California Friendly® is California’s future. Water reliability is dependent on using water wisely. We need to create sustainable gardens that rely on less water. This maintenance guide will help you support California’s future:
This book has been written for every landscaper, gardener and land manager in Southern California. It has been produced by the very first collaboration between three Southern California organizations, LADWP, MWD and SoCalGas. Feel free to download a copy of the book for free and use the information in your garden and help us create a beautiful, thriving and sustainable future.
I. Introduction 1. Your Water and Energy—Let’s get this right! II. Irrigation: Maintaining Efficiency 2. The Gist of Irrigation 3. Controlling Your Controller 4. Irrigation Maintenance and Troubleshooting 5. Irrigating with Recycled Water III. Plants 6. Grasses 7. Perennials 8. Shrubs 9. Succulents and Cactus
IV. Pests 10. Weed Control 11. Natural Pest Control V. Stormwater 12. Stormwater: Infiltrating, Screeningand Cleaning Runoff 13. Managing Surfaces and Slowing Runoff 14. Rainwater Capture: Rain Barrels and Cisterns VI. Additional Resources 15. Index
Waterwise landscapes are not only beautiful, they help conserve valuable natural resources and create a diverse habitat of birds, butterflies and pollinators.
This guidebook provides landscape design tips and step-by-step guidelines to help you transform your lawn to a waterwise and sustainable garden. Learn how to hold on to rainwater and reduce the demand for supplemental irrigation using principles of sustainable landscaping.
Get inspired and create your very own waterwise garden today. This guidebook written and designed by Green Gardens Group.
I. INTRODUCTION
Waterwise landscapes in three Easy Steps 1
Envision your Waterwise Landscape 3
Consider your Budget 4
II. GET INSPIRED
On the Go Style Garden 5
Easy Outdoor Living Garden 7
Family Gathering Spot 9
Kids, Pets, Fun, and Friendly 11
Groundcovers and Lawn Alternatives 13
More Trees Please! 15
Plan for Parkways 17
Eat Your Yard 19
Plant for Pollinators 20
III. DESIGN YOUR GARDEN
Start with a Site Plan and Test your soil 21
Consider your Microclimates 23
Evaluate your Existing Irrigation 24
Make a Bunyip 25
Map your yard as a Mini-Watershed 26
Capture First Flush: Detain the Rain 27
IV. PLAN FOR PLANTS
Grow Living Soil 29
Select Climate-appropriate plants 30
How much Water does your garden Need? 31
How much Water can your garden Save? 32
Make a Hydrozoned planting plan 33
Go with the Low Flow: Drip 34
Match Irrigation to new Hydrozones 35
Convert to Drip Irrigation 36
V. LAWN BE GONE
Lawn: Cool Season vs Warm Season grass 37
Prepare for Success 3
Lose Your Lawn and Build Healthy Soil 39
Contours for rain Capture 41
No Flat Yards 42
Contour Hillsides with Caution 43
Plant with Confidence 44
VI. GARDEN PLANS FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Make your Planting Plan 45
Use these Example Plans 46
Don't plant a Pest 47
Use this Plant List 48
Introducing The Plants 49
Inland Gardens 51
South Coast Gardens 53
North Coast Gardens 55
Slopes and Hillsides are special 57
Plan for Fire 58
Project Checklist 59
Shopping List 62
VII. TEND YOUR GARDEN
Compost and Mulch 63
Manage Irrigation Efficiency 65
Plan for Zero Runoff 66
Steward Your Garden 67
Use this Maintenance Checklist 68
Landscape with a Professional 69
Index 70
