preparation & design - emwd · what you can do: turn off the water when you brush your teeth...
TRANSCRIPT
Preparation & Design
January 28, 2012
By: Dave Schroeder
What We Do
Water Conservation Tips
Preparation
Water Wise Gardening
Topics of Discussion
Design
• Protect Chino Basin Groundwater
• Provide Education to the Community
• Provide Water Conservation Outreach
• Offer Landscape Evaluation Audits
• Help Fund Recycled Water Projects
What Do We Do?
Water Wise Gardens
60% of a typical household water is used for irrigation Water wise plants use 40% less water
Aka: California Friendly Aka: Drought Tolerant
Aka: Xeriscape
Why Plant a Water Wise Garden?
• Conserves resources
– 40% to 90% less water
– 60% less yard trimmings
• Saves time and money – 80% less gardening time
– No more mow and blow
• Invites more “good” animals
– Butterflies, hummingbirds and bees
• We live in the desert
Water Wise $avings
What you can do:
Turn off the water when you brush your teeth
How much you can save:
100-300 gallons a year
Don’t use the toilet as a trash can
400-600 gallons a month
Fix leaky faucets and toilets
Use low flow showerhead (2.5 gallon/minute) .
20-50 gallons/day/fixture
1,000’s of gallons /month
Indoor Savings
More Water Wise Savings
What you can do: How much you can save: Water your yard late evening to 25 gallons per day to early morning Install a smart sprinkler controller. 40 gallons per day Use a broom instead of a hose to 150 gallons each time clean driveways & sidewalks Check sprinkler system for leaks, 500 gallons a month overspray & broken sprinkler heads Use Mulch around plants to 100-300 gallons a year reduce evaporation & weeds
Outdoor Savings
Water Waster ~ Think about where you plant
group plants with similar water needs in same sprinkler zone
~ Remove your water guzzling grass
Or fertilize and water less
http://bewaterwise.com/calculator.html
Creativity
Landscape Design
• Soil analysis
• Drainage
• Sunset Western Garden Climate Zone
• Utility lines
• Water meter
• Irrigation lines
• Plants to keep
• Window locations (views to preserve)
• Prevailing wind
• Necessary shade
• Natural features
• Existing views
• Screens (noise, view and privacy)
• Locate downspouts
• Slopes
• Your needs
• Style
– House
– Patio’s
– Sidewalk/hardscapes
• Plant preferences
• Parking/access
• Open space feeling
• Creating a direction - paths
• Outdoor living areas
-- Dining area
• Special effects
– Water features
– Night lighting
• Wildlife enhancement
• Maintenance plan
• Budget
• Pool
• Spa
• Patio Deck
• Enclosed Patio
• Barbeque
• Outdoor Fireplace
• Outdoor Heater
• Gas Connection
• Gazebo
• Fountain
• Waterfall
• Streambed
• Fish Pond
• Aquatic Plants
• Raised Planters
• Vegetable Garden
• Herb Garden
• Fruit Trees
• Rose Garden
• Playground
• Putting Green
• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Lawn for Play
• Carport
• Accident Prone Pets
• Dog Run
• Trash Can Storage
• Utility Room
• Garden Tool Storage
• Noise Screen
• Visual Screen
• Shade Trees
• Potted Plants
• Front Entry
• Lighting
• Garden Art
• ______________
• ______________
• ______________
Elements of Design
• Same basic principles used in art, architecture and interior design
• Landscape design – Three-dimensional
– Living
– Ever changing
• Placement of plants
• Ultimate size of plants
• Growth habit of plants
Selecting Plants
• Develop a list of potential plants
– Use water efficient native plant list www.bewaterwise.com or www.lvmwd.com
– Avoid invasive plants - California Invasive Plant Counsel www.cal-ipc.org
– Visit water wise gardens and nurseries
– Visit Chino Basin Water Conservation District!
– Use book resources (Sunset Book, Bob Perry, etc.)
– See what’s growing well in your neighborhood
– Use pictures or slides
Landscape Plan
Plant Form Examples
Tall Dome
Broad Dome
Columnar
Conical
Leaf Texture Examples
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Medium
• Site analysis
• Topography
• Environment
• Structures
• Needs
• Plot plan (see next slide)
• Pick existing plants & trees to save
• Finalize your plant palette
• Finish all your homework
Getting Started
• Legal description of property
• Tools
– Measuring tape or wheel
– Compass
– Graph paper/computer
– Scale – ¼” = 1’ (standard – you decide)
• Measuring
– Locate house and other permanent features
Plot Plan
• Scale
• Proportion
Think Ahead
N
• Group plants according to their physical characteristics (for aesthetics • Group plants according to water and climate needs. • Check soil type
• Minimize Run-Off
• Infiltrates Immediately
• Different Patterns
Permeable Concrete Pavers
Hardscape - Permeable
Path Design Options
Lawn Alternatives
Thyme
Plant 2”; low growing flowers
Yarrow
Plant 4-6”; Flowers 12”
Fescue (blue or gray)
Dymondia
Lawn Alternatives
Yard Art
Lush & Colorful Drought Tolerant Yards
Before & After
What do you like & why?
Before & After
Water Wise Gardening
Chino Basin Water Conservation District’s
Water wise demonstration garden
CBWCD’s Offices “Before”
75% Grass – Our plan was to remove it all!
Sprayed and killed the grass;
Sprayed and removed honeysuckle on slope
Preparation
Left dead turf as future soil amendment;
Wanted W.W., festive, colorful plants on slope
Preparation
Think about drainage (low lying area)
Preparation
Installation of a French drain
This is used to capture slope run-off
Preparation
Preparation
This drainage area has buried pipe covered with 1/2”-3/4” gravel and landscape cloth.
Preparation
Hardscape preparation for pavers
Preparation
Hardscape preparation for pavers
Preparation
Installation of the (permeable) pavers
Preparation
Site inspector is checking drainage
I’m thirsty – where’d the water go?
Preparation
Pavers and planting done!
Next, open spaces prepped for synthetic turf
Applying decomposed granite (D.G.) and compacting area for synthetic turf
Preparation
Synthetic Turf Synthetic Turf
Preparation
Irrigation
Rotor Type Sprinklers
(aka: overhead irrigation)
Irrigation
Conventional Spray Head
Low water Stream Rotor
vs
Irrigation
Conventional Spray Head
Low water Stream Rotor
vs
FreeSprinklerNozzles.com
Irrigation
Irrigation
Drip
Low volume irrigation
Irrigation
Microspray Low volume irrigation
Planting
Drain area; Redwood borders; Design;
Plant choices; Textures
Finished Product!
Plants; Mulch; Synthetic turf; Paver Pathway
Minimalist Look Mulch Landscape
What Not to Do
For More Info
Dave Schroeder
909-267-3223
Debby Figoni
909-267-3230
Chino Basin Water Conservation District
4594 San Bernardino Street
Montclair, CA 91763
www.cbwcd.org