got water?

Sadly, the answer for Los Angeles, and most of the arid Southwest, is NO.

Between 30% – 70% of residential water in Los Angeles is used to irrigate the landscape. Most homeowners currently overwater their landscape by 2 – 3 times what is needed, if not more. This is not only wasteful, but it is bad for the plants, and for the soil. The City of Los Angeles, and small municipalities around the region, are targeting landscape use for conservation. Starting June 1st, new mandatory restrictions have been implemented.

And water in Southern California isn’t just water, it’s also energy.  About 20% of the energy used statewide is used to pump water over the mountains.  As an aside, according to a recent DWP bill, coal supplies 32%  of the state’s power.  Emily Green’s LA Times article discusses this issue in greater detail.

But don’t despair!  Our landscaping future isn’t brown lawns, plastic plants and gravel.  Instead, we are learning to create beautiful, bountiful gardens that belong in Los Angeles.  These are not the same gardens you will find in Seattle, or Florida, or New York, or Hawaii.  Nor are they the gardens of Arizona.  Instead, we live in a Mediterranean climate, ideal for growing delicious fruits and vegetables, and have an amazing palette of beautiful plants that love our hot, arid climate.

What you can do NOW

-Turn off your irrigation controller during winter months, especially when rain is forecast. Most established gardens will be fine if it rains once every other week and need no supplemental irrigation.

-Set irrigation controllers to water in the morning, between 4am and 9am, in compliance with the DWP’s new rules. Don’t water in the early evening, as it encourages bad things to grow in your soil and is hard on your plants.

-Regularly turn on and walk through your entire irrigation system to make sure everything is working and adjusted properly.

-Don’t overwater! Even thirsty lawns only need to be watered two times a week, once established. Other plantings need just one or two times a week, at the most. Irrigate deeply, but not to the point of run-off. Depending on your sprinkler heads, and the slope of the beds, it may be better to water two or even three times, but for just a few minutes, during the course of the morning. This allows the water to deeply saturate the soil and encourage deep rooting, making your plants more “drought tolerant”.

-MULCH MULCH MULCH, and leave it! Don’t cultivate it into the soil. This prevents weed growth and evaporation, and keeps your plants cool in the summer heat, further reducing their need for water.

-Plant the right plant in the right place, and at the right time! The best time to plant here is November – March.

-Use deciduous trees and vines wisely. While not great for privacy, they provide shade (especially on hot walls) in summer but allow wood to breathe in the wet winter. DWP has a free tree program

-Consider reusing gray-water.  After August 4th, the state has changed its restrictions.  Do a little research before you throw the laundry drain pipe out the window,  though, as there are some important rules.

-More resources: bewaterwise

How we can help

-Smart, efficient irrigation systems: we always specify “smart” irrigation controllers and the most efficient sprinkler systems available.

-Recycle your water: we can work with you and your plumber to bring water from your sinks, shower and laundry safely into the landscape, reducing your irrigation needs.  We can also design rainwater harvesting systems, both active and passive, to make sure not a drop is wasted!

-Right plants, right design: using only plants appropriate to Southern California, and to its various micro-climates, we still have one of the world’s broadest (and tastiest) plant palettes! Drawn from California and other Mediterranean regions, we create beautiful plantings in a variety of styles, from clean/modern to flowery/fluffy to eclectic and edible, according to the wishes of our clients.

-Landscape design: We assess our clients’ needs and plan accordingly. Permeable hardscape (patios, driveways, paths), appropriate and functional lawns, and abundant planting areas are all carefully designed to create a landscape truly for living.

-Good gardening: Starting with healthy soil, healthy plants, and a good coat of mulch, we are always available for maintenance reviews and follow-ups, to make sure that our gardens are properly cared for and continue to thrive.

Need to know more about water in California?

Watch this wonderful 30 minute video from UC Davis.  It covers it all!