WaterSmart makeover: Carving out a winner on a 3D canvas
- Mark and Terri Linman of Mount Helix won the Helix Water District's 2026 WaterSmart Landscape Contest after replacing their lawn and decades-old trees with a low-water, wildlife-friendly front yard.
- The couple designed the roughly 2,300-square-foot project themselves, dividing it into sections, contouring the ground and installing a rock-lined swale and drip irrigation.
- They used 3D modeling software to plan plant placement and sunlight, and bought more than 200 plants from local nurseries.
- The prize included a $250 gift card to the nursery of their choice.
Reported by
San Diego Union-Tribune
sandiegouniontribune.com
San Diego County, CA