Water-wise gardens class Tuesday in Cd'A

COEUR d'ALENE — Water rationing in the home landscape may be a reality in the near future as drought conditions worsen in the western U.S.

The University of Idaho, Kootenai County Idaho Master Gardener’s Summer Horticulture Class series is offering a class to home gardeners to help them learn how to create efficient irrigation systems, water more efficiently and incorporate native, drought-resistant plants into their landscape.

The class, Water-Wise Gardens: Creating Beautiful, Drought-Resistant Gardens, Landscapes and Meadows will be held on Tuesday, July 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Community Room. The cost is $10 and pre-registration is required.

How gardens and landscapes are watered is key to being water-wise. BiJay Adams, general manager of the Liberty Lake Sewer and Water District, will lead the discussion on efficient watering practices and discuss how to create an efficient irrigation system or how to retrofit a system already in place.

“Outdoor irrigation is the single largest use of potable water in the United States,” Adams said.

“Through education and planning, landscapes can be well-maintained using 30 to 50% less water.”

The class will cover how to improve the design and efficiency of your irrigation system to keep your landscape healthy and save you money. Efficient irrigation systems protect the quality of our water by reducing runoff and keeping pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides and automotive fluids out of lakes, rivers, storm drains, drywells and the aquifer.

The class will also provide suggestions for incorporating drought-resistant, native plants into the home landscape.

“When people think of drought-resistant gardens, they often imagine a yard full of rocks and succulent plants or xeriscaping,” said Kara Carleton, program coordinator for the Idaho Master Gardener program. “But that’s not what drought-resistant means in northern Idaho. We have many beautiful native flowers, grasses, shrubs and trees that are low-maintenance and drought-resistant.

Being water-wise doesn’t mean you have to remove your lawn.

“It’s entirely possible to have a lawn and be water-wise,” said Carleton. “There are several types of turf grasses that are drought-tolerant.”

The class will also offer suggestions for drought-tolerant turf grasses and tips for creating and maintaining a sustainable lawn.

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To register for Water-Wise Gardens: Creating Beautiful, Drought-Resistant Gardens Landscapes and Meadows visit: https://tinyurl.com/yuy8p5eh or call 208-292-2525, or download the registration form at www.uidaho.edu/extension/county/kootenai/garden.