Landscaping

Landscape Maintenance

• Environmental and Human Health Benefits
• Regulations and Guidelines
• Performance
• Cost
• Specifications
• Vendors and Availability
• Sample of Performance Measures from the GBC Program Checklist
• Resources and Websites – includes excellent fact sheets covering a variety of outdoor pests and natural pest control methods

Throughout Southern California, the dominant landscape aesthetic is a broad, open lawn punctuated by trees and shrubs.  While this landscaping system has been engrained into us through our culture and media, it creates an ecologically depleted landscape that requires significant amounts of resources and chemicals to maintain, especially in dry climates, such as ours.  Fortunately, you and many others are beginning to understand that an English style landscape (they gets lots of rain in England) does not make a lot of sense when you live in a Mediterranean climate, and it’s time to embrace the beauty and sustainability of natural (native) landscaping.  Natural landscapes that utilize California friendly and native plants and trees have numerous environmental benefits, in addition to their absolutely splendid aesthetics.

Environmental and Human Health Benefits

Prevents Waste:  Without a lot of turf to mow, you won’t be sending a trashcan full of lawn clippings to the dump every month.

Conserves water:  Planting native and California friendly plants and installing drip irrigation can reduce overall water use by up to 80% compared with non-natives and spray head irrigation. 

Less toxic:  Native and California friendly landscape designs are more balanced ecosystems and thus more resistant and less likely to have pest infestations compared with traditional type landscapes.  This means you won’t have to rely so much on spraying insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and other pesticides, which can harm your family, pets and wildlife.  Avoiding the use of pesticides will also support a more natural yard complete with birds, butterflies, and ladybugs and other beneficial bugs. 

Air and noise pollution:  Eliminating the air and noise pollution associated with power mowers, edge trimmers, weed whackers and blowers not only provides a huge benefit towards cleaning the air, but also makes that afternoon nap a lot more enjoyable. 

Urban runoff:  Did you know that urban runoff containing fertilizers and pesticides from over watered turf is considered one of the biggest sources of water pollution in North America?  Drip irrigation, mulching planted areas, reducing fertilizer and pesticide usage all help to significantly reduce this threat.

Regulations and Guidelines

The City’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment enforces the “No Water Waste” Ordinance (SMMC 7.16.020).  Those in violation of this ordinance can be fined up to $250. A sample of requirements found in the ordinance include:

Ø       No watering lawns or landscapes between the hours of 10:00am to 4pm on any day (did you know that spray irrigation during the day loses up to 40% water to evaporation?).

Ø       No runoff is permitted from your property at any time.

If you plan to change out your irrigation system, you’ll need to install water-efficient products like drip irrigation, rotary nozzles for sprayhead, and smart irrigation controllers. Not sure what those are, check out www.smgreen.org for details and classes on sustainable landscaping. These changes could save you up to 50,000 gallons of water each year.

The population in the Western states, unlike the water supply, continues to grow, and if these requirements seem strict, you can bet similar ordinances will be adopted throughout the West in the near future.

Performance

Assuming performance relates in part to aesthetics, a natural landscape comprised of California friendly and native plants and trees is truly beautiful and one only has to see it to appreciate it.  If it’s color you’re in to, visit www.bewaterwise.com to search for plants that bloom at different times of the year.

Another performance issue may concern how hard it is to grow these types of plants.  Plants are only hard to grow when their water, sun or soil requirements are not met.  All native plants are perfectly adapted to the locations in which they naturally occur.  Gardens in southern California are typically irrigated and fertilized creating a very different environment from the one most California natives are adapted to.  For this reason natives sometimes have a difficult time in garden conditions.  For a successful native garden, group plants with similar needs.  An example of what to avoid, which we do see on occasion, is planting succulents in the same planter bed with roses.  Select plants that are adapted to the sun, soil and water conditions of your garden.  And remember, the most common reason for failure is over watering.

California native and friendly plants also require less overall maintenance saving you time and money!

Cost

Significant savings in landscape management costs can be realized by converting lawns to natural landscapes. While the initial costs of creating natural landscapes can be relatively higher, annual operating costs of established natural landscapes are generally far lower than annual operating costs of conventional landscape with turf.

There is a wonderful opportunity for businesses to apply for a landscape grant from the City of Santa Monica.  These grant awards can provide funding for California friendly landscape projects in Santa Monica.  Be aware that funds are limited, so be sure to visit www.smepd.org for the most current information on availability of grant funds.

There are several rebates available now for property owners to switch to better irrigation equipment, visit www.mwdsaveabuck.com or call 1-877-728-2282.

Specifications

Specify California friendly and native trees and plants for your landscape design.  Consider choosing landscape designers with expertise in California friendly and native plants and landscapes and drip irrigation systems.

Vendors and Availability

California native plants are becoming more readily available here in southern California.  There are at least half a dozen exclusive native plant nurseries that supply a wide variety of these plants to home gardeners and landscaping professionals.  Native plants are also becoming more common in local nurseries and many will order them for you if they do not have what you want. 

For more information on native plant distributors including botanic gardens, societies, and retail and wholesale nurseries, visit www.bewaterwise.com.

The City of Santa Monica certifies landscape professionals who have participated in City-sponsored workshops in sustainable landscaping techniques and the principles of water-efficient irrigation systems.  The list of certified landscape professionals can be found by searching for “List of Certified Sustainable Landscape Professionals” at www.smepd.org

Sample of Performance Measures from the Green Business Certification Program Checklist

·         Modify your existing irrigation system to include drip irrigation, where feasible

·         Use mulch to cover exposed soil – this prevents weeds and soil erosion, and helps to retain moisture

·         Routinely inspect irrigation systems for leaks and proper operation

·         Repair broken or defective sprinklers, as needed

·         Adjust sprinklers for proper coverage

·         Divert rainwater runoff to planted areas

Resources and Websites

Bewaterwise – our top pick for the most comprehensive and user friendly resource for anyone interested in designing and installing a more natural and sustainable landscape.
http://www.bewaterwise.com/index.html

Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program - maintained by the University of California and the Agricultural and Natural Resources.  This is the best resource for California specific programs and information on implementing integrated pest management for effective and safe control of pests.  The best part is you can call to speak with an Area IPM Advisor, thus putting an IPM expert right at your fingertips.  The Advisor covering Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties can be reached at 858-694-2846.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/

United States Environmental Protection Agency - a wealth of pesticide information on their website, including issues related to health, safety and environmental effects, how to control pests, pesticide regulations and enforcement, current research and more.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised that the Federal government developed such a user friendly and useful website.
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/

City of Santa Monica’s FY2002-03 Annual Integrated Pest Management Update contains an outline of the city’s successful integrated pest management program, which has greatly reduced the use of pesticides used to maintain open space and park areas.

San Francisco Department of the Environment - San Francisco has one of the most progressive and successful IPM programs in the Country, so be sure to check out their website.

http://www.sfenvironment.org/our_programs/interests.html?ssi=2&ti=1&ii=117

Beyond Pesticides - National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides – “Because Freedom from Pesticides Is Everybody’ Right”. This is one of the most comprehensive websites containing current news and events, information on how to control pests and what to do if you have pesticide exposure concerns, and much more.
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/index.html

PANNA – Pesticide Action Network North America - Advancing Alternatives to Pesticides Worldwide
http://www.panna.org/