Spring gets more attention, but fall is a great time for planting permanent landscape plants (and finding them at a discount at local garden centers). Warm, soft soil and cool fall air helps plants establish root systems before their winter dormancy.

Check out our online photos featuring water-wise trees, shrubs, perennials and more. And then dig into your garden — you'll see the fruits of your fall labor come alive next spring and summer.

If your water pipes or water heater are exposed, you'll burn extra fuel — and extra money — all winter long. Here are a few tips for saving energy:

• Indoor and Outdoor Pipes: Along with lowering your monthly bill, insulating exposed water pipes can prevent headaches (and flooding!) associated with frozen pipes. Visit your local home improvement or hardware store for materials and how-to info.
• Water Heaters: Wrap up your water heater with a snug blanket (available at home improvement and hardware stores), and you'll get hot water faster, reducing overall usage.
• Gaps Around Pipes: Make sure to check for gaps around indoor pipes for your sinks, water heater and washing machine. Use insulation to fill those gaps so air can't escape.

Check our website for plenty more water conservation tips for your home.

School's in session, which means now's the time to show your children that water conservation matters all year long. Visit our website for fun water education activities, including our Where's Rosie activity book. And, encourage your child to conserve water at school by taking small steps — like reporting leaky school faucets and carrying a reusable water bottle.

Oct. 13-14: The Salmon Festival Live music, food, educational activities and nonstop fun for the whole family — it's all part of this year's festival at Oxbow Park. Stop by our booth from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 13: Free Workshop for Commercial Property Managers Is your landscape paying for itself? Find out how it could at our FREE fall workshop. Learn water-wise techniques that will help your landscape look great and attract tenants. Register Today. Dec. 6: OLCA Expo Landscape contractors and designers, visit our booth for water-efficient landscaping resources and info on our spring workshop.

The days are shorter and the nights are cooler, but there are still plenty of tasks to tackle in your lawn and garden. Check out our website for these and more fall conservation tips: Maintain your mower by draining old gas and sharpening the blades. Clean your gutters and downspouts to prevent clogging and overflow. Look for leaks in water pipes, drains and valves. The leading household water waster is the toilet — so be sure to check there too! Turn off and empty outdoor water spigots to prevent freezing.

Regional Water Providers Consortium provides planning and management support for the Portland metropolitan region's municipal water supplies. Contact us to learn more.

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