Water wisdom saves irrigation dollars

Style and practicality determined the design of this water-conserving garden in Clovis, California. For owner Claudia Kus, the distinctively Southwestern house style suggested a less thirsty garden to match. But the real issues ― a costly water supply, serious soil problems, and the hot, dry summers of the San Joaquin Valley ― were the clinchers.

As in many areas of the West, water is precious ― a limited commodity. Kus needed to manage carefully the available water.

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