Pinestraw, pine bark or recycled wood chips obtained from municipal recycling programs are ideal for this purpose. Still another way to save water in ornamental areas is to carefully remove existing mulch, placing newspaper two to three sheets thick over the soil surface, moistening it, then placing the mulch back on top. Newspaper provides an added barrier to moisture loss, and it will also decompose over time to enrich the soil. Pick plants carefully Selecting appropriate plants is one of the most important steps to a water-wise landscape. Turfgrasses, for instance, vary a great deal in their drought tolerance.
Bermuda grass is one of the most drought-tolerant warm season grasses.
It will go dormant during drought and will bounce back with vigor when rains begin. Fescue, on the other hand, a common lawngrass in the northern half of the state, requires regular irrigation throughout the summer in order to survive during dry periods. Re-seeding this grass each October may be a lower cost alternative than irrigating it throughout the summer, particularly since water rates are increasing in most areas of the state. Ornamental plants vary greatly in drought tolerance. Ornamental grasses, most hollies, nandina and junipers are extremely drought tolerant once they are established.