On June 28, the Sweetwater Authority named National City resident Catalina Shultz as this year’s winner of the WaterSmart Landscape Contest as her landscape shows how homeowners can create beautiful, California water-smart landscaping.
“Ms. Schultz’s landscape transformation clearly demonstrates that investing in a water- wise landscape can add beauty to your home, while providing big savings on your water bill,” said Board Chair Hector Martinez in a press release. “The Authority is here to provide rebates, resources and support to any customer interested in investing in a low water-use landscape.”
Shultz purchased her home in 2011 and the front yard was covered in turf that took a lot of effort and water to maintain. She reinvented her yard with low water use plants, stepping stones, and decorative planters. She included several flowering plants and shrubs, including sedum, oleander, aeonium, and a variety of cacti and succulents, including elephant bush, ghost euphorbia, jade, and cholla cactus.
With these changes, Schultz now waters only once a month when needed, preferring to water each plant by hand using water collected from her rain barrel. Now Schultz saves around 12,000 gallons of water each year.
The annual WaterSmart Landscape Contest is an opportunity for Authority customers to showcase their best, water-wise landscapes. All customers who have transformed their yards to be more water efficient are encouraged to enter the contest for the chance to win a $250 gift certificate.
