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Stormwater Retention Ideas as Part of Your Landscape Design

by with No Comment LandscapingLandscaping Maintenance
Stormwater Retention for your home is a great way to be water wise.

Living in southern California there are often droughts and water shortages. This makes rain water a scarce resource that we should use more often. Many people have at some point considered catching the rain water but aren’t sure where to start. Afterall when it rains, it’s free water that your plants enjoy and is free. 

Unfortunately much of the rain water that isn’t absorbed by soil often evaporates and doesn’t get used. Amending your soil with compost or mulch can help it to retain more water but there is only so much before the soil becomes completely saturated. Today we’ll go over some suggestions and design elements on how to collect stormwater, save a bit of money and make use of this natural resource.

What is Stormwater Retention?

There is a myth that in southern California it was illegal to catch rainwater, but this can’t be further from the truth. Anyone can have stormwater retention on their property so long as the water you are collecting comes from your roof, no permit is required.

Areas such as Long Beach tend to get about 15 inches of rain on average every year. Much of the rainwater that lands on roofs or driveways results in runoff. Runoff water can collect pollutants that enter the city’s storm drain system which leads to larger bodies of water until it eventually reaches the ocean. Stormwater retention is a great way to conserve water, save money, and keep your plants looking vibrant. It may seem like installing a stormwater retention system is a drop in the bucket due to the infrequent rain we get, but it all adds up.

Designing a Stormwater Retention System

Stormwater retention typically begins with the gutter system that collects rainfall from your roof. Rain gutters are already a good investment as they protect your home’s walls and foundation from water erosion as it directs run off water to either a drain or the street. But why not collect this rainfall in a vessel like a barrel?

A simple solution to collecting stormwater from your roof is to simply put a barrel where your gutters drain. That’s all you really need to collect rainwater, however many people will agree that a large plastic barrel on the side of your home can not only be unsightly but take up quite a bit of space. 

On a 1,000 square foot roof, an inch or rain can give you about 600 gallons of water. Design choices to consider for collecting water from your roof include using seamless gutters which give a clean sleek look to the system and helps prevent leaks due to having less failure points. A leaf filter and a downspout fist flush filter should also be installed to prevent debris from being collected. Afterwards it’s a matter of hiding the plumbing that goes to your water collection vessel of choice.

You could then use this water to give your landscape a splash during the dryer days, and avoid any local water ordinances you may be subjected to in the future.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allows us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Your project is carefully managed by our team of experts. Whether you are looking to turn your front yard into a showpiece or creating the backyard of your dreams we are here to help. Fill out our Landscape Design request for landscape to fit your aesthetic today. Feel free to call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for the project you have in mind.

This beautiful backyard woodland garden features a maintenance free lawn made of realistic looking artificial grass, a huge landscaping trend for small spaces.

Should you Paint Your Lawn?

by with No Comment Drought Resistant Lawn
Drought has changed the way lawn can be taken care of and how to best help them survive water restrictions.

Options for Lawns To Be Drought Resistance

Did you know there is a way to keep your lawn green while saving water? The majority of LA county has been in a severe drought for the last month according to drought.gov. And with the drought predicted to continue for the time being, the stress to your lawn with the heat and irregular waterings may cause it to brown.

Maybe you should look into painting your lawn, the idea of painting your lawn as though it were a wall inside your home can seem odd to many homeowners. But it conserves water, and is far more commonly done than you may imagine. Did you know that because golf courses need to keep their grass green year round, golf courses often paint their turf when it becomes dry and brown.

Today we’ll share some of the reasons why in Los Angeles County painting your lawn has increased in popularity.

An Innovative Solution to Care for Your Lawn

As watering limitations are implemented in Long Beach CA to watering twice per week, many lawns begin to suffer as they begin to dry out due to the heat and lack of moisture. Not everyone has the ability to re-sod drought resistant grass that can thrive under these conditions. And many drought resistant lawns still have a dormancy period during the winter when they’ll begin to dry out as well.

Depending on the rate of growth and mowing, painting your lawn with green turf colorants can last for up to 3 months. Regardless of if your lawn is going through a dormancy period, fighting disease or pests, green lawn paint will keep your lawn looking healthy. Getting your lawn painted is not only an affordable service, it saves time and money by not needing to fertilize, water or maintain your lawn as often you would traditionally.

What is Grass Paint Made of?

When we say paint your lawn, we don’t mean buy a can of spray paint and get started. Though the process is similar, grass paint is nothing like the typical paint you buy at the paint department of a home improvement store. The product is called “turf paint” or “turf colorant”, it’s a non-toxic pigment made of dyed pulverized stone or decaying plants. It is pet friendly and lays on the surface of  your grass giving it a boost in color while recovering to its natural green. The paint doesn’t block out the sun’s light giving you peace of mind knowing you’re not doing any further damage to your lawn.

Benefits of Painting Your Lawn

Painting your lawn is a short term solution that mainly is used to cover up or hide imperfections in your lawn. It can hide climate stress, aging, discoloration while leaving you with a beautiful green color you enjoy. This is meant to be a temporary fix while you seek more permanent solutions, waiting for your grass to leave its dormancy period, or simply to cover up spots caused by dog urine, disease, or dry patches. Even the best kept lawns have to deal with some issues occasionally and having an immediate solution reduces stress while dealing with the issue. 

By painting your lawn you can reduce the use of your sprinkler system. Saving you money on your water bill and avoiding water run off. Sprinklers are a great tool to use when trying to save time, but aren’t very efficient and typically use far more water than necessary.

Everyone is looking to save money, and lawn care can be expensive and time consuming. In some cases dealing with browning lawns can be too much to handle and homeowners opt to pay to have sod installed. With grass paint you get the vibrant green color back while you deal with the root problem of your lawn.

The benefits of painting your lawn go further than just the grass itself. It makes the house look appealing year round. It gives instant curb appeal if you’re looking to rent or sell the home. It can be re applied as needed and is very do it yourself (DIY) friendly however, if you’re not experienced you should hire a professional service to reduce overspray as the turf paint can be permanent.

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allows us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Your project is carefully managed by our team of experts. Whether you are looking to turn your front yard into a showpiece or creating the backyard of your dreams we are here to help. Fill out our Landscape Design request for a landscaping redesign to be water conscious today. Feel free to call us at (562) 225-9460 or get a free quote for the project you have in mind.

A Drought Resistant Lawn Solution

by Drought Resistant Lawn
A Drought Resistant Lawn Is a Great Option For Your Home

The Right Lawn For The Right Home

Have you ever been frustrated by dry patches on your lawn? Is Southern California’s inconsistent weather causing your lawn to be brown, and dry instead of a beautiful, lush and healthy green? Would you like to learn how to solve this challenge?

Especially during the hot summer days throughout Los Angeles County where some cities are limited to watering their lawn once per week. There are some ways to help alleviate this problem, join me as we discuss potential causes and solutions to get to the root of your lawn troubles.

Poor Soil Quality in Long Beach

In some cases, even with adequate watering, your lawn can still begin to dry up. The reason being that the soil under the grass may be compacted. Compacted soil doesn’t allow water to penetrate it leaving puddles of water on the surface where it eventually evaporates. Compacted soil can lead to a lack of moisture driving away small organisms which help the soil to stay healthy. 

One of the most effective ways of loosening your compacted soil is with core aeration. Where small bits of soil are pulled up through the lawn. The space created by core aeration relieves pressure, softens and creates small gaps in the compacted soil to allow water to penetrate the surface and roots to grow deeper. Though aerating your lawn can be done on your own, it’s best left to professionals. Aerating your lawn is labor intensive and season dependent. If the timing is wrong, aerating can further damage your lawn.

Amending Your Soil

A healthy lawn can only be grown on healthy soil. Healthy soil should be more than just dirt. If you have noticed dead or dry patches in your lawn, you may need to amend your lawn with compost. Adding organic material can help retain moisture under the surface of the soil. If you are seeding your lawn, consider mixing organic compost with any dry patches of soil you see. In severe cases you may need to have your entire lawn amended before reseeding. When seeding, moisture is crucial which makes it difficult during a seasonal drought. 

Drought Resistant Grass  

Being prone to droughts makes landscaping your home difficult. Fortunately, finding drought resistant grass is not as hard as it used to be. As there has been a widespread adoption of drought resistant grass in Southern California in recent years. With water restrictions becoming more strict these drought resistant grasses require less than 25% of water compared to traditional grass.

Zoysia grass is a low-growing grass that grows so dense it can prevent weeds from growing. Zoysia grass spreads fast, and resists insects and diseases that could harm other kinds of grass. A shortcoming of zoysia is that it’s not green year round and in our weather it can remain dormant for longer than some people would like.

Bermuda grass has a few variations though most commonly grows 1 – 4 inches long and has rough edges. It also is a fast grower and can tolerate heavy foot traffic. Like zoysia, bermuda grass also goes dormant during the colder seasons. Although drought tolerant, bermuda grass needs plenty of sun and doesn’t do well in shade.

Kikuyu grass thrive in hot weather due to them growing deep roots combined with disease resistance, kikuyu grass can remain green year round. Rapid growing and resilient to neglect the kikuyu grass can quickly recover from heavy foot traffic making it ideal for homes with children and pets. 

Buffalo grass grows up to 8 inches, is dense and spreads through horizontal root- forming stems called stolons and it can tolerate heavy foot traffic. Newer cultivars are more drought tolerant and  resistant to weeds compared to traditional buffalo grass, though may still require weed care. Like many other grasses on this list, buffalo grass also goes dormant during the winter which can be a deal breaker for some.

Grass alternatives

If you don’t expect any foot traffic on your lawn, and want to conserve water while still having something beautiful to look at there are alternatives that can be used instead of grass. Creeping thyme can produce a vibrant color with violet flowers. Usually used around pathways and areas smaller than a traditional lawn. Another popular option is to use plants native to Southern California such as:

  • California Fuchsia
  • California Poppy
  • Kidney Weed
  • Chalk Liveforever
  • Sedum

Being native, they are drought tolerant and rarely need extra care to thrive. 

How would you feel with a yard expressly designed to fit your unique home and personality?

Our staff is dedicated to delivering unique landscapes that 100% fit the needs of homeowners. Each yard is designed in-house by our landscape designer. Our expertise and experience in the cities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Seal Beach, Rossmoor & surrounding communities allows us to custom design the perfect landscape for you.

Your project is carefully managed by our team of experts. Whether you are looking to turn your front yard into a showpiece or creating the backyard of your dreams we are here to help. Fill out our Landscape Design Free Quote today.