In most cases this will be a lawn, but inefficient irrigation, high water use plants, and fountains also require a great deal of water. If you’re considering drought-tolerant landscaping, think about what you would like to change about your current landscaping to achieve less water usage. Lawns and water intensive plants can be replaced with climate appropriate plants and lawn alternatives. Irrigation systems can be retrofitted for maximum efficiency. Communicating your water issues and goals will help us customize the best drought-tolerant plan for your home.

Need space for your kids to play or pets to run around? Luckily, there are several alternatives to traditional lawns that don’t need nearly as much water. The one we recommend most often is called Kurapia. It needs very little water and maintenance. In fact, you never need to mow it since it only grows around 2” tall! Native Carex is another great option and can either be left to grow tall for a meadow effect or mowed for a more traditional look.

Hardscapes are a great addition to your drought-tolerant garden. They provide space for you to stroll through your native landscape or relax with friends and family. Outdoor kitchens, dining areas, pergolas, patio seating, and landscape walls can give your space a truly unique look and make it more fun to spend time outdoors.

Using rainwater is a great way to conserve! You can either collect it for later use in a rain barrel or build a rain garden that takes advantage of extra water runoff during the winter – making it more drought-resistant throughout the summer. Rain gardens can be a stunning landscape feature and are the perfect combination of both beauty and practicality.

There is an amazing array of beautiful choices for plants. We encourage you to start looking around and noting your favorites. We’re dedicating to ensuring your new landscaping is customized to your individual taste, so this can help to give us a good starting point to create the planting design for your unique landscape.

Many municipalities (along with the state of California) offer rebates for converting your landscaping to a more drought-tolerant design. Rebates exist for irrigation retrofits, lawn removals, greywater systems, and rainwater harvesting. PACE Funding, a low-interest financing option, is also available for water conserving landscape projects. Wild Bloom is happy to help identify what options are available for you.