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Water Efficient Landscaping

With California experiencing an officially-declared drought, landscaping a new home to be water efficient is more important than ever.

Tom Larson, a landscape architect and water conservation expert with Dudek in Encinitas, California, said a program known as California Friendly is a way to garden responsibly.

"There is a misconception that California Friendly is about native plants," said Larson, who wrote the bewaterwise.com program for Los Angeles Metropolitan Water Distirct. “In fact, there is a wide range of plants that respond to this style of gardening. For a truly sustainable landscape, don't think plants, but look at your habits."

Larson said the basics of California Friendly landscape are easy to implement:

• Use permeable hardscape materials. Driveways and pathways of permeable materials such as gravel, mulch and pavers allow water to pass through into the soil instead of running off into the sewer. Soil is a natural filter that traps chemicals that would otherwise find their way to the sea or aquifers.
• Use water wisely. This is easy. Water lawns no more than three times a week. And water in the early morning to prevent evaporation. Turn off your sprinklers in the winter, entirely – during the rainy season, many landscapes need no extra water at all.
• Group plants. This is a biggie. A water-dependent pansy isn't going to be happy growing next to yucca. Group your plants according to their water needs.
• Go lawnless. The biggest guzzlers in our landscapes are lawns. Can't live without yours? Then reduce it. You don't need lawn grass along your parking strips. You don't need lawn along the driveway. Plant shrubs and trees there instead. Also eliminate lawn areas that you don't use for recreation.
• Use California Friendly plants. This is an area up for debate. Many natives naturally use less water. Plant them if you like them. Mediterranean plants in general have low water requirements. But did you know that many mainstream plants such as boxwoods, conifers and camellias are also drought-tolerant? You might not need to replant, but simply stop overwatering the plants you have.
• Mulch. Not only does mulch suppress weeds and keep soil temperatures even around the root zone of plants, it also conserves water by preventing evaporation. A 3-inch-thick layer can cut your water use by two-thirds.
• Garden organically. There is no reason to use chemicals when today's organics work. Try organic solutions for fertilizing and treating pests and disease.
• Feed your soil, not your plants. Contrary to what you may believe, it's the microorganisms in your soil that feed your plants, not the fertilizer you dump on there. In fact, chemical fertilizers kill these organisms. Instead, feed them with compost and fish emulsion, and organic fertilizers, for a true feed the way nature intended.
• Reduce green waste. Composting is the best way to reduce green waste. In fact, it's a two-fer. You're not sending clippings to the landfill and your plants get happy and healthy with regular additions of compost into the soil.