water-use conventional lawns into beautiful low-water-use, attractive, native, and climate-appropriate landscapes.

The Arboretum and Public Garden was featured in May on the home page “Spotlight” of the UC Davis California Drought Watch website (shown above as it appeared in spring).

With water reserves at all-time lows, water rates reaching all-time highs, and severe water rationing on the horizon, representatives from the staff at the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden compiled some quick tips for homeowners whose goal is to save water as well as their landscapes.