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Marin Home / GARDEN
Low Water,
High Impact
Despite an abundantly rainy winter, Marin residents continue
to be mindful regarding smart landscape water use. Fortunately
for gardeners, many water-wise tactics are low maintenance
and many drought-tolerant plants look quite attractive. With
those benefits in mind, here are some water-smart gardening
techniques and plant suggestions to enhance your garden while
protecting your water bill. KIER HOLMES
TIPS FROM THE EXPERT “Mass drought-tolerant plants together — for example, a
swath of echeveria under a swath of upright rosemary — and pay attention to how different
leaf shapes reference and highlight each other,” says Beth Mullins, owner of Growsgreen
Landscape Design in San Francisco. She also recommends using gravel and permeable
hardscapes to add texture to a garden and conserve water.
THE DETAILS Permeable Paths When
installing paths and patios, consider using
materials like decomposed granite and
gravel that allow water to drain into your
garden as opposed to into storm drains.
Lose the Lawn Consider replacing your lawn
with a drought-tolerant ground cover or
native no-mow fescue blend. Go Native If
you plant local drought-tolerant flora like
ceanothus and manzanita, the butterflies
and bees will thank you. Be Direct You can
channel rainfall where it’s most needed by
installing a dry streambed — a ribbon of
small and medium stones in the pattern
of a natural stream. Time It Install a drip
irrigation system with a smart irrigation
timer that uses info about the weather,
your plants and soil to give your garden a
customized, targeted amount of water.
Be Colorful Plan for year-round visual
interest by planting a variety of grasses,
perennials, shrubs and succulents that
survive on limited water but provide structure and contrast. Much Mulch A layer of
natural mulch over garden beds reduces
both evaporation and weeds. Natural Soils
Make sure your soil is healthy by adding
organic compost and organic fertilizers.
Rock It Incorporate rocks and boulders of
all sizes into your landscape for height and
structure and to define spaces.
Westringia
Grevillea
Fremontodendron
Agave
Salvia
Yarrow
Agastache
Yucca
Euphorbia
Muhlenbergia
WATER-WISE PLANTS
