lawn gone and loving it!

Lawn Gone and Loving It!

One Homeowner’s Guide to Lawn Replacement

Kathy Sturdevant

Outline• Background• What is Native?• Goal• Process• Some Costs• Plant Sources• Maintenance• Lessons Learned• References• Other Garden Styles

Background

• Math, computer science• Basic gardening experience• Girl Scouts: backpacking, camping, hiking• Inspired by Theodore Payne Foundation’s

annual garden tour• Previously unaware of the disconnect between

nature and what we plant in our gardens

What is Native?Drought Tolerant versus Native

• Def native: grew here prior to European contact

• Drought Tolerant• Mediterranean• Australia• California• E.g. Rosemary, Rockrose, Lavender, …

Native

Mediterranean

Motivation

• Ecology• Habitat• Use Less Water

• Did not try to save money– Although…Santa Monica experimental gardens

show that native gardens save money on water and maintenance

Goal

Create an English cottage style garden using California Native Plants

Before

Landscaping Steps• Budget• Design• Prep work (e.g. paint house, sewer line, permits, removals)• Kill/Remove Lawn• Perform Grading• Install Hardscape• Install irrigation• Plant• Pre-emergent weed killer• Mulch• Water, water, water

Pre-Design Considerations

• Existing plants• Soil drainage test• Shade analysis• How you will use the space?• Any problem areas?• Constraints• Neighbors• Views

The Reality• Budget? What’s that?• Kill lawn THEN take design class• Get stuck on plant selection for 6 months– Diversity of information on plant sizes

• Hire designer Greg Rubin to rescue me• Replaced front porch midway

My Design Process• Locate trees• Evergreen foundation• Vibrant green next to the house• Gray green plants as accents• Plant in groupings• Some specimen plants• Pathways (mail carrier)• Inconspicuous deciduous plants• Low plants in the front, taller toward the back and left side• Simple parkway (dog traffic, city eugenia trees)

The Design

Sewer Line

Lawn RemovalSmother or Spray

Glyphosate now available in generic form

Grading

Install Hardscape

Irrigation

IrrigationHunter MP Rotators with 12” Popups

Emulate rainfall

Completing the Stream

Dry stream designed as swale to allow water from gutters to absorb into water table

Everything But the Mulch

Planting

• Plant ½ - 1” high; water drains off root crown

• Basin to hold water• 3-4” shredded redwood

mulch• Lots of water first day• Big rocks (optional)

Where did I get plants?

• Theodore Payne Foundation• Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden• Las Pilitas Nursery, Escondido (Closing)• Las Pilitas Nursery, Santa Margarita (mail order)• Tarweed Nursery, Glendale• CNPS Annual Plant Sale• Native plant friend• Larner’s Seeds (mail order)

Cost Estimates

• Mow Strip – $700

• Flagstone Patio 10 x 12 ft– $2800

• Irrigation $3-5K– $1300 - $1800 per valve circuit

• Dry Stream– $75-125 per linear foot

• Plants– Avg. $9 per 1 gallon

Installation Complete

March 2010 Western sycamore was 5 gal, rest of plants 6” to 1 gallon pots

1 Year Later

2011

Installation and 1 Year

2010 – Installation 2011 – 1 year

Western sycamore was 5 gal, rest of plants 6” to 1 gallon pots

2 Years Later

2012

Installation and 2 Years

• Planting Day 2010 • 2012

Compare: 1 & 2 Years

2011 – 1 year 2012 – 2 years

3 Years Later

2013

Today – 6 years

2016

Before and After

Patio Feature

Dry stream is functional– directs water from downspouts into water table

Side of House

Note the downspout directed into the stream

Desert Willow Chilopsis Linearis “Timeless Beauty”

2010 – 5 gallon 2016

“Espalier”

Espalier Comparison

Consider growth rate when designing– this Ken Taylor flannel bush grows more slowly than this ceanothus

Sunset Manzanita Hedge

If you want a more traditional look to your garden, choose plants that will tolerate hedge trimming, for example.

Certified HabitatNational Wildlife Federation

• Provide Food• Supply Water• Create Cover• Place to Raise Young• New…• Sustainable Habitat

Bird Bathwith ¼” copper drip

Repurposed fountain

Several Garden Visitors

Maintenance: Water• Water once every 10 days, non-rainy

season– Goal: ¼” precipitation, penetrate mulch

• Avoid soaking soil during heat waves– Water before and/or after– Water with cloud cover– Light mist on leaves at end of scorch day

• Obtained city watering exemption – Demonstrated low water usage– Goal: flexible watering schedule < 1 per

week on the day of my choosingNote: replacement plants are hand watered 1-2 x per week until established; trees are deep watered periodically.

Maintenance - Year 1

• Clean birdbath• Weed• Clear leaves from plant basins• Pull back the mulch• Wind damage


• Clean birdbath• Weed• Clear leaves from basins• Pull back the mulch• Wind damage • Wildflowers look messy when going to seed • Replace an occasional dead plant• Pick up (mostly neighbor’s) leaves


• Clean birdbath• Weed• Clear leaves from plant basins• Pull back the mulch• Messy wildflowers• Replace dead plant(s)• Pick up leaves• Prune to shape plants

Maintenance - Now• Clean birdbath• Weed• Keep sprinklers clear• Dead head: buckwheat, etc• Replace monkeyflowers• Replace dead plants• Wildflowers look messy when going to seed • Prune each type of plant 1-2 times per year• Thin overcrowded plants• Argentine ant abatement

Plan for monthly maintenance– which is less than a traditional landscape

Maintenance: Pruning

• Avoid overcrowding to minimize pruning

• Sterilize pruners, e.g. 10% alcohol solution

• Sterilize between plants• Be especially careful of

ceanothus and manzanita• Seal branches thicker than a

pencil

Problem Areas

Got ants?

Argentine ants are farming scale on the roots of this buckwheat.

Ant AbatementAddress Ants Before You Plant

Boric Acid

Desperate Measures

Indoxacarb

Spot Treatment to save infested plants

Recommendations

• Use Native Plant Landscaper• Take the time to design• Design to compliment your home• Don’t work in a bubble – get to know other native gardeners – stay in touch with your native landscape professional

(additional cost)• Expect change: grow, thrive, or die• Design with maintenance in mind

Lessons Learned

• Mow strip was a great idea• Too many plants• Shorter varieties• Need irrigation modifications

(risers)• Argentine ants are evil; start

abatement sooner than later

Rebate?

• My installation was in 2010, pre-rebate• If you can get a rebate, GREAT!• Before you start, have all your “ducks” in

a row, as your time is limited.• Know the rules• Don’t feel bad if no rebate--more

flexibility without it, e.g. native grass lawns

References

• CNPS – http://cnps.org

• TPF – http://theodorepayne.org

• Las Pilitas Nursery – http://laspilitas.com

• Summary of references– http://kathysturdevant.com

Questions?

See Other Gardens

• Look at TPF Garden Tour website photos– theodorepayne.org– nativeplantgardentour.org

• CNPS San Diego Garden Tour• CNPS Orange County Garden

Tour

Native Grass Lawn

Sunland, CA: blue grama, deergrass, Nevin’s barberry

Theodore Payne Garden Tour

Contemporary


Naturalscape for Spanish Home


http://kathysturdevant.com

lawn gone and loving it!

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