If you're interested in making your yard and garden more attractive and water efficient, you will have a great opportunity to get information from gardening experts and save as much as 50 percent on select varieties of low-water-use plants at San Diego County Garden-Friendly Plant Fairs this spring at select The Home Depot locations.

Helix Water District is co-hosting two plant fairs at the Lemon Grove and El Cajon stores. Below is a complete list of all events that will be held across the County. Each plant fair will feature discounts on more than 20 types of shrubs and groundcovers, preselected by a panel of experts as water-efficient for the San Diego region.

Industry experts will be available at the plant fairs to provide customers with information on low water-efficient irrigation supplies, and how to select and plant low-water-use plants. Water agency staff will be also be on hand to provide customers with information on water use efficiency programs and services.

Click here for a printable event flyer and a list of plants that will be for sale.

* Helix Water District staff will attend the Lemon Grove and El Cajon fairs.

On May 4, 2011, the Helix Water District Board of Directors adopted a resolution declaring an end to Drought Response Level 2, lifting mandatory water restrictions. The District continues to encourage water use efficiency and encourages its customers to prevent water waste. Click here to report water waste.

It's always a good idea to use water wisely in San Diego County. Water resources in Southern California are limited. Ninety-percent of the region's water is imported from either the Colorado River or Northern California through the State Water Project.

The more water we save now, the more water San Diego County water agencies will have in storage to meet future demands. And saving water is easier than you might think. A few simple changes can make a big difference in your water usage.

Helix Water District offers a variety of conservation programs to our customers to help them use less water. Some programs involve installing devices such as high-efficiency clothes washers. Other programs are designed to change water-use habits, such as the landscape evaluation programs. For these programs, a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor will come to the customer's property, review the irrigation patterns, and give suggestions on how to give the landscape just the water it needs.

The Public Information Program is designed to remind customers that an average of 90-percent of our water is imported and we must always use it wisely. When our customers carry out these programs, they reduce water use and often see a savings on their water bills. All of these programs are offered free to our customers.

List of devices and rebate amounts available to Helix customers