Water-Efficient Landscape Gardens

The Water-Efficient Landscape (WEL) demonstration gardens show that beautiful gardens can thrive in the Sacramento Valley on low amounts of supplemental summer water.  

The WEL is composed of seven garden areas designed to offer a variety of landscaping options. Most plants are labeled with markers denoting both common and botanical names.  Here are lists of plants at the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center (PDFs will open in a new window):

• WEL Garden plant list (PDF 106kb)
• California Native Garden plant list (PDF 120kb)

In addition to water-wise plant selection, the demonstration gardens incorporate various water-efficient landscaping techniques.  These include:

• use of compost to improve soil structure and fertility
• drip irrigation
• mulch to reduce soil moisture loss and weed growth
• swales to capture water
• permeable concrete walks and patios to prevent run-off

The gardens are open to the public during normal Fair Oaks Park hours (dawn to dusk).  Take a self-guided tour of the gardens - most plants are labeled. Check out the Fair Oaks Horticulture Center Workshop Schedule to attend a workshop on growing and maintaining a water-efficient landscape.

Master Gardeners and the winter WEL