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WAYS TO DESIGN A GARDEN THAT LOVES THE EARTH

• Conscious Design

As you start designing the landscape in your new or existing home, we tapped our featured organization of the week, TreePeople, to share a few tips on creating a garden that’s gorgeous and conscious.

CUT BACK ON TURF // Did you know that landscape irrigation accounts for almost 50% of all residential use? It doesn’t need to be that way. With a plethora of options, cutting back on turf is a cinch.

MINIMIZE ROCK, TURF & CONCRETE // Too much gravel or fake turf can increase the heat-island effect and make our city even hotter. Instead, incorporate living, breathing plants as much as possible to help keep the plant cool. Plants invite local wildlife and increase biodiversity.

CHOOSE REGIONAL PLANTS // Choosing native plants to your area or drought-tolerant plants is the smart choice. Since natives generally need less water, it means less maintenance for you. If you’re not sure what is considered local for you, visit a near by nursery to get educated.  

PLANT TREES // Trees offer a landscape a world of good. They increase property values, cut back on our energy use, conserve water.

LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO CAPTURE STORMWATER // Can downspouts be directed toward your garden, instead of the street? Have you installed rain barrels and prepared them for the rainy season? Don’t let that precious water be purged into the ocean. Store it for the future.

INSPIRE YOUR FRIENDS // Once your landscape is finished, don’t keep that knowledge to yourself! Inspire your friends. Lend your expertise. We ALL need to do our part to become a water-secure city. Let’s work together.

If you’re in Los Angeles and want to learn more about native plants, rainwater harvesting or organizing a community tree planting, visit TreePeople at our next series of Green City Workshops.