Make Every Drop Count. Get Waterwise!
Navlet’s has helped Californians through drought since 1885. And we’re proud to keep up the tradition. With California facing another year of drought and new water restrictions, it’s important to use the water we have wisely.
Check out our list of waterwise tips, and keep your garden beautiful, even during the drought! We will continuously add new tips, so be sure to check back regularly!
Encourage Strong, Deep Roots
Your plants and trees will be hardier and become less vulnerable to dry heat if they have deep roots. Train the roots to go deeper into the ground by watering them more thoroughly but less often. The water will soak deep into the soil, encouraging the roots to grow deeper also.
Force Water To The Root Zone
Get water directly to the root zone by using Deep Drip Watering Stakes. These are designed to accommodate drip emitters as well as conventional hoses and should be placed around the root zone. When you water, simply fill the stakes with water. The multiple holes in the stake deliver water beneath the soil level and right to the roots.
Water Before The Sun Comes Up or as the Sun Goes Down
Give your plants and trees a drink before the sun rises. You’ll lose less water to evaporation and wind than you would when watering during the day. But if you absolutely can’t water your plants in the morning, water them in the evening, when the sun isn’t heating them. Careful not to wet the foliage of your plants which may cause disease.
Kick Weeds Out
Weeds steal water and other nutrients from your plants. Remove them by hand and then prevent them from coming back with Dalen Weed Shield. Use this throughout your garden, including non-planting areas to reduce water-sucking weeds. Cover with bark or mulch for a finished look.
Lay on the Mulch
3 inches of Mulch can reduce the water needs of a plant by up to 30%! Mulch moderates soil temperature, insulating plant roots from drying heat. Mulch also suppresses water-stealing weeds and offers a beautiful, finished look to your landscape. Use organic mulches like Navlet’s N.S.C.P. so when it breaks down, it infuses your garden with nutrients.
How to mulch:
- Remove any weeds or turf to end any water competition
- Water plants, shrubs, and trees deeply (See Encourage Strong, Deep Roots above)
- Spread mulch, keeping it at least 6-12 inches from the base of shrubs and trees, and at least 3 inches from the base of smaller plants
- Make sure your mulch is at least 3 inches thick to conserve the most water
Mow Your Lawn Properly
If you’ve decided to hold on to your lawn, keep your mowing height as high as possible to shade the soil and limit water evaporation. Sharp mower blades help your grass recover quickly and lose less water.
Water Grass Deeply for Strong Roots
Water your lawn to a depth of 6 inches, then water again when the top 3 inches of soil are slightly dry. Apply EZ Wet to your lawn every 3 to 4 months. This will break down compacted soils, allowing water to penetrate below the surface, reducing runoff and promoting deep, strong roots.
Less Lawn Means Big Savings
You won’t just conserve water when you remove your lawn, you’ll also be eligible for some great rebate programs through your local water district. Check out your water district’s website for details, requirements, and other helpful water-saving information.
Contra Costa Water District: ccwater.com
City of Martinez Water Department: cityofmartinez.org
East Bay Municipal Utilities District: ebmud.com
Dublin San Ramon Services District: dsrsd.com
Put those savings to use with Navlet’s Planscaper service! Get a personalized design for your new, beautiful yard for FREE when you buy a $150 Navlet’s Gift Card
Beat the Heat by Planting in the Fall
Fall is the best time for planting. This gives your shrubs, trees and other plants 6-7 months to develop deep, resilient roots before facing summer heat and evaporation.
While most of our plants are available year-round, Navlet’s also carries a large selection of colorful fall bedding plants and delicious winter vegetables and herbs.
Choose Dormant Trees and Plants
Dormant plants focus their energy into rooting instead of leaf production, resulting in bigger, deeper roots that support healthier, more waterwise plants. And with stronger root systems come more blossoms and bigger, better fruit!
Navlet’s has a huge selection of dormant crops, including:
- Fruits & Vegetables: Visit us in January for a large variety of strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, rhubarb, artichokes and more
- Fruit Trees: Arrive in early January
- Seed Potatoes: Get potatoes for your garden starting in January. Choose from more common to rarer varieties. Avoid planting store-bought potatoes: they’re often treated with damaging anti-sprout agents
- Onion Bulbs: Available in October; plant in the fall, when dormant, to produce bigger, sweeter and more tender onions compared to those planted in the spring
- Roses: Available in a huge variety beginning mid-to-late December
- Flower Bulbs: Available from September to October; these bulbs will produce Spring-blooming flowers for many years
- Perennials: Many go dormant in fall, but ask us and we may be able to get you the perennial you’re looking for
Dripping Spring Ollas
Want to reduce your garden water usage by up to 70%? Try Dripping Springs Ollas, a secret of the ancients! These unique penetrable clay pots slowly seep water deep into the ground for plant roots to easily capture. To use, simply bury the Olla up to it’s neck and fill with water once or twice per week. If using multiple Ollas, bury them about 36-60″ apart. The Dripping Springs Olla will save money, time and resources, while keeping your plants hydrated and healthy.
Bonide Wilt Stop
This amazing, all-natural spray is derived from pine tree resin. It helps seal in moisture when applied to the the foliage of your shrubs, trees or other plants. For best results we recommend two application of Wilt Stop during the summer months and a reapplication with each flush of new growth. Avoid spraying plants full bloom or with un-harvested fruit or vegetables. We have found that Wilt Stop has trouble sticking to plants with fuzzy or prickly foliage.
Dalen Weed Shield
Reduce water-stealing weeds by first removing them, and then cover the area with Dalen Weed Shield. This landscape fabric can be used around trees and shrubs because it allows water and other nutrients in while keeping weeds out. Cover the fabric with bark or mulch to maintain essential soil moisture and temperature and keep your plants wetter, longer.
Deep Drip Watering Stakes
Get water to the root zone where it’s needed and no where else with these great stakes. Insert into a container or into the ground around the drip line of your shrubs or trees to deliver water and other essential nutrients directly into the root zone of your plants. Deep Drip Watering Stakes can connect with your drip irrigation and come in several lengths.
Dramm Water Wands, Nozzles, and Timers
Take control of your water flow with these amazing wands and nozzles. The Dramm line of products will help reduce drip waste and run-off while you water your plants, trees, and shrubs. Choose from a large variety. From the 30-inch heavy duty aluminum, lightweight wand and the 9-pattern revolver, to precision automatic timers, the ways Dramm helps conserve water are many!
Mycorrhizae + Fertilizer
During a drought, using fertilizer with Mycorrhizae can help sustain your plants longer. The Mycorrhizae fungus connects the soil and roots of plants, creating a filament system that extends the reach of plants’ roots. This helps roots tap into moisture that’s otherwise out of reach.
Grow More EZ Wet
Break the surface tension of compacted soils with EZ Wet, and allow water to penetrate deeper into the soil with less run-off, helping water get to the roots. EZ Wet also leaches excess buildup of salts away from the root zone, further improving the roots ability to absorb water. And the best news? This product is biodegradable and doesn’t change soil pH!
Navlet’s Potting Soil
Get Navlet’s Potting Soil into all of your containers. Our formula features natural moisture-absorbing ingredients like fir bark, peat moss, and worm castings. See your plants flourish with Navlet’s Potting Soil!
Plant Nanny’s Glass Globes & Terra Cotta Stakes
These hand-crafted glass globe reservoirs and terra cotta stakes deliver water directly to your plant, shrub, or tree’s root zone. They work especially well in container plants or houseplants. They’ll even do the watering for you when you’re on vacation!
Soil Moist Granules
Soil Moist Granules reduce your need to water by as much as 50% by releasing absorbed water into soil as it dries. Mixing the granules into the soil towards the bottom of your planting container provides your plant with an additional source of water on which to draw when needed. Use it with vegetables, herbs, and any container plants for a little extra water conservation.
Yard Butler G-Root Irrigator
Use root irrigators to encourage deeper root growth in your plants to make them hardier during periods of drought. Yard Butler G-root Irrigators drill their own holes into the root zone of your plant. They attach easily to your hose to get water directly to the root zone and nowhere else! Avoid digging and conserve water with Yard Butler Root Irrigators!
Gardener’s Supply Snip-N-Drip Soaker System
Create your own drip watering system in less than an hour. The weeping action of the soaker hose delivers water right to the roots. The set includes 100 feet of ½ inch soaker hose, 50 feet of ½ inch garden hose, 20 hose couplers, one faucet adapter, one quick-connect coupler, and one end cap with coupler.
