1-Stop all pesticides, fertilizers and chemical treatments to your garden (that includes Miracle Grow!) But what about the
bad bugs? One rarely has the same problem two years running in a garden. Those bad bugs attract the good bugs, but when
pesticides are used not only do the good bugs stay away, but the potential for other animals to eat poisoned bugs is much higher.
So, next time you have lots of aphids, or some other problem, consider just letting the problem become dinner for the
good guys! If something does need to be done, consider using a mixture of tobasco (hot sauce) and water in a sprayer or a sprayer of
olive oil. This is so important, and so much easier than having to deal with all that poison. If left alone, nature will be a powerful
ally. Relax, give nature a try! You'll love seeing who comes for dinner!
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2-Plant a tree, but do it smartly! Consider the hot side of your house, imagine having a tree there to provide shade in the summer.
Better yet, plant a deciduous tree (one that looses its' leaves in the winter). Why???....A deciduous tree will allow the winter sun to
warm your house and provide organic material for your garden. This is just an all around good thing! DESIGN NOTE: Remember the scale
of your property, if there is only 20 feet, don't plant something that needs much more space. (This will help reduce maintenance.)
Deciduous trees also give your garden year round interest----flowers in the spring, shade in the summer, sumptuous fall color, and
warmth from the sun in the winter, plus mulch for your garden!
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3-Plant Natives! No matter where you live, there are plants that are appropriate. In California, we have changed the
nursery market. For years, people have planted tropicals, never realizing that we have an amazing palate of native plants to use
in our gardens. Over the past 20 years, more and more growers are producing cultivated varieties that are more
and more readily available. Ask your local nursery for native plants for your region. This will start the process of actually having a native
section at your local nursery. (A good nursery will listen.) A nursery will be more likely to have natives than your local home improvement center, who
just sends the same plants all over the nation. Buy local! Native plants, not only are
more disease and pest resistant, but they perform better in your particular native soils (no need to add chemical improvements). They also
provide food and shelter for the native habitat. They are well worth the extra effort in finding them. DESIGN NOTE: The same classic principles of
landscape architecture can be used no mater where you live!
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4-Reduce the amount of water you use in your garden!! Did you know that 70% of the water we use goes to watering that tired lawn..... do you
really need all that grass? Unless you are planning to eat the grass you are growing, it makes as much conservation sense as Hummer full of
premium gasoline. Perhaps there is nothing wrong with having grass in areas that will have lots of foot traffic
or for children or pets, but if grass is being wasted as a ground cover you are wasting water and space! Next time you see a big front lawn, think what a waste of water! If we remove the grass, what
else is there? One choice is Achillea millefolium, it is a low growing plant that can take a little foot traffic, does not
need to be mowed as often, it also blooms in the spring. After it blooms, just mow the flowers down and allow the clippings to fall back
into the area. Other Alternatives: create a native garden--mix in some vegetables, create a path system, create an outdoor entertaining area,
plant trees, or simply select a different more water wise lawn substitution like Achillea millefolium.
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5-Raise the height of your mower blade! If you are determined to have grass, give it a better chance to retain moisture by keeping
the grass blades at 2" high. (Most homeowners and gardeners mow it to the ground or roots.) Psychological cycle: When the grass is mowed to the root,
the lawn turns brown, which makes one think the lawn needs MORE water! Break the cycle! The grass does not grow back any faster, plus
it also provides more shade for the roots (which will help retain moisture). This simple but effective change will also promote a
healthier lawn----I promise!
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6-Instead of lawn fertilizer, use the grass clippings to provide natural mulch and nutrients. If your lawn is cut to 2" then the clippings
will just fall down below the cut line and provide a constant source of organic fertilizer. This method also helps conserve water by providing
organic mulch for the roots. Many people don't like the grass clippings on top of the lawn... well, either use a blower to break-up and scatter
the o.m. (organic material) or give it a day or two to fall naturally into the grass you could even use a rake to spread out the clippings! (having the blade to 2" will help!)
more shade. Remember the idea in organic gardening is not use chemicals, instead the grass will provide its' own nutrients via the clippings. Also,
most of us think that having the clippings left after a mowing reflects on the homeowners tidiness... this has got to change. From now on,
let it be a sign that this is an organic lawn! (In a day or two gravity will take care of the situation and the clippings will
fall below the cut line and go undetectable.)
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7-Common Sense Watering----Water by hand! If your garden has been in for several years, there is no need to water it 5 times a week. Most hardy plants (especially
natives) are established by now. A good way to save water is to just have some water hose time... just watering those few things that would
benefit. Another good idea is to just let water trickle out for an hour or two for a good DEEP watering---yes your hose can do that!.
By providing deep water as opposed to a shallow water, the roots will not stay on the surface looking for water. Encouraging deep roots will
greatly help your plants survive hot weather and over time will require even less water! One may think that watering
by hand would take more water, but it doesn't----just remember to turn your irrigation system off! This method also can be good
for your spirit.... look at your plants, the birds, the bees---enjoy your GREEN GARDEN! NOTE: it is best to water in the morning,
and to water the roots, not the foliage.
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8-Adjust your irrigation system! --Water Wisely! Here's what to do, water fewer times for a slightly longer
amount of time. So, if you are watering 5 times a week in the summer for 10 minutes per station, change that to 3 times for 15 minutes. Better yet,
most irrigation systems have the ability to have multiple programs "A", "B", and "C". Break that 15 minutes into two 7 minutes schedules. Doing this
will allow the first 7 minutes to soak in, then the last 7 minutes to really soak in (less run-off). Run program "A" and program "B" right after one another.
Deep water is always best---this encourages the roots to go deep rather than shallow. Also remember in the wet season,
turn the irrigation system way down, if not off. In addition, if you use an irrigation system, there is no excuse for watering
during the day----set that timer to come on between 4-5 am. By doing this there is less evaporation. And please remember not to
water during a rain storm, simply turn it to rain delay. There are also new monitors that
actually check the weather and water accordingly, I'm not too familiar with this (at this writing), but ask your landscape architect or your
public utility company about this system. The Water Company may even provide incentives for water conservation!
The more we know.....
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9-Increase the amount of water permeability. Break up all that concrete! Concrete (unless it is the new porous variety) creates
runoff---that's wasted water. What you want to achieve is to have more water soak into your soil, instead of running off into the street.
Certainly, make sure that water runs away from your house, and or doesn't gather at the foundation. But, do you need that huge driveway? Perhaps
instead consider using pavers set it coarse aggregate or decomposed granite ("DG"). This treatment will give you strength for cars,
and allow water to
return to the ground. There are so many options for this, another great option is to break up your existing concrete drive or walkway, then
reset the randomly shaped pieces together (like flagstone). This will give you an incredible look, and it's just the cost of the labor,
plus the landfill is not filled up with more junk. There are also brick, several varieties of pavers---be creative. The
pattern of this treatment could be the added architecture your home needs. Using less concrete also reduces the amount of heat around your
home.... remember concrete absorbs heat! Ouch!
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10-Get rid of the airport landing lighting! Instead use low-voltage uplights on a few special plants to create some drama.
Those pathway lights, even
if they are solar, are just ugly. Provide safe lighting, with properly placed spot-lights----One should never see where the light comes from. With these lights all your guests see is just a row or two
of lights. Lighting is an art, think moonlight....highlights. By using low-voltage wisely your garden will become something stylish instead
of a "do it yourself" look. (And that IS what it looks like!)
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11-Contact your local power and water company for incentives! Let your local company know that you are a GREEN GARDENER! Ask
if there are incentives to take all that grass out, ask if there are rebates for a state of the art irrigation system, ask what other
incentives there are for using less electricity or conserving water! If they do not have incentives, ask why not! Encourage
your PUBLIC utility company to create incentives!!!! This just may get the GREEN ball rolling! Some cities do have
rebates for conservation.... some also give out free trees (plant smartly) to green the city. Is yours one of them? I wonder....
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