Drought Tolerant Landscape Techniques

So this year has been a year of plenty when it comes to rain in northern California, but like all cycles, the drought will be back eventually and still hasn’t stopped in some of the state. California tends to cycle in terms of rain and it’s always good to plan ahead. Drought tolerant landscape techniques can bring your yard to 2017. 

If you’re planning on renovating your yard anytime soon, why not plan for both rain and shine? Save some money in both the wet and dry years and still have a gorgeous functional landscape. If you’re interested in seeing how much of a drought there is where you live, check the NOAA’s U.S. Drought Monitor.

Water conservation is an important issue in today’s global political climate, but you don’t have to live in a desert. You can still have that gorgeous yard you’ve always dreamed about and be water conscious at the same time. Water savings aren’t the only reason you should be switching to a drought tolerant garden as well. Today’s “low water” gardens aren’t just saving you money on your water bill, they are also fantastically gorgeous! 

These ideas will get you thinking about how modern and elegant your yard can look – even if you’re not trying to save any money on the water will.

1.Get Rid of That Grass and Replace it With Some Decomposing Granite.

The first of our drought tolerant landscape techniques is to replace your grass with DG (decomposing granite) or another gravel. Grass is one of the most water intensive and wasteful aspects to any traditional yard. They are also one of the most labor intensive to keep up with! Mowing, aerating, mulching, reseeding or resodding.

2.Not a Fan of Gravel, Maybe You Like Your Lawn? Replace it with Artificial Turf.

Grass can still be a great place for the kids to play or a backyard BBQ and football game so why not replace it with turf? Today’s artificial grass doesn’t even have to look fake or neon green, there are modern options to make your yard still have that natural feel. With varying tones and lengths you can get the perfect replacement for that backyard putting green.

3.Plant Ornamental Grass.

One of our favorite plants to use in our project is still grass, just not the traditional kind. We tend to use them in almost every project actually! Here is a short list in case you’re interested:

• Elijah Blue (personal favorite)
• Blue Oatgrass
• Pampas Grass
• Oriental Fountain Grass 

4.Perennials are Your Friends

If you can’t live without flowers, go with perennials instead of annuals. This way you can still get the the color you want with a bit less water. It is possible to create a landscape that is absolutely stunning with just the right assortment of grasses and succulent (number 5 on our list), but who doesn’t like some flowers in there yard

5.Succulents to Tie it All Together.

Succulents are one of our absolute favorite plants to work with. They are beautiful, have an abundance of varieties, and are generally very low maintenance. They can be combined to get variety and texture into your landscape. You can use a different varieties, sizes, and colors to make a truly stunning design.

Drought tolerant landscape techniques are a way to bring the modern world to your backyard. We hope you learned a bit and if you have any questions about your yard, drought tolerant landscapes, or anything at all feel free to contact us.