ABOUT

When it comes to plants, I like them wild and woolly! Those words really define my style when it comes to plants. I remember telling our wedding florist a few years back that I wanted all the arrangements to look "wild and woolly," and she got a kick out of that phrase, and now it has become my tagline. I am not a fan of the uniform, formal, or the meticulously clipped hedge. I like the natural and native look - using plants that are adapted to this area and to this kind of climate.


Steps for the best plants and practices for your California yard: 

LOW-MAINTENANCE
Choose plants that naturally fit the space, not ones you need to force into fitting the space you desire by pruning or sheering. Do your research and be aware of plant's mature sizes before you plant. Choose plants that do not need a lot of attention, dead-heading, or pruning.

LOW-WATER
Choose plants that are native to California or to similar climates in the West, or a selection of plants from Australia, South Africa, or the Mediterranean. These plants have an active winter and spring growing cycle stimulated by natural rainfall. Once the rain subsides, these kinds of plants are naturally adapted to less moisture during the summer- they become less active in their growth or go dormant.

LONG-LIVED:
Choose plants that have a good track record, not ones that you need to uproot and replace every couple of years. I had to say no to lavenders that die out within a few years, even though I love them! Also abutilon gets leggy and sparse with age. But, what plants I do love and don’t live long, I will grow in pots...for a few years! 

EVERGREEN:

The only deciduous plants in my yard will be the major trees, because evergreen trees typically prevent many things from growing underneath them...and I love deciduous trees with flowers and fall color. For all my shrubs, I am generally choosing evergreen ones...and you’d be surprised just how many are available for NorCal gardens. This way, I always will have a full and healthy looking garden, with hedges that always provide privacy and color along the walkways that greet every visitor all throughout the year. 

FROST-PROOF:

In my San Francisco bay area valley we have occasional frost during the winter and early spring. I have chosen plants that are hardy to frost, and don’t need to be protected/covered in the winter.

WATER YOUR PLANTS EFFICIENTLY 
When it comes to irrigation, there is so much detail to go into... But in general, separate your plants based on their watering needs. If you love certain plants that require more water, group them together and put them on different watering schedules from your other plants that require less supplemental watering. I am setting up my yard with 2 major "hydrozones," keeping the plants that require more water close to the house walls, in partial sun, and on a more frequent watering schedule. For the most part the larger half of my yard will be comprised of plants that require less summer water.