Ask a landscape professional to help you choose native plants. Use grass wisely. Grass is often your yard's biggest water user. Save grass for areas where children or pets will play. In other areas, consider mulch or groundcover.
Group plants together according to their water needs.
Place plants that need moisture in moist areas and plants that need less water in drier areas. Turf areas and planting beds should always be in separate irrigation zones. Mulch holds moisture in the soil, adds nutrients, reduces weed growth and slows erosion. Spread several inches of mulch, such as wood chips, pine straw or leaves, around shrubs and trees and in flower beds. Maintain your yard.