The Art of Home: Turf wars being won by the drought-conscious
Almost every garden that horticulturist Tim Fiskin sees is overwatered.
He understands that some Orange County residents are still struggling to keep yards green and plants perky amid rising temperatures and minimal rain, but as the state faces water-use limits after four years of drought, he sees another way forward — think unthirsty succulents, flowers and grasses that thrive with little care.
“We have to get realistic about our water usages,” said Fiskin, senior designer and landscape department manager at Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar. “We’re working on moving the needle to the drought-tolerant garden.”
People are getting the point. Fiskin said more Californians in the past five to seven years have become interested in replacing high-maintenance lawns with water-conserving plants.
But before you go ripping out current vegetation, consider Fiskin’s rule of (green) thumb:
Keep the lavender, rosemary and salvia, since they are drought-tolerant, but pluck out daisies, annuals and alstroemeria.
“Many people who have cute and colorful cottage gardens need to know that many of them are already drought-tolerant,” he said. “They’re just putting more water on the plants than they need to.”
Also, homeowners should not worry about replacing a field of meadow flowers or stately oak trees since they all have lower water needs. Native plants can help restore a garden’s natural rhythm during the state’s water restrictions and unpredictable water cycles without sacrificing beauty.
Consider a California Friendly Garden, also known as a water-friendly or water-wise garden, that not only cleans the air and water but also reduces waste and conserves natural resources.
From a design standpoint, Fiskin said it’s about editing gardens, from eliminating lawns to installing a landscape with new irrigation and drainage systems.
“The big feature of this movement is that it’s a broader range of plant material to play with,” he said, noting that Roger’s Gardens alone has 200 new varieties. “Some 20 years ago, gardens were judged on greenery and flowers, but nowadays we don’t have to wait all year long for a color. We also have texture.”
Since many of his clients don’t know where to begin, Fiskin suggests homeowners find pictures of landscapes they would like to replicate. Once they are set on an idea, they should look at the scope of the area and think about whether to commit a portion or an entire side of the house to the new landscape.
Make it interesting, and remember, not all gardens have to look like a desert setting.
“It’s all about the overall mix,” Fiskin said in describing which plants to select. “It’s like a group of friends. You have the crazy ones who like to party and then the ones who go to the philharmonic. It’s just a different chemistry.”
Choosing plants and shrubs should be an exciting time, he said, since nurseries today are more niche-based. Since the climate in much of California is described as Mediterranean, with winter rains and dry, hot summers, Fiskin said garden enthusiasts will find soft plants from South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
For year-round drama, he suggested the New Zealand native plant phormium, which grows tough, sword-shaped leaves that are usually dark green but sometimes have colored edges. The species can thrive in sun or shade and is moderate in its need for water.
To add a punch of pink, plant leucospermum, referred to as a pincushion because of its rounded, salmon-colored flowers. The plant, which blooms early in the season from late winter to early spring, only needs a sunny position and heavy soil.
And for those interested in planting California natives, Fiskin says remember that natives may not be blended with soft Mediterranean because the plants originate from different continents and have rotating season.
Those interested in a California native palette should consider toyon, a perennial shrub with rounded petals. In the early summer, it produces small white flowers that attract butterflies. Fiskin also listed artemisia for its silvery-green foliage and culinary and medicinal properties, and ceanothus, known as California lilac, for its colorful and fragrant shrubs.
And going green may save you some green — cash, that is.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s program, SoCal Water$mart, offers rebates to residential customers who change turf grass to a California Friendly yard of drought-tolerant plants.
To help with turf removal projects in response to Gov. Jerry Brown’s emergency drought declaration, rebates are available for $2 or more per square foot of turf removed. A rebate, up to $380, is also available on weather-based irrigation controllers, which can save more than 13,500 gallons of water per year for the average homeowner.
Fiskin said he has had about 46 appointments in the past two weeks with people wanting to discuss water-saving landscape designs. Customers are embracing the opportunities to convert to low-water gardens, he said.
“It’s an exciting time, especially since there’s so much inspiration to make an attractive landscape,” Fiskin said.
For more information on rebates, incentives and grant programs, visit bewaterwise.com
Conservation Tips
Here are a few ways to undertake water savings, according to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California:
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Fix leaky garden faucets
Constant dripping can add up to 20 gallons a day or 600 gallons a month for each leak. All that’s needed is a 25-cent washer.
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Water before 9 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
Irrigating in the cool of the day saves water in many ways: Less water is lost to evaporation and wind or drift. Watering at night or in the early morning is healthier for plants, since roots often stop “drinking” during warm weather.
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Set your lawn mower blades one notch higher
Longer grass will reduce evaporation and water use. The higher height will shade and cool the soil below the leaves and encourage deeper rooting. The higher mowing height, however, is not recommended for warm-season grasses, like hybrid Bermuda.
For more information, visit bewaterwise.com