Looking to turn your garden into a getaway? Landscape designer Korina Petrozzi, owner of The Plant Nerd, lends her expertise to the spring issue of The Dirt, IRWD's quarterly garening newsletter, with easy design tips to follow that help you take your living space outdoors.

Q. What’s the most important thing to consider when designing an outdoor living space?

Petrozzi: Consider your lifestyle: Do you like to entertain, travel to wine country or host your kids’ sports team events? Focus on emotion to identify your overall style.

Collect a handful of inspirational photos that evoke the feeling you want in your yard, and consider sun exposure, proximity to the house and how to connect space with the inside of your home.

Sometimes, the idea of a sitting area in the corner of a garden might seem cozy and intimate, but it can end up feeling lonely and isolated.

Color — reflected in the leaves, flowers, furniture and other features — will define the energy of your space.

What DIY suggestions do you have?

Petrozzi: Don’t start too big. Begin with a small seating area or a view from your bedroom. The rise of apps like Pinterest or other AI tools provide an infinite number of design ideas.

Make sure the plants you select are well suited to the areas you plant them. Given the right sunlight, soil and water, they will grow, change shapes, flower, bear fruit and undergo seasonal changes to keep the garden exciting all year.

Korina Petrozzi | Owner, The Plant Nerd

She was called “Bug” as a kid because she was always playing with plants and putting creepy-crawlies in her pocket. “I thought I would be an entomologist,” she says, “but when I realized it was the plants that brought in all the fun insects, I turned my attention to horticulture.”

Looking for more outdoor inspiration?

Bring your vision to life with the Yardtopia^TM Initiative. The Yardtopia™ Initiative is about transforming your backyard into the gorgeous outdoor retreat of your dreams. More than just a garden: a refined extension of your living space. Envision a place where you can unwind, entertain friends and enjoy nature.

Be inspired. Take charge. Create your Yardtopia.

Bring your vision to life at yardtopia.com.

Spring is synonymous with fresh starts and new life. If you want to bring new life to your backyard, IRWD has partnered with the Yardtopia^TM Initiative to help.

Bring your vision to life with yardtopia.com, refreshed and revamped with new features to better guide you through your backyard renovation in simple, digestible ways.

On the Yardtopia website, you’ll find guides that will help you every step of the way. These guides are set for different-sized yards and action plans, with various focal points in mind. Whether you’re planning a patio project on a small budget or a huge area with time to spare, we can help.

"Bringing your outdoor vision to life is easier than you might think, with the right resources and inspiration. Using the online tools and galleries at yardtopia.com can help you plan, design and build your ideal yard." —IRWD landscape expert David Gomez

Create your Yardtopia at your go-to resource, yardtopia.com

Plan

Maybe you long for roses, an herb garden and a koi pond, but your partner wants a fire pit and grill. Your kid might wish for lawn games and a spot for movie night with friends. A seamless blend is possible.

Explore yards and curated styles that match the way you want to live. Research materials, plants and decor aligned with your vision.

Design

Start simply, but unrestricted. Get inspiration in the Yardtopia gallery. Find a focal point. Use our tool to pick groundcover, plants and furniture, and create a visual example in minutes. If you want, find a local designer.

Browse galleries and use online tools to pick foliage, furniture and more — creating a visual example in minutes.

Build

Bring your Yardtopia to life with thoughtful materials and practical planning. Replace your thirsty lawn with vibrant landscape (we'll help!). Workw ith experts, or tackle small projects yourself. Let's build together!

Find vetted contractors, read step-by-step DIY guides, locate nurseries and see what rebates are available to offset project costs.

Bring your vision to life at yardtopia.com.

World Water Day, held annually on March 22, raises awareness of the need for sustainable water management around the globe.

IRWD has adopted an Urban Water Management Plan to analyze and protect its water supply reliability, even in times of drought. A vast portfolio of local water sources plays a key role in that plan — and that planning has positioned IRWD to have some of the lowest rates in Orange County.

Even the smallest actions, when performed over time, can make a big impact. Here are a few things you can do this World Water Day and every day to reduce waste and protect this precious resource:

—Fix leaks. Repair dripping faucets and test your toilet for leaks. Ente our Fix a Leak Sweepstakes at IRWD.com/fixaleak.
—Get smart. Avoid wasting unnecessary water and money on irrigation with our smart timer rebate at IRWD.com/rebates.
—Reduce usage. Do laundry for full loads only, shorten showers and turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or between rinsing dishes.

Learn about World Water Day at unwater.org/worldwaterday.