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Landscape
Design
Eight Tips to Save You Time, Money and Resources
For many residents, the warmer weather is an opportunity
to finally get outdoors after a long cold winter, and install
or refurbish their residential landscaping. If a front or
back yard is on your list of “to-do’s” this
year, consider incorporating these eight basic principles
of sustainable landscaping into your design plan. These important
elements will assure a healthier, more water-efficient landscape
that is better suited for our local climatic conditions. And
in the long run, these resource-efficient principles will
save you time and money as well!
- Landscape planning and design should
consider the user’s needs, routine and budget; the
yard’s desired finished appearance, long-term maintenance
goals and irrigation requirements.
- Plant selection is perhaps the
single most important element in any sustainable landscaping
plan.
 Select
native and other drought-tolerant groundcovers, flowers,
shrubs and trees. Many drought-tolerant plants tend to be
a little slower growing, which helps with maintenance as
well. Group plants with similar water needs together. A
list of water-thrifty plants is available from the TCSD
office.
- Hardscapes are areas that are
not planted, such as walkways, decks and patios. Hardscapes
can provide quiet places to better enjoy your yard, and
can often be created from recycled materials like old timbers
or broken concrete. Consider placing several planted pots
on a deck or other hardscape area, to not only bring color
and variety to your yard, but to reduce water demands as
well.
- Soils vary in pH and texture,
and can differ in drainage characteristics from one area
of town to another. Local nurseries can help you determine
your soil type and advise you whether a soil improvement
additive may be necessary before planting. Organic compost
can improve many soil conditions. Check upcoming water bills
for information regarding future composting workshops.
 Mulching,
or covering the surface of the soil, can reduce
weed growth and the amount of water weeds divert from a
yard’s plants. Mulching protects topsoil from erosion,
reduces evaporation and organic mulching can replace important
nutrients.
- Smaller turf areas can greatly
reduce the amount of water needed to support your yard.
For optimal savings, limit lawn areas to no more than 20%
of the total landscaped area.
- Irrigation systems should be
well thought out and utilize drip systems whenever possible.
Design sprinkler layouts to maximize plant coverage while
minimizing overspray onto hardscape areas.
- Maintenance of your new, resource-efficient
landscaping will be easier, less time consuming, and much
more enjoyable than you ever thought possible; allowing
you greater opportunity to actually relax in the yard you
worked so hard to create – thanks to sustainable landscaping
strategies!
Need more information on sustainable landscaping?Contact
Michelle Costa, TCSD’s Water Conservation / Recycling
Coordinator, 434-4900. |
Drip irrigation saves water, time and effort! Learn how to design, build and operate water-saving drip systems. This workshop will be held both outdoors and indoors.
Over 50% of the water used in the North County is used for landscape irrigation, which places significant stress on our limited water resources. This workshop focuses on the design and maintenance principles of overhead sprinklers and irrigation controller programming; and provides you with the information you need to more efficiently operate your landscape irrigation system.