The Palisadian-Post has partnered with locally founded environmental organization Resilient Palisades to deliver a weekly “green tip” to our readers. This week’s tip was written by guest writer Cassy Aoyagi of FormLA Landscaping.
As Pacific Palisades shapes how it will meet updated state water conservation mandates, we can provide some hope: Drought doesn’t have to be a downer! Angelenos can actually make our landscapes more lush, leafy and lovely while improving our resilience.
In contrast to the synthetic lawns and gravelspace “planted” during the last drought, gardens of native plants feel like a luxury, not a sacrifice. While requiring just 20% of the water consumed by a thirsty lawn, native foliage delivers year-round greenery, blooms and fragrance, which in turn attract butterflies and bring birdsong. Strategically placed and spaced, native foliage cools enough to reduce energy bills, boosts property values, lessens maintenance work and is fire-defensive. Magic!
The coastal chaparral plant palette, ideal for Pacific Palisades, brings distinctive beauty. Coast live oak tree canopy deeply shades expansive territory. California mountain lilac sweetly scents the air. Boisterous coastal buckwheats bloom through the heat of summer, seldom experiencing a butterfly-free moment.
Coast dudleya succulents grow in rocky soils and bloom through summer, while seaside daisies brighten our rainy season. For those not ready for a lawn-free life, feathery yarrow lawns transform into bloom-filled meadows should someone “forget” to mow.
There are additional tools to aid drought resilience. Hydrozoned, low-flow, subsurface drip irrigation on weather-based controllers minimizes water waste. Stormwater stored in rain barrels can support container and vegetable gardens. Bioswales feed foliage and groundwater when it rains. Adding organic mulch keeps all that hydration in the soil as long as possible.
Great local resources can help you learn more. Enjoy a hyper-local palette in person at the Santa Monica Conservancy’s Preservation Resource Center. It’s wrapped by coastal natives. Santa Monica’s Garden demonstration garden study documents the predictable water, time and garden-waste savings. The International Garden Center in El Segundo and Merrihews in Santa Monica carry some native plants, while the Theodore Payne Foundation Nursery in Sunland offers an expansive array.
Ready to dig in? The best time to plant native foliage is in the fall, as the rainy season boosts adaptation to a new home. Summer is a great time to prepare by removing your lawn, installing drip irrigation, and covering the space in organic mulch to improve the soil and prevent weed growth.
Palisadians are lucky! Cooler temperatures and greater precipitation in the air mean we can plant year-round with success.
To learn more about drought-tolerant plants or Palisades-perfect landscaping designs, visit formlainc.com or contact them by email.
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