How to Create a Low-Water Garden

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The best way to reduce your home's water use is by replacing your lawn with California native or low-water landscaping. Here's how you can replace your turf in six steps!

Step 1: See if you qualify for a rebate

Step 2: Get inspired

Visit a Demonstration Garden

Looking for inspiration to revamp your garden? Visit a local demonstration garden to see beautiful low-water plants in-person!

Granada Native Garden

801 Murrieta Blvd
Livermore, CA 94550
A California native plant demonstration garden maintained by Friends of the Arroyos.
Learn More

Livermore Earth-Friendly Demonstration Garden

3575 Greenville Rd
Livermore, CA 94550
A drought-tolerant demonstration garden maintained by Alameda County Master Gardeners.
Learn More

Sycamore Grove Park Native Plant Garden

1051 Wetmore Rd
Livermore, CA 94550
Sycamore Grove Park features two California native plant demonstration gardens.
Learn More

Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery

1552 Bancroft Rd
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Features succulents and drought-tolerant plants from around the world.
Learn More

The Gardens at Heather Farms

1540 Marchbanks Dr
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Features a variety of California native and drought-tolerant demonstration gardens.
Learn More

Find Virtual Inspiration

Don't have time to visit a demonstration garden? Check out these virtual tours and images of local low-water gardens.

Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour
Each spring, Bringing Back the Natives hosts tours of East Bay homes with California native landscaping. Information about gardens that have been featured on past tours are available on their website year-round.

Tri-Valley Water-Wise Garden Gallery
Explore this online photo gallery of California native and drought-tolerant landscaping.

Step 3: Create your landscape design

Free Landscape Designs for the DIYer

Planning on designing your new garden yourself? Take advantage of the free water-wise landscape designs offered by Zone 7 Water Agency, StopWaste, and the California Native Plant Society.

Garden by Number Landscape Designs
Don't have a green thumb? No problem. Zone 7 Water Agency had done the heavy lifting for you by creating beautiful designs that are easy to install on your own. Each design covers 100 square feet and includes succulent gardens, pollinator gardens, and year-round color for sun or shade.

Calscape Garden Planner
Discover the perfect California native plants and designs for your garden in just four questions.

Lawn to Garden Design Resources
View free landscape designs created by Rescape California certified professionals.

Tips for Hiring a Landscape Contractor

Interested in hiring a landscape contractor? California Law requires that landscaping work be completed by a licensed contractor if the work is $500 or more for labor and materials. Be sure to verify licenses with the Consumer Affairs Contractors State License Board before hiring a professional.

Below are public directories of landscaping professionals who have been certified in waterwise practices. These directories are provided for informational purposes only. Inclusion on these lists does not imply a recommendation or endorsement from the City of Livermore.

WaterSense Irrigation Professionals A directory of landscaping professionals certified in waterwise irrigation system design, installation, and/or maintenance.

Rescape Qualified Designers & Maintenance Professionals Rescape California offers certification programs for landscape designers and maintenance professionals. Training focuses on a sustainable, holistic approach to landscaping to conserve water and soil, reduce waste, and prevent pollution.

Step 4: Remove your lawn

Step 5: Select your plants

See Recommendations from the Experts

Do you have a plant in mind but are not sure how much water it needs? Or a specific problem spot that needs a particular type of plant? These plant lists from trusted landscaping experts may be able to help.

Know Which Plants to Avoid

Some plants aggressively spread beyond the garden and into neighboring open spaces, negatively impacting the local ecosystem. Visit Don't Plant a Bay Area Pest! to find beautiful and hardy alternatives to common invasive plants. This list is updated regularly by the California Invasive Plant Council.

Step 6: Purchase your plants

Many Tri-Valley nurseries and garden centers have sections dedicated to low-water and California native plants. If you are looking for a harder-to-find plant species that is not carried by local nurseries, you may want to visit a nursery that solely specializes in low-water varieties. Many nurseries have lists of available plants on their website so you can browse their selection before visiting.

The list below is informational only. Inclusion on this list does not imply a recommendation or endorsement from the City of Livermore, nor is this list exhaustive or all inclusive. If you would like your nursery added to this list, email us .

Tri-Valley Nurseries

Alden Lane Nursery

981 Alden Lane
Livermore, CA 94550
Visit Website

Home Depot Garden Center

2500 Las Positas Rd
Livermore, CA 94551
Visit Website

Lowe's Garden Center

4255 First Street
Livermore, CA 94551
Visit Website

SummerWinds Nursery

7360 San Ramon Rd
Dublin, CA 94568
Visit Website

Western Garden Nursery

2756 Vineyard Ave
Pleasanton, CA 94566
Visit Website

East Bay Speciality Nurseries

Annie's Annuals & Perennials

740 Market Ave
Richmond, CA 94801
Visit Website

Cactus Jungle Nursery & Garden

1509 4th St
Berkeley, CA 94710
Visit Website

East Bay Wilds

2777 Foothill Blvd
Oakland, CA 94601
Visit Website

Native Here Nursery

Tilden Regional Park, 101 Golf Course Dr
Berkeley, CA 94708
Visit Website

Oaktown Native Plant Nursery

702 Channing Way
Berkeley, CA 94710
Visit Website

Ruth Bancroft Garden & Nursery

1552 Bancroft Rd
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Visit Website

The Dry Garden Nursery

6556 Shattuck Ave
Oakland, CA 94609
Visit Website

The Watershed Nursery

601 A Canal Blvd
Richmond, CA 94804
Visit Website

Finished your Project?

Download the resources below to keep your new landscaping healthy and beautiful. Visit our Water-Wise Maintenance page to discover more ways to save water in your garden.

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