Have you decided to reduce your front lawn? Maybe you don’t want to reduce your entire lawn but a corner here or there. Here are some hints and tips from the UC Master Gardener Program of Colusa County, cecolusa.ucanr.edu .
You don’t necessarily need to hire a landscaper, but you may need help with irrigation or digging holes.
Plan
Measure the area and draw a map. It does not need to be exact but close. When drawing your map note the existing trees, shrubs, and pathways you want to keep.
Go outside in the morning, afternoon, and evening to observe the sun. Make a note on your map of sunny and shady areas.
Look at other water-wise home landscapes and commercial areas for inspiration.
Plant Selection
There are many water-wise and native plants to choose from. You do not have to have a cactus or succulent garden unless that is what you want.
Check out local native plant nurseries, and the water-wise sections of the garden center. Other good places to start with your plant selection is Sunset Western Garden, Save Our Water, and the UC Davis Arboretum All-Star selection. Keep in mind, not all California natives are native to our area.
When selecting plants remember not only their water needs, and their sun needs but also their maturity size.
Select some plants that bloom in the early spring, some in the spring, some in the summer and some in the fall. This increases the beauty of your garden but also increases food for pollinators.
Wait to purchase your plants until you are ready to plant.
Here are some plants that can help you get started. (There are many more).
Native plants – Blue-Eyed Grass, Hummingbird Sage, Foothill Penstemon, Coral Bells, Common Yarrow, California Poppy, Sulphur Buckwheat, Agave, Island Bush Snapdragon, Sticky Monkey Flower, California Fuchsia, and Ceanothus.
Water-wise plants – Blanket Flower (Gaillardia), Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa, Salvia, Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), Coneflower (Echinacea), Coreopsis, Sea Lavender (Limonium), Rose, Verbena, Rock Rose (Cistus), Agapanthus, Barberry, Lavender, Rosemary, Nandina, Santa Barbara Daisy, Mexican Tulip Poppy (Hunnemannia), Compact Oregon Grape (Berberis), Western Redbud, and Desert Spoon.
Groundcover – Silver Carpet (Dymondia), and Snow in Summer (Cerastium), and creeping thyme.
Grasses – Pine Muhly, Deergrass, Blue Gr ama Grass and Blue fescue.
Remove your Grass
There are many options to removing your turf. Options include sheet mulching, physical removal (digging or sod cutter), solarization and/or chemical. Some options take a lot of time, and some are labor intensive. Pick the option that is best for you.
Add Compost to the Soil
Compost adds nutrients to the soil. It also increases the water capacity of the soil. If you cannot amend the entire area, then work compost into each hole you dig.
Irrigation
It may be possible to use your existing lawn irrigation system with a few changes. Talk to your local hardware store for options.
Many new irrigation systems can be laid on top of the ground. Your local hardware store can help you map out an irrigation system.
Hardscape
Now is the time to install the hardscape. Hardscape is a fancy word for walkways, edging, and stones etc.
Layout and Plant
Remember the plan you made? Compare it to the actual area before you purchase the plants. Does it still work? Make any adjustments now.
Purchase your plants in the fall or very early spring. Before you dig holes, place the plants around your landscape according to your plan. Does it still work?
Now that your plan works, start digging the holes. Add compost into the backfill as you go. Cover the plants with a ½ inch of soil.
Add irrigation emitters to each plant at this time but hand water each plant at first.
Mulch
The last step is to mulch. Most people chose bark but there are others. Mulch is not only visually interesting, but it keeps the soil moist, cool and stops weeds from growing. You will need to add mulch every couple of years.
Sit back and enjoy!