Conserving water has become woven into our lives and striving for the perfect amount for your landscape is essential in helping it thrive, and keeping water costs down.
Here are ten simple ways from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources to insure you don't use more than you need when it comes to watering your landscape:
1. Select water-efficient plants that grow well in your climate and microclimate
2. ‘Hydrozone’: Place plants with similar water needs together and irrigate them accordingly (high, medium, low, and very low zones)
3. Let roots of established plants dry out between irrigations, water deeply and infrequently slightly below the root zone
4. If you do not use or enjoy your lawn consider replacing it with drought-tolerant plants
5. Mix soil amendments (compost, etc.) evenly and deeply into sandy and clay soils (40% or more by volume) before planting
6. Spread a 2 - 3” layer of mulch on top of soil around garden plants and trees
7. Water early in the morning
8. Control weeds
9. Avoid over-fertilizing
10. Sweep walkways and driveways , do not hose them down with water
These steps can make a difference in your water consumption. Adding smart irrigation systems, updating sprinkler heads and using drip irrigation can really help too! Need an expert? Call us at 661-222-7525 or contact us through here.
California has had a long history of wildfires. The best thing a property owner can do is have defensible space and fire resistant landscape. Fire-resistant landscape uses fire-resistant plants that are strategically planted to resist the spread of wildfire. Fire resistant plants are great because they are often drought tolerant too.
A fire-resistant landscape can increase your property value and conserve water while beautifying your surroundings.
Choose:
Hardy, slow growing plants that don't produce a lot of undergrowth.
There are no “fire-proof” plants. Select high-moisture plants that grow close to the ground and have a low sap or resin content.
Drought tolerant native plants that can maintain a high internal water content without needing a lot of water like succulents.
Native trees that have adaptations to fire such as thick bark. These trees have a higher tolerance for fire and help restrict the growth of more volatile invasive and shrub species.
Avoid:
Plants like juniper, Italian cypress, feather and fountain grasses.
Trees like eucalyptus and palms which are highly flammable. Also avoid pine, fir and other conifers.
Invasive plants that can create a continuous fuel source for fire
The other important factor in fire resistance landscape is having fire-resistant zones with rocks, stone walls, patios, decks, and walkways.
If you would like help with your landscape, contact us! We have been serving Southern California for over 30 years!
Established in 1988, Pacific Vista Landscape Services manages every aspect of landscaping maintenance and design. We provide innovative solutions to meet landscaping requirements and achieve water savings goals for commercial complexes, HOA's, resorts, industrial complexes, schools, and retail centers, and residences.
Change can be good! Many people in Southern California are have a hard time giving up their lawn and going natural with native trees and plants. This can not only save water and money, the native landscape is more interesting and varied. It also takes less care overall and less water once the roots are established.
It takes a multi-pronged approach to maximize water utilization and conservation with landscaping. Removing turf grass is one of the most water conscious adjustments a property owner can make to reduce their water usage. Also, there are rebates available to help mitigate the cost, and the new landscape will save you water and money going forward.
Converting irrigation systems to drip, hand-watering or installing water efficient micro-spray systems or rotating nozzles ensures that landscape watering is as efficient as possible.
Finally, the addition of a sustainable approach in the new landscape works to reduce or prevent wasteful runoff through the use of a rainwater capture or filtration system.
There are many great native trees and plants that do well in our climate. Here are some good contenders from BeWaterWise.com for your native garden.
Are you ready to switch to a native garden? Contact us! At Pacific Vista Landscape Service, we can help you through the rebate process and are experts in all the essential elements, from turf removal to smart irrigation systems, it takes to create an efficient native garden.
