EMWD Demonstration Garden - Opening July 2008

EMWD continues to save water and reduce landscaping maintenance costs by retrofitting its landscaping to create a demonstration garden.

As part of EMWD’s efforts to maximize water supplies – including recycled water supplies – EMWD will complete the third and final phase of its Landscaping Retrofit Project with the completion of a demonstration garden in July 2008.

Learn more:

• About the Garden
• Trees, Plants Other Materials
• Landscape Retrofit Project Background

About the Garden

The demonstration garden will be located at EMWD headquarters (2270 Trumble Road in Perris) and is designed to be an educational tool and role model for the community. The garden will showcase water-efficient landscaping and irrigation which replaces 57 acres of traditional landscaping, including 8.75 acres of turf grass.

Retrofitting the existing landscaping into the demonstration garden will reduce maintenance costs and significantly lower water use. In fact, EMWD stopped watering the existing landscaping – which utilizes recycled water – in October 2007 to save water in preparation for the garden.

The garden will feature different grades of synthetic turf, California Friendly plants, and water-efficient irrigation systems such as drip lines and smart controllers. All trees, plants, and other materials were selected to provide year-round color and be compatible with the existing soil type.

EMWD’s demonstration garden is being partially funded with donations from Synthetic Landscape America, Toro, Rainbird, and Lowe’s.

The garden will be open to the public during normal working hours with self-guided tour materials available. In addition, guided tours may be scheduled.

Trees, Plants & Other Materials

The following landscape elements will be featured in the garden:

• Trees – Red River Gum, Australian Tea Tree, Shoestring Acacia, Arizona Ash, Strawberry Tree, and Lemon Scented Gum. Existing trees will remain in place.
  
• Shrubs – Texas Ranger, Wax Leaf Privet, Acacia Redolens, Society Garlic, Yucca Pendula, Agave, Pfitzer Juniper, Firethorn, and India Hawthorne.
  
• Groundcover – Bush Lantana, Chinese Jasmine, Bark Mulch, and Artificial Turf.
  
• Hardscape – Cobble, Crushed Rock, Decomposed Granite, Boulders, and Concrete. Existing concrete and cobble will remain in place.

Landscaping Retrofit Project Background

Demonstration garden "before" the retrofit.	Removing turf grass.
A blank canvas.	Placing trees and shrubs.
Adding boulders, rocks and plants.	Nearing completion.

The Landscaping Retrofit Project began in 2005 with a goal to reduce water consumption by 75%. That goal was achieved after the first two phases were completed.

In the first two phases, EMWD parking lots, materials yard, and streetscapes were retrofitted to reduce turf grass, increase water-efficient ground cover, increase hardscape, and implement water-efficient irrigation systems.

Streetscape before the retrofit

Streetscape after the retrofit

EMWD achieved more than 75% reduction in water use with the implementation of the first two phases. The demonstration garden is expected to reduce water use by an additional 10%.

Turf grass that is currently located around the main entrance parking lot will be removed when the administrative center’s expansion is completed in the future.