Los Angeles County Drought Tolerant Landscape Guidlines

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Photos top to bottom: 1-2.Marilee Kuhlmann 3.Pamela Berstler page 12 page 10 page 32 water wisely grade forrain Shopping List Resources &Index Nursery List tend yourgarden plant andmulch build healthysoil 12 10 8 get toknowyourgarden How-To Section Plant ListsbyZone LA ClimateZoneMap backyard side yard front yard parkway Site Sections Site Plan&PlantDesign Introduction 42 40 34 32 48 46 44 16 14 38 26 6 4 2 table of contents 1

Photos top to bottom: 1-2.Marilee Kuhlmann 3.Pamela Berstler page 10 page 32 page 12 Shopping List Resources &Index Nursery List tend yourgarden water wisely plant andmulch build healthysoil 12 grade forrain 10 8 get toknowyourgarden How-To Section Plant ListsbyZone LA ClimateZoneMap backyard side yard front yard parkway Site Sections Site Plan&PlantDesign Introduction 42 40 34 32 48 46 44 16 14 38 26 6 4 2 table of contents 1

Plan to work IRRIGATE WISELY. If you are installing a Use the model plant design, plant list and surface drip system, it is easiest to lay out guidelines in this handbook to select the after your plants are in the ground. If you are plants for your garden and figure out how adjusting/updating your existing system, do many you’ll need. Bring your shopping list to any trenching before you plant, and fine tune your local nursery, and ask them to order what sprinklers and emitters after planting. they don’t have in stock. Start a Garden Journal to keep track of what you are planting, MULCH. It’s the secret to garden success. where and when. Use the Get To Know Your Don’t forget this step. Garden section of this handbook to create your own site plan. TEND WITH LOVE. Water your new plants, weed the garden, and most importantly,

Work the plan watch for trouble. Your drought tolerant oduction CLEAN. Remove any trash, weeds, dead garden should require less care than a lawn. plants, old furniture, etc. So, give your garden some love, but don’t overwater or reach for the fertilizer! EDIT. Decide which (if any) of your healthy

plants will continue to thrive in your new Garden like a pro intr drought tolerant garden, and remove every- When professionals transform a garden, they thing else. work differently than most home gardeners. Why? They can’t afford to fail, so follow their GRADE FOR RAIN. Move your soil around lead for success. What is a drought tolerant garden? (see p. 9 & p. 32-33) to capture rainfall in your It’s a garden filled with plants that can get by on rainfall garden. After you’ve started planting, you PLANT only in the cooler, wetter season (Fall alone. When these plants are properly grouped five perfect plants don’t want to be moving soil. through Spring). LA climate-adapted plants, according to soil, water and sunlight needs, they don’t especially the natives, are much happier if you require any extra water. Sure, you say, that works in PREPARE YOUR SOIL. Remove unwanted plant them between November and March. Pennsylvania, or Florida, or Oregon where it rains all the lawn, do the soil tests (see p. 30) and follow This gets them settled and watered by the time. But this is Los Angeles County! We water here. the recommendations to build living soil (see rains before the Summer heat convinces them We don’t have to irrigate. And we might not always p. 34-37). to take a Summer siesta. be able to. Fresh water is a valuable resource and our local supply is not being replenished. We bring in most 1 2 LAY OUT YOUR PLAN. Get all your plants CHANGE one section at a time, but plan to of our water from other places, and the cost of that is together and spread them out over the garden tackle it all eventually. Home gardeners often very expensive. We currently use at least half of our before you start digging. It’s easier on you, haphazardly add a plant here and there, and drinking water to irrigate our lawns and gardens. akeuchi 4.Marilee Kuhlmann 5.Krissy Hoitt and the plants, if you work out the layout end up mixing together plants with different By making our gardens more climate appropriate, we ew T before anything is put in the ground. needs. Instead, pick one section (or more) of can have beautiful, lush gardens full of flowers, herbs, your garden that you can completely remodel. fruit, even grass and meadows, at a fraction of the 34 PLANT. Your investment will pay off (and your After your whole garden is converted, and water cost. We can enjoy our amazing climate and plants will thrive) if you follow the How-To growing, you can fill in a few plants here and 1. Salvia spathacea outdoor lifestyle, and spend less time and money Hummingbird Sage guidelines in this handbook (see p. 38). there every Winter. taking care of our gardens. It’s not difficult, but it does require some time and some work to transform your 2. Verbena lilacina ‘De La Mina’ Lilac Verbena landscape into a drought tolerant garden. need help? In the pages that follow, we’ll show you how to make 3. Vitis californica Professionals are standing by, eager to help. Garden Designers and Landscape this transformation! You will find a model plant design ‘Roger's Red’ Architects can help redesign your garden, or just coach you through the process, Grape that you can adapt to your home, plant lists to help you and Landscape Contractors can do the work. If you work with a gardener, make shop for your garden, and all the information you need 4. Heteromeles arbutifolia sure they understand what you’re doing and why. Many professional gardeners are Toyon to get started. Now dig in! new to drought-tolerant gardening, and their good intentions can quickly destroy 5. Galvezia ‘Firecracker’ your drought tolerant garden. To find contact information for professional help 5 Firecracker Island Bush (see Resources and Index p. 46).

Snapdragon op photo: Marilee Kuhlmann Plants: 1-2.Marilee 3.Andr

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Snapdragon op photo: Marilee Kuhlmann Plants: 1-2.Marilee 3.Andr

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site plan How do you use plant legend plant design this handbook? 1. STREET TREE Think of the model plant design as a Shade trees approved basic recipe (for cookies, say) and make by your city to plant between the street and it your own by adding or subtracting the sidewalk. items (chocolate chips? walnuts? sprinkles?). 2. SHADE TREE Medium to large trees with dense canopies FIND your community on the LA that provide shade Climate Zone Map, then find the plant during hot summers. list for that zone. 3. SMALL TREE Small to medium trees LOOK at your garden, and at the that shade your patio but not your whole garden. model plant design. Go to the Get To Know Your Garden section of this 4. VINE handbook and use the site evaluation Climbing vines can tools to adapt the model to fit your cover fences, walls and arbors, giving particular site. shade, flowers and sometimes fruit. PICK a site section (e.g. Parkway), and choose the plants from your zone that fit 5. PERENNIAL Flowering plants, the section. We’ve included a shopping evergreen or dying back and regrowing list for you to fill out (see p. 48)! every spring.

For example, look at the Groundcover 6. GROUNDCOVER options and choose just one plant type Low, spreading plants that are a to keep it simple. Or go a bit crazy and living mulch for try them all! Take your shopping list to your soil. your local nursery. They can order whatever plants they don’t have 7. SWALE PLANT Plants that survive in stock. winter flooding and dry summers with no extra water. Don’t forget to read all the how-to notes

before you start planting. A truly drought 8. GRASSES tolerant garden isn’t difficult to plant or Medium and large

clumping grasses that site plan & plant design maintain. In fact, it’s a lot easier to take add texture, movement care of and uses a LOT fewer resources and color to your garden. (money, water, time) than your old garden. But we have a few new rules to 9. HEDGE/PRIVACY Large shrubs and small get your drought tolerant garden trees to plant in a row for growing. privacy and screening.

10. FOCAL PLANT site sections Architectural, sculptural plants that look good all year and add visual materials legend parkway interest. front yard 11. MEADOW gravel boulders Low grasses and grasslike plants. decomposed side yard Use these for a drought tolerant lawn. granite (DG) flagstone backyard Mowable, too. mulch 4 5

before you start planting. A truly drought 8. GRASSES tolerant garden isn’t difficult to plant or Medium and large

UTILITIES. Your water meter and other pipes plantings. Check with your local planning PARKWAY and utilities are often found in the Parkway. department and see what their rules Be sure to CALL DIG ALERT (Dial 811) at least are. For example, these rules can include two days before you dig so marks can visibility requirements (this affects the height be made to avoid underground cables and of the plants you use) and plant species pipes. Hitting a gas line or water main is no requirements (only certain plants are allowed laughing matter! by some communities). In the Unincorporated areas of LA County, you must get a permit IRRIGATION. Many parkways are mere strips. from the Public Works Department If the area is less than 10 feet wide, you before removing or planting a tree in the should not be using spray irrigation because it parkway. Don’t forget to check your local is too difficult to keep water off the street or community rules. sidewalk when they are in use. Consider hand parkway watering or connecting your parkway to the USE COMMON SENSE. Even if there aren’t closest drip irrigation line in the front yard. If rules in your area, make sure there is good your front yard and parkway are sharing visibility for cars to see oncoming traffic irrigation, make sure your plants in both (people and cars). Consider the parkway a sections have similar water and sun needs. high-traffic area and avoid unfriendly plants (like prickly cactus). Don’t leave big holes RULES. Many communities in LA County open overnight, avoid creating tripping have specific rules and guidelines for parkway hazards, and help keep everyone safe! Parkway strips are a great place to start, because they’re one of the smallest planting five great groundcovers areas. Parkways are generally public property get free street trees! maintained by private property owners – so while you Most communities have strict street tree guidelines, don’t own the parkway, you are responsible for so check with your local community street tree maintaining it. Even though they’re small, parkways or planning department before ordering, buying or present some particular challenges. planting trees. Many communities will give you FREE trees to plant yourself, and some will even plant CARS! Unless you live on a no-parking street, car doors them for you; so give your city a call! will open onto the curb and into your parkway strip. 12 People need some space to get out and walk around their cars. However you decide to plant your parkway strip, be sure to leave at least 18” (or more) as a step-out area that is clear from the edge of the curb for those doors to swing open and allow people to move. Consider placing bricks, pavers, gravel or decomposed 34 granite in this area; or just spread mulch. Try not to plant 1. Achillea millefolium in this step-out area. Keep your plants back from this ‘Island Pink edge to protect them from the damaging foot traffic. 2. Erigeron glaucus ‘Wayne Roderick’ TREES. If your parkway already has nice big street trees, then you also have nice big roots. Those roots 3. Salvia ‘Bees Bliss’ ‘Bees Bliss’ Sage may even be above ground, moving the concrete and otherwise causing trouble. Respect the roots – don’t 4. Fragaria californica dig around them, cut them or otherwise bother them. California Strawberry Plant only in areas where the roots are not visible, and 5. Calylophus hartwegii never closer than 24” from the trunk of the tree. Sundrops 5 photos: 1. Pamela Berstler 2-5. Marilee Kuhlmann photos: Pamela Berstler

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FRONT YARD simple rain garden recipe Your soil says “It's Swale!” What is a front yard, and what be concrete pavers, brick, or concrete. Just make sure does it do? Many front yards in LA County are just that any path is wide enough and safe for walking (level yards. Maybe a few tired shrubs hide the foundation of stones, no tripping edges). A good guideline is to leave the house and a big stretch of grass runs out to the a 3’ minimum width for pathways; 5’ is good for two sidewalk. This grass is rarely used by people, though it people walking side-by-side. is often popular with passing dogs. A traditional front Feel free to mix and match the plants on our list to yard doesn’t really do anything except fill space fit your taste. Don’t care for fluffy grasses? Switch them between the house and the street and use lots of water out with small, native evergreen shrubs. Or keep it ont yard and maintenance time and energy. super simple and just use groundcovers everywhere. A drought tolerant front yard can be so much more! Already have a few well-established plants that you Ingredients: Test how fast your soil drains.

3 fr It can give you shade and privacy; it can provide love and that will survive on very little water? Keep • YOUR SITE PLAN If you have compaction, try to break habitat for birds and butterflies; it can feed you and them, and choose plants from the list that you think will with Water In Your Garden notes through it with a shovel or a pitchfork your friends (depending on the rules in your communi- look nice as companions. (see p. 27) (see p. 30). ty); it can be an outdoor living room, creating a You may be wondering about the gravel and • SHOVELS & RAKES friendlier and safer neighborhood; and most of all it is rocks in the middle of the garden. Meet your new rain • COMPOST, WORM CASTINGS 4 Dig a basin that is between 6” and your last chance to capture and filter our precious rain garden (aka swale)! Sounds fancy, but really, it’s very • LIVING WOODCHIP MULCH 12” deep at the center. Slope the sides before it runs into the storm drain and right into creeks, simple. Your rain garden is just a little soil basin to • HOSE WITH SPRAY NOZZLE gently to make a sloping bowl, not a rivers and the ocean! That seems like a lot of work for slow, spread, and sink some rain water into your front • SWALE PLANTS cylinder. Mound extra soil around the this small space. yard. Follow the simple instructions in the sidebar on bowl to increase capacity. Put down at Our Plant Design is a model that you can modify to the next page and direct your downspouts into the Call DIG ALERT (811) at least least an inch of compost or worm fit your own front yard. Don’t forget that a front yard basin. Your soil and plants will be really happy that two days before digging! castings to activate your soil. needs a good, safe path to your front door. This Plant you did! It’s all part of creating a truly drought Design uses pieces of flagstone, but your path also can tolerant garden. 5 Direct downspouts into the basin 1 Get to know your rain. Make your area, moving the rainwater through site plan and note where rain falls, and gravel lined ditches or above-ground how it flows. Look for an open, mostly drainage pipes. Also, make an overflow flat low spot to direct water towards in path so extra water has a direct the front yard, or anywhere with the channel to the street and not back center at least 10' away from the towards your house. foundation of the house and 3' away from the sidewalk. Calculate the best 6 Plant swale plants in compost on size of your rain garden (see p. 33). the bottom. On the mounded sides, choose plants that like their feet drier. 2 Lay out your rain garden. Spread out When it rains, the basin will fill up, a garden hose to outline the shape. The creating a temporary pond until the area must be basically flat or water soaks into your soil. All the water slightly bowl-like, and not sloping back should be gone in 24 hours. Make sure toward the house. Be careful around to mulch (2-3” deep) around your plants. trees. Don't put your rain garden under a mature tree or disturb any big roots. 7. Swale plants are special. They Remove all plants (including grass) can be completely submerged in rain from the area and start digging. water and still survive our hot dry Summers without extra water. They're sort of plant Super Heroes that way!

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10 SIDE YARD It's evenbetterifthere is adoortoyourkitchen! trees) thesideyard andapicnictableturn intoaveryusefulspace. simple raisedbeds,acoupleofbigpotsfullflowers(ordwarffruit this isagr or adogrun;maybe,ifitgetsatleast6hoursofdirect sunlight, side ofthehouse.Thisarea canbetheperfectplaceforasandbox have someextraspace-perhapsbehindthegarage,oralong side yard, justbigenough forthegarbagecans.Butmanyalso Many homeshaveanarrow eat placeforgrowing vegetables andherbs.Afew

photo: Marilee Kuhlmann

photos top to bottom: Andrew Takeuchi, Diane Michaeli water theyneedwithout drowning yourdrought tolerantplants. your vegetableshave their ownirrigationvalvesoyoucangivethem the bed” (seeResources p.46). low-water garden, linethebottomwithplastic andcreate a“wicking compost andlayeritwith strawfor“vegetablesoillasagna.”Fora truly organic compostmixedwith50%garden soil,orusemore keep yourgarden lookingtidy. Filltheboxeswithatleast50% boxes madeofuntreated wood,are agreat solutionandhelp over-watering therest ofyourgarden. Raisedbeds,simple place where theycangetalltheextrasneedwithout water sotheycanfeedyou!It'sbesttogive veggiesaspecial make tomatoesandsquash,theyneedextra foodand during ourdrySummerandFall.Vegetable plantsworkhard to vegetables willbehappywiththetinybitofwaterthat'savailable during Winter. Butinthedrought tolerantgarden veryfew tucked inamongsttherest ofyourgarden plants,especially vegetables can gr However youdecideto grow, make sure ow rightintheground, floor your garden the plantedareas. materials separatedfrom edging tokeepthefloor installing landscape picnic table.Consider beds, andunderyour “floor” around yourraised materials tocoverthe Use theseinexpensive dust awayfrom yourfeet. your soil,keepingmudand layer ofmulchcancover granite, andevenathick soil. Gravel,decomposed through themandintothe allowing watertosoak on athickgravelbase, flagstone allcanbeset Paving stones,brickand be useableandclean. to beconcrete orwood to doesn't have

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photo: Marilee Kuhlmann

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shade andscreening. Summer; then,thinkabout when,andwhere, youwant the sunthrough yourgarden, bothinWinterand Look atyoursiteplanand considerthemovementof to thesideandshade tree totheveryback.Try it! gar elements canbemovedaround tofityourspecific privacy hedgealongthebackofyard. These garage, smalltrees forshadeandprivacy, anda has alarge shadetree, shadingboththehouseand living spaceandhelpingtokeepthehomecool.Italso shaded pationexttothehouse,providing bothoutdoor This backyard plan 12 den. Perhapsyou'dliketo movetheprivacyhedge BACKYARD features a Mature Size Plants PerSquare Feet 60” 48” 35” 24” 18” 15” 12” 10” 8” 6” Calculator Number ofPlants Per Square Feet 1.50 2.25 .04 .06 .11 .25 .44 .64 1 4 of theplant. mature size based onthe per sq.ft. plants youneed out howmany helps youfigure This chart

photo: Marilee Kuhlmann in thecenterofourmodelplan still spaceforaSlip'NSlide®,andyou'llhavemore timetoplay. Or keepitsimple,green andshortwithbuffalo grass.Eitherway, there's native orMediterraneanbulbsforatrulybeautiful,idyllic,Springtimemeadow. You Poppy)and canmixinannualflowerseeds(likeourbelovedCalifornia once amonth.Lesswater, lessmaintenance,hassle, andmore beautiful! these grassesgrow much more slowly, sotheyonlyneedtobemownabout be mown,justlikeregular “lawn.”Buthere's thebonus-whenwatered properly, regular grassdoes.And mowing?That'soptional!Someoftheplantswelistcan water thantherest ofyour garden, butitdoesn'tneedanythingclosetowhat lawn. Actually, it'sadrought tolerantmeadow!Thismeadow maywantabitmore is asmall

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Then tur Find yourcommunity LA CLIMATE ZONES 14 appr referenced before developinglandscapeplans.When planningalandscapeproject, pleaseconsultthe in thisguidebook.There maybeadditionalregulations affecting properties inthiszonethatshouldbe Due tothesensitiveecological nature ofmanyareas withinthiszone,aplant listhasnotbeenincluded Zone 1SantaCatalina Island n totheplantlists,whichare categorizedbyzoneandfindplantsthatworkinyourlocalclimate. opriate landuseauthority to ensure compliancewith localrequirements. 4 1 6 2 and noteyourclimatezoneusingthemapbelow. 3 5 7 coming inthe Wintermonths. tolerant plants.Average annualprecipitation rangesfrom ≈ 3-7 inches, most of it coldest nightsandlowest annual rainfall,require thetoughestandmosttruly drought dry, completely unliketheotherzones.LACounty'sdeserts, withthehottestdays, This zonerepresenting the desertportionoftheCounty, is largely flatanduniformly Zone 7AntelopeV flat andcalm. is intheformofsnow. Mountainslopesare steepandwindy, whilesomevalleysare pr and snow. Thisarea alsohasmore extremes. Onmountainpeaks averageyearly generally havecolderWintertemperatures thantherest oftheCounty, includingfrost but developmenthasbeenexpandingrapidly. TheEast/West trending mountains Much ofthiszoneisstillcovered initsnative(andtrulydrought tolerant)planthabitat, Zone 6InlandMountains(Grapevine,Castaic,SantaClarita)22 fall atelevationsdownto5,000feet. basins average34inches,andsomeyearsgetmuchmor can getlessthan10inchesofrainannually, hillsidesthatfacetheLAandSFValley WhileNorthfacingslopes California. It claimsseveralofthetallestpeaksinSouthern Most ofthiszoneisinanaturalstateandparttheAngelesNationalForest. Zone 5SanGabrielMountains&Foothills land useauthoritytoensure compliancewithlocalrequirements. landscape plans.Whenplanningaproject, pleaseconsulttheappropriate affecting properties inthiszonethatshouldbereferenced before developing not beenincludedinthisguidebook.There maybeadditionalregulations Due tothesensitiveecologicalnature ofmanyareas withinthiszone,aplantlisthas Zone 4SantaMonicaMountains while itremains merely coolneartheocean. Freezing temperatures, frost, orevensnowmaybeexperiencedinthefoothills from ≈13inchesatthecoast,15downtown,to21inSFValley. the deepvalleys,andhighermountainpeaks.Annualrainfallalsovariesgreatly microclimates, andtemperatures canvarygreatly betweenthefoggycoastal areas, mildly sloped,withmanyareas oflowhillsandvalleys.Thiszoneincludesmany Most ofthiszoneisintenselydeveloped,withtopographythatgenerallyflatto ValleyZone 3LosAngelesBasin&SanFernando almost completelydominatedbyoceaninfluences. zone fr close tosealevel.Saltyoceanair This area islargely developedandhasagenerallyflattopographywithelevations Zone 2ImmediateCoast ecipitation is22inches,whileondesertslopesitless than7inches.Mostofthis om the rest the County.om the of Annualrainfallis≈13inches.This climatezoneis alley &W , coastalfogandmildtemperatures distinguishthis estern MojaveDesert estern e. InWinter, snowsroutinely 24 20 18 16 la climate zone map 15

Camissonia cheiranthifolia (Beach Evening Primrose) =N Plants on these pages are listed by their plant How to read these plant lists. Fragaria chiloensis (Beach Strawberry) =HGN.] symbol from the plant design. Different options are listed for each category, with symbols after each plant name. Lessingia filaginifolia var. californica (Carmel Aster) =HN These symbols note the plants' special needs and properties, so choose the plants you like best that will work for Satureja douglasii (Yerba Buena) =Hl] your garden. For example, if you need a low-growing plant with showy flowers, choose a GROUNDCOVER plant Senecio mandraliscae (Blue Chalksticks) =Hl with this symbol < . Thymus pseudolanuginosus (Wooly Thyme) =H]l

RAIN GARDEN Zone 2 Immediate Coast (Malibu to Long Beach) Juncus patens (Common Rush) =H. Russelia equisetiformis (Coral Fountain) =H<.d[l Salty ocean air, coastal fog and mild temperatures distinguish this zone from the rest of the County. Sisyrinchium californicum (Golden-eyed Grass) =HO. The drought tolerant plants listed for this zone may not do as well further inland. Likewise, plants listed for zone 2 the other zones may not be tolerant of the salt, damp, or cool temps. This zone has a typical Mediterranean GRASS climate with wet, generally mild Winters and warm, generally dry Summers. The primary vegetation types Achnatherum hymenoides (Indian Rice Grass) =N] are coastal salt marsh, coastal dune, and coastal bluff scrub. Bothriochloa barbinodis (Cane Bluestem Grass) =HN.d Melica imperfecta (Coast Range Melic) =HO. STREET TREE la climate Muhlenbergia rigens (Deer Grass) =HON. Banksia integrifloia (Coast Banksia) =N[l Lyonothamnus floribundus (Catalina Ironwood) d[ =HON< PERENNIAL Umbellularia californica (California Bay Laurel) =#O[ Calylophus hartwegii (Sundrops) =Encelia actoni (Acton Brittlebush, Bush Sunflower) =ONOak) =Nd[= ICONS: Eriophyllum nevinii 'Canyon Silver' (Island Snowflake) =N. Galvezia 'Firecracker' (Island Bush Snapdragon) =H#N< = Full Sun SMALL TREE Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem Artichokes) =N<]l Arbutus menziesii (Pacific Madrone) =Flower) =H#< Cercis occidentalis (Western Redbud) =

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with thissymbol< your gar These symbolsnotetheplants'specialneedsandproperties, sochoosetheplantsyoulikebestthatwillworkfor symbol fr How toread theseplantlists. 18 scrub, chaparral,grassland,riparianscrubandwoodlands,oakwalnutwoodland. generally mildWintersandwarm,drySummers.Themainnaturalvegetationtypesare coastalsage foothills whileitremains merely coolneartheocean.ThiszoneismostlyaMediterraneanclimatewithwet, Freezing temperatures, whichare abigdealtoplants,alsovary—there maybefrost, orevensnow, inthe Los Angelesbutwhenitreaches thefoothills,inSouthPasadena,itmaydrop twoorthree timesthatamount. conducive toraingardens. Rainfallalsovariesgreatly; astormcandrop less thananinchofrainindowntown deep valleysandthehighermountainpeaks.Ingeneral,thisisanarea withexcellentwaterinfiltrationrates, This zoneincludesmanymicroclimates, andtemperatures canvarygreatly between thecoastalareas, the ValleyZone 3LosAngelesBasin&SanFernando Cupr Lavatera assurgentiflora Heuchera maxima Helleborus argutifolius Galvezia speciosa'Firecracker' Felicia fruticosa Eriogonum grandevar. rubescens(RedBuckwheat) Eriogonum giganteum Fuschia) Epilobium (Zauschneria)canum'UvasCanyon'(California (Brown-EyedEncelia californica Susan,CoastSunflower) Asclepias fascicularis(Narrowleaf Milkweed)=HONd. PERENNIAL V Pyrostegia venusta(FlameVine) Lonicera subspicatadenudata Har VINE Umbellularia californica Cercis occidentalis SMALL TREE Quercus tomentella(IslandOak) Pistacia chinensis(ChinesePistache)=HONl Arbutus menziesii SHADE TREE Fraxinus velutina(ModestoAsh)=H Brachychiton populneus(BottleTree) = Mimulus cardinalis Linum perenne (Perennial BlueFlax) (W Limonium californicum Lepechinia fragrans(Wallace's PitcherSage) STREET TREE itis californica 'Roger'sRed'(Califor itis californica den. Forexample,ifyouneedalow-growing plantwithshowyflowers,choosea om theplantdesign.Different optionsare listedforeachcategory, withsymbolsaftereachplantname. denbergia comptoniana(LilacVine) =H[l essus abramsiana(SantaCruzCypress) . (Shrub Aster) (Pacific Madrone) (Island AlumRoot) (Scarlet Monkeyflower) n Redbud) (W ester (St. Catherine'sLace) (Corsican Hellebore) (California BayLaurel)(California (Malva Rose) estern MarshRosemary) estern =

photos: Marilee Kuhlmann Car Car Buchloe dactyloides(Buffalo Grass) MEADOW Romneya coulteri Kniphofia uvaria(RedHotPoker) Cordyline baueri(Bauer'sDracaenaPalm) Agave attenuata(Agave) FOCAL Rhus ovata(Sugarbush) Rhus integrifolia(LemonadeBerry) Prunus ilicifoliassp.lyonii Heteromeles arbutifolia(Toyon) Fremontodendr Dodonaea viscosca Cupr Ceanothus 'Concha' Carpenteria californica Arctostaphylos densiflora'Howard McMinn' HEDGE Nassella pulchra(PurpleNeedlegrass)=HONd. Muhlenbergia rigens(Deergrass) Leymus (Elymus)condensatus(GiantWildRye) Koeleria macrantha Aristida purpurea (PurpleThree-Awn) GRASS Muhlenbergia capillaris(HairawnMulhy)dl. Juncus patens(CommonRush) Erigeron glaucus'Wayne Roderick'(SeasideDaisy) R Dymondia margaretae (Dymondia) Calendula officinalis Baccharis pilularis'PigeonPoint' Sagebrush) 'Montara'(California Artemisia californica Arctostaphylos edmundsii 'CarmelSur' Achillea tomentosa(Woolly Pink) GROUNDCOVER Verbena lilacina(LilacVerbena) Goldenrod) (California Solidago californica Smilacina stellata Salvia clevelandii'Winifred Gilman' Salvia apiana(WhiteSage) Salvia 'PozoBlue'(PozoBlueSage) Ribes speciosum(FuchsiaFloweringGooseberry) Ribes indecorum Penstemon spectabilis(ShowyPenstemon) Russelia equisetiformis(CoralFountain) AIN GA ex praegracilis ex pansa(DuneSedge) essus forbesii(T RDEN on californicum 'California Glory' 'California on californicum (White FloweringCurrant) (Solomons Seal) (Matilija Poppy) (Clustered FieldSedge) (June Grass) (Hopseed Bush) (Calendula) ecate Cypr (Ceanothus) (Bush Anemone)HG<#d[ =HONd][ =N#[l (Catalina Cherry)=Hd][ =ONd][ =H[. =H<[. =HO[ ess) =HO[. HG]l =HO[. =N#d. =HONl =#[l (Dwarf CoyoteBush)=HO<[. =O<[ =HON# = Gl =HONd][ (Sage) =l =O[ =HON#d]. =Hd[l [l =Od (Manzanita) =H

with thissymbol< your gar These symbolsnotetheplants'specialneedsandproperties, sochoosetheplantsyoulikebestthatwillworkfor symbol fr How toread theseplantlists. 18 scrub, chaparral,grassland,riparianscrubandwoodlands,oakwalnutwoodland. generally mildWintersandwarm,drySummers.Themainnaturalvegetationtypesare coastalsage foothills whileitremains merely coolneartheocean.ThiszoneismostlyaMediterraneanclimatewithwet, Freezing temperatures, whichare abigdealtoplants,alsovary—there maybefrost, orevensnow, inthe Los Angelesbutwhenitreaches thefoothills,inSouthPasadena,itmaydrop twoorthree timesthatamount. conducive toraingardens. Rainfallalsovariesgreatly; astormcandrop less thananinchofrainindowntown deep valleysandthehighermountainpeaks.Ingeneral,thisisanarea withexcellentwaterinfiltrationrates, This zoneincludesmanymicroclimates, andtemperatures canvarygreatly between thecoastalareas, the ValleyZone 3LosAngelesBasin&SanFernando Cupr Mimulus cardinalis Linum perenne (Perennial BlueFlax) (W Limonium californicum Lepechinia fragrans(Wallace's PitcherSage) Lavatera assurgentiflora Heuchera maxima Helleborus argutifolius Galvezia speciosa'Firecracker' Felicia fruticosa Eriogonum grandevar. rubescens(RedBuckwheat) Eriogonum giganteum Fuschia) Epilobium (Zauschneria)canum'UvasCanyon'(California (Brown-EyedEncelia californica Susan,CoastSunflower) Asclepias fascicularis(Narrowleaf Milkweed)=HONd. PERENNIAL V Pyrostegia venusta(FlameVine) Lonicera subspicatadenudata Har VINE Umbellularia californica Cercis occidentalis SMALL TREE Quercus tomentella(IslandOak) Pistacia chinensis(ChinesePistache)=HONl Arbutus menziesii SHADE TREE Fraxinus velutina(ModestoAsh)=H Brachychiton populneus(BottleTree) = STREET TREE itis californica 'Roger'sRed'(Califor itis californica den. Forexample,ifyouneedalow-growing plantwithshowyflowers,choosea om theplantdesign.Different optionsare listedforeachcategory, withsymbolsaftereachplantname. denbergia comptoniana(LilacVine) =H[l essus abramsiana(SantaCruzCypress) . (Shrub Aster) (Pacific Madrone) (Island AlumRoot) (Scarlet Monkeyflower) n Redbud) (W ester (St. Catherine'sLace) (Corsican Hellebore) (California BayLaurel)(California (Malva Rose) estern MarshRosemary) estern =

with thissymbol< your gar These symbolsnotetheplants'specialneedsandproperties, sochoosetheplantsyoulikebestthatwillworkfor symbol fr How toread theseplantlists. 20 woodlands, montaneforests, pinyon-juniperwoodland,andJoshuaTree woodland. check overflows.Plantcommunitiesincludecoastalsagescrub,chaparral,oakwoodlands,riparianscruband variations, whichcanalsoincludesnow. Rain gardens shouldbebuiltwithcare -digmultiple shallowbasinsand the wakeoffires andmudflows, presents specialchallengesforthiszone.Elevationchangesaffect temperature while hillsidesfacingtheLAandSFValleys average34”ormore. DealingwithheavierWinterrains,especiallyin Annual rainfallandtemperature varywithinthiszone.Lessthan10”peryearcanfallonNorth-facingslopes, Zone 5SanGabrielMountains&Foothills Iris douglasiana Heuchera 'CanyonDuet'(HybridCoralBells) Dichelostemma capitatum(BlueDicks) Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus Asclepias fascicularis(Narrowleaf Milkweed) Aquilegia Formosa PERENNIAL Tecoma capensis(CapeHoneysuckle) Honeysuckle) Lonicera hispidula(California Clematis lasiantha(PipestemClematis) Campsis radicans(Trumpet Vine) (Dutchman'spipe)G<. Aristolochia californica VINE Cercis occidentalis(Western Redbud)HON<# Olea eur BlackWalnut) California (Southern Juglans californica Arctostaphylos 'Dr. Hurd' SMALL TREE Quercus kellogii Quer Populus fremontii (W Gleditsia triacanthosinermis(ShademasterHoneylocust) Ash) Fraxinus dipetala(California Acer macrophyllum (Big-LeafMaple) SHADE TREE Platanus racemosa(Western Sycamore) Fraxinus dipetala Cassia leptophylla(GoldMedallionTree) Rhododendr Monardella odoratissima(MountainPennyroyal) Mimulus guttatus(SeepMonkeyFlower) Lupinus albifrons Lepechinia fragrans(Wallace's PitcherSage) STREET TREE den. Forexample,ifyouneedalow-growing plantwithshowyflowers,choosea om theplantdesign.Different optionsare listedforeachcategory, withsymbolsaftereachplantname. cus engelmannii(EngelmannOak) opea (Olive) on occidentale (W . (Douglas Iris) (California BlackOak) (California (California Ash (California (Silver BushLupine) n RedColumbine)GO<. (W estern Cottonwood) estern =HN[l ester (Dr. Hurd Manzanita) n Azalea) G<. ester ) =HO =HO =HON (Artichoke) =HONd =HN< =Hl =HN#d= =N<.= =#d[= HG<. =O#. =<[l =H<#. =Od HGON l = G< HGO

photos top to bottom: Krissy Hoitt, Stephanie Bartron Ribes malvaceum GROUNDCOVER Sesleria autumnalis(AutumnMoorGrass) Nassella pulchra(PurpleNeedlegrass) Festuca californica MEADOW/TURF Y Aloe marlothii(MarlothiiAloe) FOCAL POINT Coffeeberry) (California Rhamnus californica Philadelphus lewisii Barberry) Mahonia pinnata(California Heteromeles arbutifolia Garrya elliptica'JamesRoof' Cupr Ceanothus 'JoyceCoulter' Hybrid Berberis 'KenHartman' HEDGE Muhlenber Festuca glauca(BlueFescue) Dianella caerulea Bouteloua gracilis'BlondeAmbition' GRASS Tritelia laxa (MountainMint) Pycnanthemum californicum Penstemon heterophyllus var. australis Lillum pardinalum (Leopard Lily) Juncus patens(CommonRush) Epipactis gigantea Echinacea purpur Calochortus sp Asarum caudatum(WildGinger) Adiantum capillus-veneris RAIN GARDEN Teucrium chamaedrys'Prostratum' (Creeping Germander) Montia perifoliata(Miner'sLettuce) Fragaria californica Dichondra occidentalis Baccharis 'PigeonPoint'(DwarfCoyoteBush) Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet' (Manzanita) Adenostema fasciculatumvar. prostratum Achillea millefoliumlanulosa(MountainY Woodwardia fimbriata(GiantChainFern) Spiraea douglasii(Western Spiraea) Salvia 'PozoBlue'(Sage)=HO

with thissymbol< your gar These symbolsnotetheplants'specialneedsandproperties, sochoosetheplantsyoulikebestthatwillworkfor symbol fr How toread theseplantlists. 20 woodlands, montaneforests, pinyon-juniperwoodland,andJoshuaTree woodland. check overflows.Plantcommunitiesincludecoastalsagescrub,chaparral,oakwoodlands,riparianscruband variations, whichcanalsoincludesnow. Rain gardens shouldbebuiltwithcare -digmultiple shallowbasinsand the wakeoffires andmudflows, presents specialchallengesforthiszone.Elevationchangesaffect temperature while hillsidesfacingtheLAandSFValleys average34”ormore. DealingwithheavierWinterrains,especiallyin Annual rainfallandtemperature varywithinthiszone.Lessthan10”peryearcanfallonNorth-facingslopes, Zone 5SanGabrielMountains&Foothills Rhododendr Monardella odoratissima(MountainPennyroyal) Mimulus guttatus(SeepMonkeyFlower) Lupinus albifrons Lepechinia fragrans(Wallace's PitcherSage) Iris douglasiana Heuchera 'CanyonDuet'(HybridCoralBells) Dichelostemma capitatum(BlueDicks) Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus Asclepias fascicularis(Narrowleaf Milkweed) Aquilegia Formosa PERENNIAL Tecoma capensis(CapeHoneysuckle) Honeysuckle) Lonicera hispidula(California Clematis lasiantha(PipestemClematis) Campsis radicans(Trumpet Vine) (Dutchman'spipe)G<. Aristolochia californica VINE Cercis occidentalis(Western Redbud)HON<# Olea eur BlackWalnut) California (Southern Juglans californica Arctostaphylos 'Dr. Hurd' SMALL TREE Quercus kellogii Quer Populus fremontii (W Gleditsia triacanthosinermis(ShademasterHoneylocust) Ash) Fraxinus dipetala(California Acer macrophyllum (Big-LeafMaple) SHADE TREE Fraxinus dipetala Cassia leptophylla(GoldMedallionTree) Platanus racemosa(Western Sycamore) STREET TREE den. Forexample,ifyouneedalow-growing plantwithshowyflowers,choosea om theplantdesign.Different optionsare listedforeachcategory, withsymbolsaftereachplantname. cus engelmannii(EngelmannOak) opea (Olive) on occidentale (W . (Douglas Iris) (California BlackOak) (California (California Ash (California (Silver BushLupine) n RedColumbine)GO<. (W estern Cottonwood) estern =HN[l ester (Dr. Hurd Manzanita) n Azalea) G<. ester ) =HO =HO =HON (Artichoke) =HONd =HN< =Hl =HN#d= =N<.= =#d[= HG<. =<[l =O#. =H<#. =Od HGON l = G< HGO

photos top to bottom: Krissy Hoitt, Stephanie Bartron Ribes malvaceum Sesleria autumnalis(AutumnMoorGrass) Nassella pulchra(PurpleNeedlegrass) Festuca californica MEADOW/TURF Y Aloe marlothii(MarlothiiAloe) FOCAL POINT Coffeeberry) (California Rhamnus californica Philadelphus lewisii Barberry) Mahonia pinnata(California Heteromeles arbutifolia Garrya elliptica'JamesRoof' Cupr Ceanothus 'JoyceCoulter' Hybrid Berberis 'KenHartman' HEDGE Muhlenber Festuca glauca(BlueFescue) Dianella caerulea Bouteloua gracilis'BlondeAmbition' GRASS Tritelia laxa (MountainMint) Pycnanthemum californicum Penstemon heterophyllus var. australis Lillum pardinalum (Leopard Lily) Juncus patens(CommonRush) Epipactis gigantea Echinacea purpur Calochortus sp Asarum caudatum(WildGinger) Adiantum capillus-veneris RAIN GARDEN Teucrium chamaedrys'Prostratum' (Creeping Germander) Montia perifoliata(Miner'sLettuce) Fragaria californica Dichondra occidentalis Baccharis 'PigeonPoint'(DwarfCoyoteBush) Arctostaphylos 'Emerald Carpet' (Manzanita) Adenostema fasciculatumvar. prostratum Achillea millefoliumlanulosa(MountainY GROUNDCOVER Woodwardia fimbriata(GiantChainFern) Spiraea douglasii(Western Spiraea) Salvia 'PozoBlue'(Sage)=HO

Solanum xanti (Purple Nightshade) =H How to read these plant lists. Plants on these pages are listed by their plant Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican Sunflower) =

Jasminum mesnyi (Primrose Jasmine) zone 6 varies from 22” (mountain peaks) to just 7” (desert slopes). Mountain slopes are steep and windy, Oenothera californica (California Evening Primrose) =ON< while some valleys are flat and calm. Rain gardens should be built with care - dig multiple Polypodium californicum (California Polypody Fern) HGN shallow basins and check overflows. Plant communities include grasslands, coastal sage scrub, Salvia mellifera 'Tera Seca' (Sage) H d big sagebrush scrub, rubber rabbitbrush scrub, chaparral, holy-leaf cherry woodland, oak Salvia sonomensis (Creeping Sage) =H.]d[ woodlands, walnut woodlands, riparian scrub and woodlands, and Joshua Tree woodland. Symphoricarpos mollis (Creeping Snowberry) HGO.d la climate Many oak varieties grow here, including numerous hybrids. RAIN GARDEN STREET TREE Adiantum jordanii (California Maiden-hair Fern) G#. Arbutus ‘Marina’ (Hybrid Strawberry Tree) =H[l Iris douglasiana (Douglas Iris) G<. Pinus edulis (Pinyon Pine) =HON]d[ Lilium humboldtii (Humboldt Lily) HG#]. Platanus racemosa (Sycamore) =ONd Pityrogramma triangularis (Goldenback Fern) G . Polystichum munitum (Western Sword Fern) H l. SHADE TREE Cotinus obovatus (Smokewood Tree) = l GRASS Pinus jeffreyi (Jeffrey Pine) =HNd[ Bouteloua curtipendula (Side-oats Grama) = l ICONS: ]d[ [= Pinus monophylla (Singleleaf Pine) =HON Festuca californica (California Fescue) =HN< = Full Sun Quercus chrysolepis (Canyon Live Oak) =HGON#d[= Leymus arenarius (Lyme Grass) G<. Muhlenbergia rigens (Deergrass) =HO.d H Part Sun SMALL TREE G Full Erythrina x bidwillii (Coral Tree) =H

22 23

Solanum xanti (Purple Nightshade) =H How to read these plant lists. Plants on these pages are listed by their plant Tithonia rotundifolia (Mexican Sunflower) =

22 23

How to read these plant lists. Plants on these pages are listed by their plant Salvia apiana compacta (Compact White Sage) = symbol from the plant design. Different options are listed for each category, with symbols after each plant name. Solanum hindsianum (Baja Nightshade) =H< These symbols note the plants' special needs and properties, so choose the plants you like best that will work for Sphaeralcea ambigua (Apricot Mallow) =ON< your garden. For example, if you need a low-growing plant with showy flowers, choose a GROUNDCOVER plant Stylomecon heterophylla (Wind Poppy) =<. with this symbol < . Verbena lilacina cedros (Island Verbena) < d

GROUNDCOVER Zone 7 Antelope Valley & Western Mojave Desert Abronia villosa villosa (Sand Verbena) =HN Astragalus Douglasii (Douglas Milkvetch) =H LA County's deserts, with the hottest days, coldest nights and lowest annual rainfall, require the Ceanothus griseus 'Diamond Heights' (Ceanothus) HG toughest and most truly drought tolerant plants. Using plants that have evolved to survive and thrive in the desert Convolvulus sabatius (Ground Morning Glory) =HGNl zone 7 is important since trying to keep anything else alive uses too much of our most valuable resource, fresh water. Corethrogyne filaginifolia (California Aster) =H.dl Capturing all of the rainfall is critical to the success of the garden in this zone. The main natural vegetation types Dalea capitata 'Sierra Gold' (Golden Dalea) l are creosote bush scrub, Mojave Desert scrub, rubber rabbitbrush scrub, and Joshua Tree woodland. Ericameria cuneata (Compact Goldenbush) =N Helianthemum scoparium (Rush Rose) = STREET TREE Sphaeralcea phillipiana (Trailing Mallow) =G la climate Cercidium (Parkinsonia) floridum (Blue Palo Verde) =Nd Chitalpa tashkentensis (Chitalpa) N< RAIN GARDEN Washingtonia filifera (California Fan Palm) =N[ Aethionema schistosum (Fragrant Persian Stonecress) l. Arabis caucasica (Wall Rockcress) ]l. SHADE TREE Muhlenbergia capillaris (Hairawn Mulhy) dl. Pinus eldarica (Afghan Pine) =H[l Sporobolus airoides (Alkali Dropseed) =ON. Pistacia chinensis (Chinese Pistache) =HONl Quercus palmeri (Palmer's Oak) =H#[ GRASS Festuca longifolia (Hard Fescue) HGl ICONS: SMALL TREE Leymus (Elymus) triticoides (Creeping Wild Rye) =HGOd Full Sun Cercidium (Parkinsonia) 'Desert Museum' (Palo Verde) =Nd = Chilopsis linearis (Desert Willow) =HN< PRIVACY SCREEN H Part Sun Leptospermum laevigatum (Tea Tree) =H[l Calliandra californica (Red Fairy Duster) =ON< Punica granatum (Pomegranate) =H]l Callistemon (Bottlebrush) =

24 25

• Ar • Shallowsoils • Exposedr • Lowareas thatare commonlywet • Areas oferosion orobvioussoilcompaction • Hillsides,slopes,orothermajorgradechanges and markanyofthesethatar Walk around yourgarden withacopyofyoursiteplan, • Large trees orshrubs • Large landscapefeatures (ponds, streams, swimming • Otherstructur • Buildings(house,garage,neighbor'shousesifnearby) • Orientation—Northarrow (ormarkEastandWest) • Dimensionsofthesite INCLUDE THESEITEMSONYOURSITEPLAN: space, andhowthesunrainaffect yourgarden. Think abouthowyouandyourfamilywanttousethe graph paperoruseacomputer Measure yourhouseand otherbuildings.Drawitouton Start byfindingyourproperty dimensions( 1. Makeasiteplan GET TOKNOWYOURGARDEN compaction tests(seep.30-31). and placeswhere youconductyoursoiland Later, youcannoteyoursoiltype 26 pools, driveways,patios) (r structure LA CountyAssessor'swebsite(assessor.lacounty.gov) FIND find yourproperty dimensions: LOOK Just typein your address, zoomin, and usetheSatelliteview. 5 4 3 2 1 ound uptothenearest foot or6inches) eas wher (marked withyourlotnumber) (and click“Accept”) Make yoursiteplanandnoteSelect“Property MapsandData” Print acopyofthemap. Save apdfcopyifyouare usingyour computertomakeaplan. Click to“View Assessor'sMap”andfindyourproperty Note yourlotnumberinthe“Property BoundaryDescription” Enter yourStreet Address (click“Submit”andclickyouraddress) the dimensions,shape,andorientationofyourproperty atthe at Google Maps(maps.google.com) ock e thesoilabruptlychangestextur es (carport,porch, arbor, shed) e relevant: . see below). e or for helpplacingbuildings andtrees onyourproperty.

photos: Pamela Berstler • Markyourroof gutterdownspouts, • Ifyoudon'thaveroof gutters and YOUR SITEPLAN: INCLUDE THESEITEMSON plan, andnotethisinformation: garden withanothercopy ofyoursite leaves yourgarden. Walk around your around, where itstays,andhow flows intoyourgarden, how itmoves It's importanttoknowwhere water 2. Water inyourgarden • Markwhichar • Locationswher • Areas where waterpoolswhen • Drawarrows toindicatethedirection • Whichpartoftheroof drainsintoeach the waterinthemouttostr thepathof if youhavethem,andfollow to thelandscape. of yourr downspouts, thenmarktheedges areas covered byaroof, etc). the ground (i.e.driveways,solidpatios, surfaces, where watercan'tgetinto drainage pipes,stormguttersetc). leaves yourgarden (i.e.driveways, is concentratedandeventually it rains. water movesthrough yourgarden. dimensions ofthatportionroof. downspout, andestimatethe before oof where watersheetsdown eas are impervious e rainwaterrunoff eet. after

how to

27 get to know your garden

photos: Pamela Berstler • Markyourroof gutterdownspouts, • Ifyoudon'thaveroof gutters and YOUR SITEPLAN: INCLUDE THESEITEMSON plan, andnotethisinformation: garden withanothercopy ofyoursite leaves yourgarden. Walk around your around, where itstays,andhow flows intoyourgarden, how itmoves It's importanttoknowwhere water 2. Water inyourgarden • Locationswher • Areas where waterpoolswhen • Drawarrows toindicatethedirection • Whichpartoftheroof drainsintoeach • Markwhichar the waterinthemouttostr thepathof if youhavethem,andfollow to thelandscape. of yourr downspouts, thenmarktheedges it rains. water movesthrough yourgarden. dimensions ofthatportionroof. downspout, andestimatethe drainage pipes,stormguttersetc). leaves yourgarden (i.e.driveways, is concentratedandeventually areas covered byaroof, etc). the ground (i.e.driveways,solidpatios, surfaces, where watercan'tgetinto before oof where watersheetsdown eas are impervious e rainwaterrunoff eet. after

how to

27 get to know your garden

GET TO KNOW YOUR GARDEN

3. Plants and sunlight 4. Check your irrigation On a copy of your site plan, locate large trees, shrubs, lawn and If you have an irrigation system installed, chances are other significant vegetation. Outline the canopy area of that it is a spray emitter system with an automatic each plant and note with the name, general size and health of irrigation controller. Locate all of the sprinkler heads the plant. If you don't know what the plant (or tree is), take on your property and mark their location on a copy of pictures (or samples) of its leaves, fruit and bark to your local your site plan. Note the location of your controller, nursery for help with identification where the water comes on to your property from the how to Every garden has areas where plants will grow well and street (the main line), and the location of every valve others will die. Structures, walls, fences, and other plants all can that controls the various irrigation zones. affect the amount of sun and shade in a garden. And every RUN YOUR IRRIGATION SYSTEM & garden is completely different. There will be hills and hollows in OBSERVE WHAT'S HAPPENING your garden that may collect cold air or, because your property • Which sprinkler heads go on at the same time is sloped, you don't get frost when neighbors do. These climate and what kind of plant material are they factors that are particular to your garden are called irrigating? Color code the groupings of microclimates, and they may differ significantly from the sprinklers on your site plan. In How To Water general climate of an area. Note on your site map any Wisely (see p. 40-41) we will explore these microclimates you think your garden might have. groupings or hydrozones and figure out how best Outline the sun and shade patterns of the site. Mark areas we can match the irrigation with the various that receive sun all day and areas that are shaded all day. Also plants' water needs. note which areas receive only partial sun, maybe just a few • Does water spray on the hard surfaces hours of direct sun in the morning, mid-day or in late afternoon. surrounding the garden? When you choose your plants make sure to select those that are • How quickly does water run off the appropriate to the sunlight pattern in your garden. Plants landscape? marked as “full sun” will not be happy in full shade. • Are there any broken or missing heads? Look closely at the plants you have, and note which are drought tolerant and which aren't. Many plants can be drought tolerant if they're well established, with deep healthy roots sprinkler test 6 One more time, this time for 5 more (old rose bushes, for example). Decide which plants will work minutes. well in your new garden and which you should plan to remove. Ingredients: CUPS, BOWLS OR JARS, STOPWATCH, Note: Measure at 5, 10, and 15 minutes drought tolerant characteristics of plants RULER, PEN AND PAPER for drip systems. Collect your containers RESULTS There are four characteristics shared by many TINY LITTLE LEAVES Like the solar panels they 1 (they don't all have to be the same size). • Different depths of water in different drought tolerant plants that will allow you to find mimic, it is easier to keep small surfaces cool containers means your sprinklers are not get to know your garden them in a crowded nursery. Sometimes you will than it is to cool down one large hot surface. Spread them around so they are watering evenly. Get new heads that find plants with three or four of these adaptations 2 SOLAR TRACKING LEAVES In the middle of spaced about 5' apart. emit the same amount of water at once at one time - they're really drought tolerant! the day these leaves will appear to be standing at (matched flow rate). Note that each Get your stopwatch ready and start it attention, straight up and down. As the day 3 head has a different spray pattern; full STIFF, LEATHERY LEAVES These leaves hold as you turn on your sprinklers. progresses, or if you see the same plant in the on to water, and represent many of our evergreen circle, half, quarter or adjustable. early morning, you will find that the leaves native plants. At 2 minutes, turn the sprinklers off. are more horizontally oriented. This plant is 4 Hold ruler upright and note how deep • See how much water your section SILVERY OR HAIRY LEAVES Light colored moving its solar panels throughout the day to the water is in inches. emits at 2 minutes, 5 minutes (2+3), leaves reflect sunlight, cooling the plant. Hairy minimize exposure during the hottest part of the 8 minutes (5+3), and 10 minutes (5+5) for back sides of leaves hold moisture longer day (smart, huh?). Many of the native 5 Get ready and start again, for drip then at 5, 10, 15, 30 and 45 minutes. which cools the leaf. manzanitas utilize this adaptation. 3 more minutes this time, and record • Now you can give your plants just your results. the water they need. 28 29

GET TO KNOW YOUR GARDEN

5. Is your soil a brick or a sponge? 6. Check your soil type If your soil doesn't drain well it is a brick and it won't support healthy plants. So, let's cook up a test to determine Here's an easy way to figure out your soil type. how well it drains. Test a few places on your property and make a note of your findings on your site plan.

brick or sponge test how to Ingredients: • STOP WATCH OR TIMER • SHOVEL • HOSE

1 Dig a hole the size of a 1 gallon plant (that's about 10” to 12” deep and 6” to 8” wide). Don't worry about measuring it or making it pretty.

2 Fill the hole with water and wait. Note how long it takes to drain completely.

3 If it takes longer than 30 minutes, you may have some clay soil and some compaction. Make a note of the time, and keep going!

4 Now do it again. Fill the hole up all the way and see how long it takes this time.

VERDICT: 0-30 minutes to completely drain, both times - Congratulations! Your soil drains well!

30-60 minutes on the second time (or both) - Your soil is slow-draining.

MORE THAN 60 minutes to drain - YOU HAVE A BRICK! Your soil needs some extra help, either tilling or augering to loosen it up and break compaction.

Now that you know if your soil drains well, and if it's healthy, it is also good to know what type of soil you have.

Some plants really like sandy soil, and get to know your garden some really don't. And what about clay? In the low-water garden, clay soil is the best. It holds water and nutrients longer, and as long as it's alive with microbes there should be plenty of air pockets, keeping everyone (plants and others) happy. When you select plants from the plant list, remember your soil type and choose plants that prefer it - if you G3LA, LLC. © 2009 have sandy soil, look for plants with

the icon that notes they like sand. photo: Jon Huber

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