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Waterwise Gardening

Everything You Need to Know About Efficient Watering to Grow a Healthy Yard

Author Richard Restuccia
Paperback
$29.95 US
Rizzoli
8"W x 10"H | 13 oz | 14 per carton
On sale Mar 11, 2025 | 240 Pages | 9780847846894
Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies
Whether home gardeners want to conserve water for ecological or purely monetary reasons, each is becoming more acutely aware that water is an increasingly scarce and expensive resource. This volume will be the first to actually give scientific guidance on how much to water, with what methods, and when.

The EPA estimates that home gardeners waste 50% of the water they use, without a good understanding of how much water their plants need. Richard Restuccia will fix that, showing readers how to achieve truly lush, beautiful, and bountiful gardens using less water than they would have ever imagined. By knowing the land, using simple technology like smart controllers that automatically adjust irrigation daily based on current weather and soil moisture (meaning the water savings pays for the controller within just a few months), understanding the provided charts of scientific water requirements for species as well as a guide of how to determine if a plant is suffering from overwatering, readers will benefit as Restuccia brings together all the information home gardeners usually have to go hunting for across various sources and websites. With specific plant recommendations to cover both temperate regions of the US and drier regions, including the Southwest and Southern California, this hardworking manual will become a valuable reference for home gardeners, saving them time performing menial tasks in the yard, money on replacing plants, and, of course, 30 to 50% off their water bills.
“This book is fantastic—a perfect blend of usefulness and insight, surprise and beauty. If you’re a gardener (or if you love a gardener) this book will help make your garden water smart—more beautiful, more manageable, more sustainable. It will help make water your partner, and it will solve some water mysteries along the way.
— Charles Fishman, Author of the national bestseller, The Big Thirst: The Secret Life &Turbulent Future of Water

“Richard Restuccia is one of the smartest people working in irrigation, and a go-to for anyone who wants to better understand practical water conservation. As the author of Waterwise Gardening, Richard offers invaluable insights into maximizing the use of water in landscaping, ensuring that our living environments thrive while conserving this vital resource.”
— Chuck Bowen Former Editor of Lawn and Landscape Magazine and
Vice President, Communications and Member Relations at Outdoor Power
Equipment Institute

“During the decade I worked alongside Richard, I was continually impressed by his unwavering passion and commitment to water conservation and sustainability. His innovative approach and deep understanding of water management significantly impacted our industry. This book encapsulates his knowledge and is an inspiring guide for anyone interested in making a real difference in water conservation efforts for landscapes and gardens.
— Aric Olson, Industry Leader in Irrigation and Sustainability

“Richard has done it again! He has used his unique ability to simply and concisely put the thoughts of a master gardener on paper in a fast-paced, highly engaging way. In a world of shrinking green spaces and growing demand for water there has never been a more important time to have this discussion and there is no one more qualified than Richard to lead it.”
— Stuart Eyring, CEO of Orbit Irrigation
La Jolla, California–based Richard Restuccia has been associated with the green industry for over twenty-two years. He has served on the Irrigation Association’s Board of Directors and has consulted with many private companies and public agencies concerning water management. His career has evolved through positions at industry leaders in irrigation, including Husqvarna, Jain Irrigation, ValleyCrest Companies, and Rain Bird Corporation.

He is a regular presenter at conferences like the California Green Technology, WaterSmart Innovations, Irrigation Association, the National Facility Management and Technology, ASLA, and Urban Sustainability conferences on subjects concerning how contractors can help their customers save water and money, as well as how to use social media to influence water conservation.

Restuccia has published articles in Common Ground and Landscape Management magazines concerning efficient irrigation. He also started the Jain Irrigation Training Series, which has educated over two hundred thousand people on sustainable irrigation practices. He is also a Master Gardener himself.
Richard Restuccia View titles by Richard Restuccia

About

Whether home gardeners want to conserve water for ecological or purely monetary reasons, each is becoming more acutely aware that water is an increasingly scarce and expensive resource. This volume will be the first to actually give scientific guidance on how much to water, with what methods, and when.

The EPA estimates that home gardeners waste 50% of the water they use, without a good understanding of how much water their plants need. Richard Restuccia will fix that, showing readers how to achieve truly lush, beautiful, and bountiful gardens using less water than they would have ever imagined. By knowing the land, using simple technology like smart controllers that automatically adjust irrigation daily based on current weather and soil moisture (meaning the water savings pays for the controller within just a few months), understanding the provided charts of scientific water requirements for species as well as a guide of how to determine if a plant is suffering from overwatering, readers will benefit as Restuccia brings together all the information home gardeners usually have to go hunting for across various sources and websites. With specific plant recommendations to cover both temperate regions of the US and drier regions, including the Southwest and Southern California, this hardworking manual will become a valuable reference for home gardeners, saving them time performing menial tasks in the yard, money on replacing plants, and, of course, 30 to 50% off their water bills.

Praise

“This book is fantastic—a perfect blend of usefulness and insight, surprise and beauty. If you’re a gardener (or if you love a gardener) this book will help make your garden water smart—more beautiful, more manageable, more sustainable. It will help make water your partner, and it will solve some water mysteries along the way.
— Charles Fishman, Author of the national bestseller, The Big Thirst: The Secret Life &Turbulent Future of Water

“Richard Restuccia is one of the smartest people working in irrigation, and a go-to for anyone who wants to better understand practical water conservation. As the author of Waterwise Gardening, Richard offers invaluable insights into maximizing the use of water in landscaping, ensuring that our living environments thrive while conserving this vital resource.”
— Chuck Bowen Former Editor of Lawn and Landscape Magazine and
Vice President, Communications and Member Relations at Outdoor Power
Equipment Institute

“During the decade I worked alongside Richard, I was continually impressed by his unwavering passion and commitment to water conservation and sustainability. His innovative approach and deep understanding of water management significantly impacted our industry. This book encapsulates his knowledge and is an inspiring guide for anyone interested in making a real difference in water conservation efforts for landscapes and gardens.
— Aric Olson, Industry Leader in Irrigation and Sustainability

“Richard has done it again! He has used his unique ability to simply and concisely put the thoughts of a master gardener on paper in a fast-paced, highly engaging way. In a world of shrinking green spaces and growing demand for water there has never been a more important time to have this discussion and there is no one more qualified than Richard to lead it.”
— Stuart Eyring, CEO of Orbit Irrigation

Author

La Jolla, California–based Richard Restuccia has been associated with the green industry for over twenty-two years. He has served on the Irrigation Association’s Board of Directors and has consulted with many private companies and public agencies concerning water management. His career has evolved through positions at industry leaders in irrigation, including Husqvarna, Jain Irrigation, ValleyCrest Companies, and Rain Bird Corporation.

He is a regular presenter at conferences like the California Green Technology, WaterSmart Innovations, Irrigation Association, the National Facility Management and Technology, ASLA, and Urban Sustainability conferences on subjects concerning how contractors can help their customers save water and money, as well as how to use social media to influence water conservation.

Restuccia has published articles in Common Ground and Landscape Management magazines concerning efficient irrigation. He also started the Jain Irrigation Training Series, which has educated over two hundred thousand people on sustainable irrigation practices. He is also a Master Gardener himself.
Richard Restuccia View titles by Richard Restuccia

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