As the weather begins to get warmer, take time to think about your lawn and garden. Planning is the key to successful water conservation.

- Select plants and trees that are drought tolerant. Some examples are crape myrtle, oleander, wild lilac and rosemary.

- To increase plant health and conserve water, add organic matter such as mulch to the soil of shrub and flowerbed areas. This increases the soil's ability to absorb and store water in a form available to the plant.

- Composting not only removes waste from landfills, but also provides rich organic planting material.

- Consider using drip irrigation, where the water gets directly to the plants' roots.