Did you know that water use for landscape accounts for as much as 70 percent of total residential water use? The unfortunate part is that much of it is wasted. According to BeWaterWise.com, "close to half of the water used outdoors is wasted through overwatering, runoff and evaporation." Making smart choices with sprinklers, plants and maintenance can dramatically reduce your water bills and your landscape will thrive!
Choose plants for Southern California’s climate:
Select plants with moderate to low water needs
Match your plants’ sun and water needs within shrub and flowers that are similar in each area
Use your favorite high water need plants as accents in areas that are protected from heat and wind
Encourage healthy roots with soil preparation and deep, less frequent watering as plants become established.
Mowing & Mulching:
Raise the lawnmower blade to mow higher and help the lawn grow deeper roots
Keep a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch in planting beds to limit evaporation and help control weeds
Direct rainwater from the roof into a rain barrel or shrub bed and away from the home’s foundation
Sprinkler Systems:
Create a custom watering schedule and regularly adjust your sprinkler timer
Install a smart sprinkler controller that will automatically adjust to changing conditions
Use rotating sprinkler nozzles for lawn and groundcovers
Convert from spray watering to drip, bubblers, and microsprays for shrubs and flower beds
Install a rain sensor to automatically shut off sprinklers
Change or cap sprinkler heads in areas converted from lawn to shrub and flower beds
Repair sprinkler leaks and adjust for blocked spray and runoff to avoid water waste
Our Professionals at Pacific Vista Landscape Services
Whether we are working on a new, complex installation, or a simple site improvement, our professional crews have years of experience using the industry established "best practices". Call us today at 661-222-7525 and let us help you with your landscape vision!
Due to our ongoing drought conditions, fire-wise landscaping is now a year-round responsibility in Southern California. While no plants are fire-proof, some can greatly reduce the heat generated during a wildfire, and reduce the ability of the fire to travel to a home or structure.
Here are some fire-wise landscaping tips from BeWaterWise.com:
Keep plants properly watered, especially within 30’ of home but do not overwater.
Use of hard scape materials, such as stone/brick/concrete pathways and patios, and inorganic mulches adjacent to home adds to your fire resistant landscape.
Prune back tree limbs to 10’ from chimney.
Clear leaves and needles out of gutters and roof valleys.
Native plants can be used. Some may require trimming up lower branches. Eliminate fuel ladders from ground to lower then upper branches.
Remove invasive plant species, such as, Arundo, castor bean, and ivy.
Ensure that fuel management activities do not disturb birds’ nests, especially hummingbirds’, which are walnut-sized and easily overlooked.
Maintain defensible space around your home. Check with your local fire dept for the required distance.
Defensible space around your home reduces the risk of fire transmission to your property and allows firefighters safe access around structures. More info about defensible space here: https://www.pacificvistalandscape.com/single-post/2018/04/29/Defensible-Space
Going on vacation?
Before you leave for your vacation, make sure that you have also left your home well prepared in case a wildfire occurs while you are away:
Make sure to close all windows and doors securely
Remove anything flammable around perimeter of house, including any outdoor furniture, cushions, door mats, and trash cans
Clean up all yard debris before leaving, including under decks and in rain gutters
Making the choice to adapt these fire-wise tips can make the difference if a wildfire threatens your home or business. If you would like our landscaping experts to asses your landscaped areas, give us a call at 661-222-7525 for a free consultation!
Water is essential for life. It's precious. In California we need to be aware of our usage and proactive in finding ways to conserve. Here are some interesting facts about water conservation in California:
