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Landscape Education and Resources
Approximately 50% of residential water use in California goes to landscape irrigation.
If you're looking for ways to cut down your water use and water bill, simply look to your landscape! Outdoor landscapes can be one of the largest areas of untapped water savings.
Keep reading to find more information and resources to help you expand your landscape knowledge and achieve the sustainable landscape of your dreams!
Remember, you may be eligible for one of our landscape rebates! Visit our Rebates and Free Programs page to learn more about our incentive programs and eligibility requirements.
Milpitas partners with the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA), Valley Water, and other local agencies to offer FREE landscape education classes to help you expand your landscape knowledge and get you the information needed to take on new projects!
Classes are typically held in the Spring and Fall, with both virtual and in-person options. Past landscape classes have covered topics such as: soil improvement, landscape conversion, plant selection, and irrigation scheduling and maintenance.
Summer-Fall 2025 Landscape Education Classes
Class Title | Description | Date, Time and Location | Registration |
Firescaping: Reduce the Vulnerability | Learn ways you can make your home less vulnerable to fires during drought and high heat. Hosted by Valley Water. | Thursday, July 24 6:00-7:30 pm Zoom | |
| Efficient Supplemental Irrigation | Irrigate smarter, not harder by learning how to properly and efficiently use your irrigation system. Hosted by Valley Water. | Thursday, August 28 6:00-7:30 pm Zoom | Register Here |
| Lawn Transformation on a Budget | Save money while saving water by getting guidance on how you can turn your lawn into a budget-friendly water-wise landscape. | Thursday, September 25 6:00-7:30 pm Zoom | Register Here |
| Rainwater Capture | Turn rain into a resource through capturing and reusing rainwater in your landscape. | Thursday, October 23 6:00-7:30 pm Zoom | Register Here |
Couldn't attend a class?
Not a problem! Our previous online classes and workshops, along with other similar classes, have been recorded and are available to view on BAWSCA's website.
Valley Water's Landscape Design Assistance Program
If you're participating in the Landscape Rebate Program and need some help designing your conversion project, consider signing up for the Landscape Design Assistance Program!
For $200, you can meet with a pre-approved landscape designer to develop ideas for your project. During the consultation, you and the designer can discuss site conditions, go over questions about the conversion process, and brainstorm ideas for your new landscape. Upon completion and approval of the finished landscape conversion project, you can even be reimbursed for the consultation fee!
Visit the Landscape Rebate Program application portal for full program details, requirements, and a list of pre-approved landscape designers. Please note that projects must meet program requirements and must be approved by Valley Water staff in order to be eligible for rebate.
South Bay Green Gardens - Water Wise Garden Designs
Find several examples of water-wise and drought tolerant landscapes on South Bay Green Garden's website. Information on the key components of a water-wise, sustainable landscape are also available for you.
Irrigation and Landscape Management Resources
Irrigation scheduling can be tricky, especially if you are trying to balance the water needs of several different types of plants, or if you are trying to find the best schedule that keeps your landscape healthy and adheres to the City's permitted watering schedule.
Valley Water's Irrigation Scheduler Tool
Valley Water has prepared a free Irrigation Scheduler Tool to help you determine the best irrigation schedule for your landscape! With this tool, you can input information about your own landscape, such as what kind of plants you have, details about your irrigation system and equipment, the soil type at your property, and more. You can even save zones to your address within the scheduler, so you can come back and make updates if you make any changes to your landscape.
South Bay Green Gardens - Irrigation Resources
The South Bay Green Gardens Subcommittee has compiled several resources and factsheets to provide you with the knowledge you need to start gardening more sustainably. Visit South Bay Green Gardens to find the right resources for you.
Bay Area Gardening - Irrigation Resources and Watering Guide
BAWSCA has prepared several resources to help you fine tune your irrigation to meet your garden's needs. Check out their comprehensive articles about irrigation, or take a quick look at their watering guide. In addition, BAWSCA even has their Water Calculator to help you determine the best irrigation schedule!
4-Day Watering Schedule
Even when we are not facing drought conditions, Milpitas has a permanent 4-day watering schedule in place, which is outlined in Title VIII Ch. 6 – Section 3 Water Conservation Ordinance of the City's Municipal Code, to encourage outdoor water conservation. Be sure to only water outdoors on the four designated days listed in the watering schedule below:
- Addresses ending in Odd number: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday
- Addresses ending in Even number: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Sunday
- Without Street Number: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday