A short drive through Bend and it is easy to see that landscapes here can be pretty diverse. The resources below provide guidance and information so that whatever landscape choices you’re making, you have the tools to transform it to one that is more water efficient, drought resilient and more WaterWise.

Tips for Irrigation and Water Use

Provided by Dan Denning, Water Conservation Program Manager, City of Bend

• Make sure sprinkler systems are running efficiently. Check sprinklers as they run to identify leaks or misdirected spray. Be sure the water coming out of sprinklers makes it to the plants that need it.
• Brown or yellow spots in the lawn don’t mean a runtime is too short. It means the sprinklers are not covering uniformly. Adjust sprinklers placement to improve coverage.
• Use cycle soak irrigation settings by splitting up runtimes into multiple shorter cycles. This lets water penetrate the soil and prevents runoff. It will maximize the availability of water to plant roots.
• Follow City of Bend code for even/odd day watering to increase root depth and create a more resilient landscape. Addresses ending in an odd number should water on odd dates; those ending in even numbers should water on even dates.
• Use high efficiency sprinkler equipment to save additional water. For examples of high efficiency equipment visit the Irrigation page.

Tips for Plant Choice and Maintenance

Provided by Amy Jo Detweiler, Professor and Community Horticulturist, Oregon State University Extension Service

• New plants have a more shallow root system than established plants and require more water, so delay planting during periods of drought.
• Prioritize what to water during a drought. Vegetable gardens are often a top priority for water use. After that, consider watering trees first, especially mature trees. They become increasingly more valuable as they mature. Follow by watering the most important parts of the landscape, including shrubs and perennials. Water for lawns can be reduced. Lawns may show some browning, but they only need to be watered enough to keep them alive. Annuals and perennials are usually the least expensive and easiest plants to replace, so they should be at lowest priority.
• Proper plant care and maintenance can help a plant endure the increased summer temperatures and decreased soil moisture. Start with improving your soil. Add three to five inches of mulch around plants. Try an organic fertilizer application to reduce rapid plant growth and water need on lawns.
• When planting, proper plant choices can set a landscape up for success in the challenging Central Oregon environment. Resources like the OSU Extension publication WaterWise Gardening for Central Oregon and the Hollinshead WaterWise Demo Garden can provide ideas.
• Less water is lost to evaporation early and late in the day when temperatures are lower and there is less wind. Be sure to follow the City of Bend’s watering hours by not irrigating landscapes between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

Resources to help inspire and educate landscape owners on the benefits of a WaterWise Landscape.

WATERWISE GUIDES 

The WaterWise Program offers free guidebooks to help you create your own beautiful water efficient landscapes. Each guide focuses on a different topic with information specific to Bend's unique climate and soil conditions.

Link to more information. 

 HIGH DESERT PLANT GUIDE

Our WaterWise Gardening in Central Oregon plant catalog is the resource you need to find the right plant for the right place. Complete with helpful symbols to note plant water needs, fire resistance, sun and shade requirements, and more, this catalog is a must have for local landscape novices and professionals alike.

WATERSHED LANDSCAPING SERIES 2021 BOOKLET

This Watershed Landscaping booklet will help you design, install and manage your landscape using the Watershed Approach. The result is a gorgeous living space that functions as a healthy mini-watershed. Making your landscape Watershed Wise is no more expensive or difficult; this series will show you how.

NEW DEMO GARDEN 
Discover Bend's new, low water landscape demonstration garden at Hollinshead Park. This collaborative effort provides an opportunity for everyone to experience a local garden with real examples of low to moderate water use landscape plants and efficient irrigation techniques that work well here in Central Oregon. Watch the video and learn more about this exciting new garden space.

 
Oregon Rain Garden Guide

Managing stormwater in Bend is critical to the long term health of our watershed and community as a whole. That starts with managing stormwater in the landscape. The City of Bend requires that property owners be able to retain normal stormwater flow on their property. A great way to do this is to install a rain garden that meets local requirements and looks beautiful at the same time.

• OSU Oregon Rain Garden Guide - this link will redirect you to the OSU website

Additional Information and Resources

• City of Bend - WaterWise Landscape Irrigation: Common Problems & Easy Fixes fact sheet (In Spanish)
• City of Bend – Outdoor WaterWise Brochure
• City of Bend - Lawn Care Brochure
• Oregon State University Extension (www.extension.oregonstate.edu)
• EPA WaterSense (www.epa.gov/watersense)
• Alliance for Water Efficiency (www.a4we.org)
• Irrigation Association (www.irrigation.org)
• WaterSmart (bendoregon.gov/watersmart)

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