If she is close to the water, things may fare better, but if in the hills ??? San Diego is a large , sprawling city with lots of micro climates. All of the nurserys are well stocked with low water plants now, but those plants need water for at least a full season to get established. It also has to be dog friendly. Potted plants are not the way to go if water is the issue, but in ground plants will stretch the budget for a military family, if we're talking perennials. Annuals are always water hogs. I like Tarev's list, if you can start with small, or donated plants. San Diego is in Sunset zone 24, so almost anything that doesn't need winter chill will grow there because of the ocean influence.
