Little Dove Creations: practical water conservation tips for landscapes

And if you're not a resident of my state, and you're sick of hearing about it and think that it doesn't have anything to do with you, keep in mind that most of the water in California goes to agriculture, and California supplies much of America's fruits and vegetables. You a fan of spinach and artichoke dip? In the U.S. California is responsible for 99% of artichoke production and 71% spinach production. Having a kiwi in your smoothie somewhere in our country? You can probably thank California for that fuzzy green fruit you're enjoying, as it grows 97% of them. The truth is, the drought affects all of us (at least, if you live in America) and no matter where or how you live, everyone could benefit from being a little more consciousness of how we use our water.

I'm not all doom and gloom, I know that it's only matter of time before we have a good moisture year and everything will be good again. I also know that despite the fact that some Californians seem to forget this, the majority of California is desert, and we're going to experience dry cycles forever, it's just the nature of the climate; it's time for us to be a little more water wise.

Obviously, I'm not going to suggest doing anything that I wouldn't do myself. I'm not going to sit here and tell you that depending on where you live, you should replace all your lawn and existing plants with turf or other arid landscaping. If that's your jam great; I happen to love my green grass and have waited years to be able to enjoy it, so I don't plan on letting it die anytime soon.

Don't water during the hotter parts of the day, try to water early in the morning, or later in the evening. This will vary depending on where you live, but a general rule of thumb would be not between the hours of 8:00 am and 7:00 pm. Keep in mind that the longer your lawn can sit saturated, the better off it will be.
Watering less often, for longer periods of time, will actually establish a better, deeper root system and be better for your plants in the long run.
Consider aerating or fertilizing your lawn. Both those things should typically be done once or twice a year, and might be much more beneficial then watering more often.
If you are purchasing new plants, consider getting ones that are labeled as "drought tolerant" plants. Even if you don't live in a dry area, these plants are great because they tend to be hardy, so even if you don't have the greenest thumb, they're probably make it. Plus, if you travel or just forget to water a lot, then you don't have to worry. I have had a lot of luck with the Smart Planet plants from Home Depot.
Consider installing a drip system for plants, which will deliver water closer to the base of the plant and water more efficiently.
Look into getting rain barrels, so when it does rain you can collect all that rain run off from your gutters to use in your garden.
Always be sure to check your local water agency and what their current guidelines and restrictions are, you don't want to be served with a heavy fine because you didn't know what your watering days were.