If you’ve ever wondered why keeping a traditional green lawn happy through a Napa Valley summer can feel like a full-time job, there’s a pretty straightforward reason: our climate wasn’t designed for it.

Napa has a Mediterranean climate, with cool, wet winters followed by long, dry summers. Yet nearly half of the City of Napa’s treated drinking water is used outdoors, much of it on lawns and gardens.

The good news is that using less water doesn’t have to mean replacing your yard with gravel and a couple of cactus plants.

There are plenty of ways to create a colorful, attractive landscape that is better suited to the Napa Valley climate, and several local resources can help you figure out where to start.

More Than 1,000 Plants to Explore

One of the best places to start is Water-Wise Gardening in the Napa Valley, a free online resource devoted specifically to plants and landscapes that work well here.

The site includes more than 1,000 climate-appropriate plants, along with garden galleries, suggested plant lists, watering information and tools for searching plants by characteristics. You can even build and print your own plant list.

That makes it useful whether you’re planning an entire landscape makeover or simply trying to decide what to put in that one stubborn corner of the yard.

The site also links residents to water-conservation programs offered by the cities of Napa, American Canyon, St. Helena, and for Napa County.

It Isn’t Just About the Plants

Choosing plants that need less water is only part of a water-wise landscape.

Mulch helps retain moisture. Healthy soil holds water more effectively. Irrigation systems can be adjusted as the seasons change rather than running on the same schedule all year. And drip irrigation can deliver water directly where plants need it rather than spraying it across sidewalks and driveways.

The City of Napa’s water-wise landscaping resources cover all of those subjects, along with rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, smart irrigation controllers, watering schedules and professional landscapers trained in water-efficient techniques.

City of Napa water customers can also request a free Water-Wise Home Survey designed to identify ways to use water more efficiently and potentially reduce their water bills.

Two Free Workshops Coming in October

If you’d rather learn from someone than spend an evening researching plants online, the City of Napa has two free Water-Wise Landscaping Workshops coming up.

Both are held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Napa Senior Center, 1500 Jefferson Street, and advance registration is requested. The workshops are designed for Napa Valley residents and bring together experts from the Napa County Resource Conservation District, UC Master Gardeners, the Napa Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society and local landscape professionals.

Wednesday, October 7: Water-Wise Site Preparation: Soil, Compost, and More

This session starts beneath the surface. Participants will learn about Napa Valley soils and how soil structure affects water use, along with aeration, amendments, compost and mulch. The workshop will also demonstrate sheet mulching, a method for removing lawn without simply digging it all out.

Wednesday, October 14: Water-Wise Plant Show

This one is for anyone who hears “drought tolerant” and pictures a yard full of rocks.

Landscape experts will showcase trees, shrubs, perennials, grasses, vines and groundcovers that can add plenty of color while requiring less water. The program will also feature local landscape projects, California native plants and rain gardens, which can capture stormwater, reduce runoff and provide wildlife habitat.

Both workshops are free and held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Napa Senior Center, 1500 Jefferson Street.

Advance online registration is requested.

Fall Is a Good Time to Start Planning

Even if you aren’t ready to redo your yard this fall, this is a good time to start thinking about what you might change.

Browse the plant database. Look at some finished gardens. Pay attention to which parts of your yard struggle most through the summer. And if you’re planning to replace lawn, don’t start digging quite yet.

Next week, we’ll take a closer look at the Cash for Grass programs available around Napa Valley and how much you may be able to receive for replacing thirsty turf with a more water-efficient landscape.