Sustainable Fertilization
Follow Mother Nature If you mulch heavily as recommended in the compost and mulch fact sheets you should not need traditional fertilization. Sustainable landscapes fertilize themselves as soil organisms break down and recycle the dropped leaves into nutrients. Your garden can use this process to maintain health and beauty without routine addition of fertilizer. Chemical […]
Solving Runoff Problems
Importance of Watershed A watershed is a land area that drains rain and other water into a creek, river, lake, wetland, or groundwater aquifer. Water from your neighborhood also enters the watershed through the storm drain system and flows directly to local creeks and the ocean without any treatment. It often is contaminated by pollutants […]
Permeable Surfaces
From Impermeable to Permeable If you have impermeable paving that you would like to make permeable, there are two main methods for doing so: Break up hard paved surfaces to create spaces for water to seep through. Remove and replace the surfaces with permeable paving. Either method allows water to soak into the soil, reducing […]
Pest Management
Managing Pests Naturally Are pests bugging you? If pests are taking over there might be a good reason! Instead of grabbing that bottle of spray, consider using techniques that can solve your pest problems without toxic pesticides. These pest management techniques, collectively known as “Integrated Pest Management” or IPM, can help get rid of indoor […]
The Right Plant Right Place
If you plant a shade plant in full sun, it will require a huge amount of water to survive, if it will survive at all. If you plant a sun plant in the shade, it will be spindly and weak. You will need to water groups of plants together on the same irrigation valve. You […]
The Magic of Mulch
Sustainable landscaping is a term coined to mean sensible landscape practices that operate within the limits of the Eco-system. These landscape practices work within the limits of your local rainfall, soil conditions and sun patterns. When designed correctly, a sustainable landscape will not only be beautiful but will need a bare minimum of additional resources […]
Compost for Healthy Soil and Plants
The natural world works in cycles. Everything is changing form and moving from place to place in an endless energy exchange system. The leaves and twigs that fall to the ground, not to mention other life forms that might die, decompose and combine with water, air and minerals of the soil to create a medium […]
Managing your Soil
Why is Healthy Soil Important? Healthy soil is the cornerstone of a vibrant landscape. It provides oxygen and nutrients vital to plant growth and sustenance. It provides protection from the sun and stability for root systems. The soil is very much alive and possesses degrees of health the same way the human body does. Healthy […]
Using Water Wisely
Make Your Watering System Efficient An efficient watering system applies the right amount of water to the right parts of the garden at the right time. This conserves water and saves you money. Watering efficiently means: Watering according to plant needs, soil type, and sun exposure. Purchasing a smart controller that only waters when it […]
Dealing With Drought
Three Ways to Deal with the Drought In California, more than half of the water used at your home is for outside purposes. Studies show that on average, half of the water used outdoors is wasted. The leading cause of waste is incorrectly set and poorly managed irrigation controllers. The second biggest cause of wastage is broken […]